Global Learning and Community Engagement

Packer's Global Learning program aims to cultivate knowledgeable, empathetic, and engaged members of an interconnected and dynamic world, preparing students to meet global challenges by thinking deeply, listening actively, speaking courageously, and acting with purpose and heart.

Our signature Global Learning program is International Symposium, in which all eleventh-grade students travel abroad at no additional cost to families to participate in immersive, real-world learning focused on cross-cultural connection and ethical engagement. Students are empowered to apply their collaborative and problem-solving skills in new contexts, working toward sustainable solutions in partnership with communities.

Recent programs have explored themes such as refugees, migration, and diversity in Lesvos, Greece; climate change, sustainability, and entrepreneurship in Crete and Costa Rica; and community-driven health and sanitation in Panama. 

Global Learning is deeply integrated with our Community Engagement and Equity and Inclusion programs, reinforcing our commitment to educating students who are both intellectually capable and socially responsible. Many Upper School students continue to expand their global perspectives through elective travel programs and study abroad opportunities.

Our Community Engagement program uses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a framework to connect our local work with global issues. Students are guided to recognize our global interdependence, understand how these connections create worldwide consequences, and take responsible action to address global challenges and foster sustainable change. 

Students develop the interconnected skills to become active, responsible citizens who contribute positively to their communities. They grow their global competencies by investigating the world, building relationships, recognizing perspectives, communicating ideas, and taking action. Service opportunities are designed to forge stronger connections and a better understanding of both Packer and our partner communities. Through these opportunities, students expand their knowledge, educate their community, and engage in activism or advocacy around issues they feel passionate about.

Community Engagement is deeply integrated with Global Learning and is part of our approach to Equity and Inclusion at Packer.