While living, working and studying in a foreign country admittedly has its share of challenges, Concordia students are truly blessed to be spending a part of their informative school years in China—a country teeming with both history and modern day adventure and where the culture is unique and awe-inspiring. For students seeking opportunities to serve and lead, China is a place where they can have an impact. Concordia has purposefully designed its student travel program for students to grow through intimate experiences and improved understanding of their host country.
During the Elementary School years, students explore the Shanghai area through day trips and in-school service experiences where they are exposed to the concept of service and what it means to think as global citizens. Lessons taught during day trips teach students how to apply what they are learning in school to their everyday lives as well; this year, after completing a chapter on Economics, Grade 4 students took a trip to one of Shanghai’s largest commodity markets. There, they bargained for small holiday presents for family members with cash they had ‘earned’ by doing chores around the house for a month! Creative trips like this serve to reinforce important classroom knowledge.
Each year, Concordia Middle School students, teachers and chaperones embark on exciting, engaging, age-appropriate trips to four of China’s most historic and scenic areas:
Grade 5-Nanbeihu
Students take their first trip away from Shanghai and travel to Nanbeihu for a two-night adventure. Teamwork, trust, self-confidence and creative challenges add up to a fun and enriching weekend of self–discovery and growth.
Grade 6-Xi’an
Students take a 3-day trip to the ancient capital of Xi’an, complementing their Social Sciences learning on Asia.
Grade 7-Beijing
Students take a week-long trip to China’s capital city, Beijing, and spend time climbing spectacular unrestored portions of the Great Wall, learning about China’s capital and working with peasants to grind out a daily meal from scratch.
Grade 8-Yangshuo
Students take a week-long trip to Yangshuo and experience true adventure rock-climbing, rafting and hiking and exploring Southern China. As part of their experiences they spend time in ‘Eco-clean up” helping to restore the natural beauty of this striking area.
Current parents-get detailed information on this year trips.
Small teams of Concordia High School students, teachers and chaperones adventure to some of China’s most unique and exciting locations while on their week-long Interim trips each fall. Unlike our Middle School trips, Interim groups are not organized by grade but rather by student interest in the theme, purpose and planned activities of a trip. The Interim program forms an integral part of the high school curriculum and is designed to challenge students’ hearts, minds and bodies.
Interim is an ambitious program with many goals. It provides Concordia High School students with an opportunity to build strong community ties between students and with their teachers. Student experiences become their classroom and teach them much that cannot be learned in the traditional classroom setting. Interim exposes students to cultures beyond their own and challenges their preconceived notions through discussion and reflection. The program seeks to develop communication, leadership skills, self-reliance and compassion.
The Interim experience draws a student out of their physical, emotional, and intellectual comfort zone with a view to gaining greater self-knowledge and a richer understanding of the world around them. The offerings of Concordia’s Interims are diverse and include outdoor adventure, cross-cultural learning and community service activities.