Learning Adventures Abound Abroad

True to the experiential, hands-on objective that is the foundation of Intersession Week, this year’s Outreach, Adventure, Language Immersion, and Exchange trips saw over 100 Upper School students travel to far-reaching locations for eye-opening experiences and lifelong memories.

Students travelled to Spain and Morocco to enjoy these neighbouring regions' rich culture, architecture, and shared history. Another group of students travelled to Canada’s west coast to learn about survival in the wilderness, perfect their paddle strokes, and fulfill their Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journey requirements. Intense volcanic activity threatened Iceland’s trip departure, but once they arrived, students were treated to a tour of the largest European glacier and learned about the country’s energy production while, at times, driving alongside flowing lava on the highway. “We learned about the topography, the renewable energy, and how their society lives with active volcanoes,” Director of Outreach Justin Chau says. Finally, the trip to Tanzania had Crescent boys climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, visiting a Maasai community, and forming a partnership with Gyekrumarusha Secondary School in Karatu.

A group of Grade 11 and 12 French students visited Paris and Nice with Upper School French teachers Marianne Sasso and Elodie Brunel and Lower School teacher Darren Donahue. The boys balanced morning language classes with special trips, workshops, and free time. A cooking class was especially popular among the boys. “The students were very meticulous about what they were doing,” says Brunel. “They were cooking and speaking in French at the same time. It was an amazing experience.”

International student exchange rounded out the experiential trips. Pairs of students travelled to Scotch College in Melbourne, Australia, Westlake Boys High School in Auckland, New Zealand, and Aylesbury Grammar School in Buckinghamshire, England. “Student exchange takes boys outside their comfort zone where they may have challenging or uncomfortable moments, but they learn to push through,” says Director of Crescent Exchange Programs Ian Eatock. “Beyond travelling to another corner of the world, it's all about the relationships they build with their partners abroad, their families, and friends. They're making lifelong connections all over the world.”

Watch the Experiential Trips video.