Global Learning in Action: St. Mark’s Spring 2026 Travel Programs
March 17, 2026
St. Mark’s students took their learning around the world this March through a dynamic slate of spring global travel programs. Spanning four continents and a wide range of disciplines, from history and language to science, music, and museum studies, these immersive experiences brought classroom curriculum vividly to life while fostering global awareness and connection.
Exploring Asian American Histories in Southern California
Students participating in Asian American Stories in Southern California examined the rich and complex narratives that are fundamental to the American story. Through visits to cultural communities across Los Angeles, including Chinatown, Historic Filipinotown, Koreatown, Little Bangladesh, Little Saigon, Little Tokyo, Sawtelle Japantown, Thai Town, and the San Gabriel Valley, students encountered the diversity and dynamism of Asian American life.
French Language Immersion in Saint-Brieuc
Across the Atlantic, French students immersed themselves in language and daily life through an exchange with Lycée Ernest Renan in Saint-Brieuc, France.
Living with host families and attending classes alongside their French peers, students strengthened their language skills in an authentic setting while gaining a deeper understanding of French culture. The exchange fostered meaningful relationships and offered a firsthand perspective on daily life in Brittany.
Tropical Ecology in Belize
In Belize, students explored the intersection of environmental science and cultural experience. Working alongside scientific partners in the Maya Mountains, students participated in hands-on field research, including macroinvertebrate sampling and herpetology studies.
The program also brought students to the coast, where they snorkeled along the Belize Barrier Reef and collected data on coral reef health. This dual focus on rainforest and marine ecosystems offered a comprehensive look at biodiversity while highlighting the importance of conservation.
Music Tour in Italy
Members of the St. Mark’s Choir and Orchestra traveled to Italy for a musical journey through Florence, Cremona, and Venice.
Students performed in churches and historic venues, collaborated with local musicians, and explored landmarks central to Italy’s artistic heritage. Highlights included visiting the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, the Stradivarius collection at the Violin Museum in Cremona, and St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. The tour blended performance with cultural exploration, deepening students’ appreciation for music’s global language.
Ancient Ruins and Modern Culture in Greece
In Greece, students connected their classroom studies of the classical world with firsthand experiences of ancient sites and artifacts. Traveling through Athens, Delphi, and Nafplio, participants explored archaeological sites, museums, and historic landscapes.
The program emphasized the analysis of material culture, architecture, monuments, and urban planning to deepen understanding of Ancient Greek and Roman history. Students across all levels of Latin brought their literary knowledge into conversation with the physical remnants of the ancient world.
Museum Design in Sweden: Lions Roam Program
Students in the Lions Roam program traveled to Sweden for Surfacing the Past: Museum Design through Artifacts, an immersive experience connected to a year-long course, supported by the Crotty Family Endowed Global Citizenship Fund.
This program invited students to engage with artifacts and museum design practices, considering how history is interpreted and presented to the public. Through hands-on exploration and critical inquiry, students examined the relationship between objects, storytelling, and cultural memory.
Together, these spring travel programs reflect St. Mark’s commitment to experiential learning and global citizenship. Whether conducting scientific research in Belize, performing in historic Italian venues, analyzing ancient ruins in Greece, or engaging with communities and cultures around the world, students returned with broadened perspectives and transformative experiences that will shape their learning far beyond the classroom.