Experiential Learning Opportunities
These Experiential Learning Opportunities are created for the benefit of the entire student body. As a requirement of the ESL program, students who are taking ESL classes must participate in TWO of the activities listed below. In addition, ESL students are required to attend the Boston Pops Holiday Concert and the overnight ski trip to Stowe, VT. Members of the student body who are not part of the ESL program are encouraged and invited to join the fun; please inquire about associated costs. It is the hope that these opportunities allow all students to socialize beyond the classroom and therefore create lifelong friendships while experiencing truly unique learning opportunities.
Non-ESL students, please click here to register.
September 16
Two exciting trips. Learn how to do Fly Fishing in Cornwall, CT with the Housatonic River Outfitters. In addition, a second trip will be offered to historic Block Island. On the island, students will have the opportunity to choose between learning how to horseback ride at Rustic Rides Farm or learning how to kayak with Pond & Beyond. Students will be traveling to Block Island via the Block Island Ferry and will have the chance to explore this historic island off the coast of Rhode Island.
September 30
A trip to Burlington, VT. Students will enjoy a campus visit to the University of Vermont. Students will explore Burlington, VT Church Street Marketplace and learn about the ecology of Lake Champlain at Echo Lake Aquarium and Science Center. They will then board the Spirit of Ethan Allen and enjoy an informational ferry ride about one of the largest fresh water lake in the United States.
October 11 & 14
October 11: An evening tour of historic Roseland Cottage, a national historic landmark and an informational walk around Woodstock Hill and the town green. On October 14, students will revisit Roseland Cottage to meet artists from throughout New England at a juried art show. This fine arts and crafts festival is considered to be one of the leading juried arts and crafts shows in New England.
December 8
Students will attend the 2012 Holiday Pops Concert by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, led by world famous conductor Keith Lockhart. They will visit historic Symphony Hall which is annually transformed into a holiday wonderland. *For ESL students only.
January 13
A former dancer on Broadway with the iconic New York City "Rockettes" will travel to Marianapolis to instruct students in two hour-long dance classes on hip hop and precision dance.
January 27
Students will visit the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA. After the museum, they will attend a UConn Men's Basketball game at the XL Center in Hartford, CT.
January 31- February 1
Students will stay overnight in world famous Stowe, VT. Students will enjoy an afternoon of ice skating and a day of skiing or snowboarding. "For over 75 years, the professional staff of the Stowe Ski & Snowboard School have inspired passion in skiers and riders of all ages and abilities." This annual event is consistently an ESL group favorite and is loved by all who attend. Many students remark that this single event was responsible for setting them on a path to become lifelong "shredders." *For ESL students only.
February 10
Students will attend a guided snowshoe tour at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. Students will learn how to snowshoe with an Eastern Mountain Sports instructor. The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is one of the region's premiere contemporary art venues.
April 7
Students will visit the birthplace of one of the United States' most famous authors: Nathaniel Hawthorne. This landmark, which is called the Turner/Ingersoll Mansion, is commonly known as the House of the Seven Gables. Students will also visit the National Hawthorne House, the Counting House, the Colonial Gardens, and the Waterfront in Salem, MA. *This is a required event for Mrs. Vitale's Transitional ESL class.
April 16
Students will visit the Cape Cod National Seashore where they will partake in "Parks as a Classroom" project. This program through the Department of Energy concentrates on how NASA measures aerosols as they relate to climate change. Students will participate in hands-on activities that are led by a United States Parks Ranger. At the conclusion of their day, students will be able to enjoy visiting the seashore where whale migration can be observed from the world famous Cape Cod dunes.
May 19
Students will visit Tower Hill Botanic Garden. They will be able to tour the garden and will participate in a course on macro photography led by a an expert photographer. Students must bring their own camera.
May 25
Students will hike Mount Monadnock, one of the most frequently climbed mountains in the world. It is known for its references in the writings of American authors Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Views from the summit stretch far into the distance from New Hampshire into Vermont and Massachusetts.
