Travel Programs

Student participants co-lead (along with adults and fellow students) a sports or arts-based activity that they develop prior to departure. Students learn about South African culture by meeting with local artists, exploring public art in downtown Port Elizabeth, visiting wildlife preserves, learning about the lasting impact of apartheid rule, Students will also be partnered with a South African peer and together they will participate in a number of one-on-one activities – including a story exchange, that allow them to forge a strong, enduring connection focused on promoting a mutual sense of understanding. 

Students actively immerse themselves in the history, culture, environment, and language of Costa Rica to make meaningful connections with different rural and indigenous communities by living with Costa Rican families, hearing and speaking the native language, contributing to community projects, and learning from our diverse practices and perspectives. The itinerary is focused on people, places, and themes which will facilitate a deeper level of understanding and empathy for all participants. Activities include a homestay in rural villages; exploring the rainforest; learning about sustainable and organic agriculture; visiting the Maleku indigenous reserve; exchange at local schools, Spanish language immersion throughout the trip, among others.

Each day, we hear the news of the ups and downs of the United States’ relationship with China. Will our countries be able to come together to solve global problems? How will our economies impact one another in positive and negative ways? The China travel program aims to engage students in these questions and also further develop their interest in Chinese language, culture, and history. Students will have a chance to visit sites such as the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City in Beijing as well as the cities of Shanghai and Suzhou. The experiences enhance students' understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture as well as the way it continues to influence China today. Through homestays in Beijing, students will have the chance to observe and participate in the daily life of families as well as engage and exchange with Chinese peers.

Collaborative Travel Program 

In collaboration with The Global Education Benchmark Group and Envoys, Packer is initiating our inaugural collaborative program — giving the opportunity for Packer students to travel with a group of students and educators from independent schools around the country! The program engages students in this global epicenter of international trade, exploring current cultural and environmental challenges, international diplomacy and trade realities, and local perceptions of the world and their surroundings. Yet students also experience the incredible biodiversity of the rainforest and learn about ongoing efforts to preserve its land and the indigenous people who live within the jungle. Students will use the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as a lens to analyze and understand this important country. 

Based out of Ketchum, Idaho, this ecology-intensive program will be led in partnership with Trout Unlimited, a nationally-recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to waterways conservation, fisheries preservation, youth education, and diversity, equity, & inclusion in recreational fishing. Once in Idaho, among a variety of conservation-based activities, including day-fishing trips, Packer students will visit the Stanley Fish Hatchery. Additionally, they will apply basic NOLS leadership strategies to their daily activities and by camping along the Big Wood River with six high school students from the region itself, they will be provided the opportunity to expand their cultural and political perspectives. This is a great opportunity for students interested in the outdoors, environmental conservation and peer to peer learning. 

New Orleans, the birthplace of Jazz, continues to be the destination spot for immersion in this truly American art form. As we wend our way into the Deep South via bus, we will be performing at assorted venues (including some in New Orleans) all while enjoying live Jazz played and sung by world-renowned musicians. In keeping with some of Packer's richest conventions, our students will also have the opportunity to engage in community service with younger students as they conduct music-related workshops in the Recovery School District. In the best possible tradition, a visit to the city where high-energy jazz happens every minute of every day will help give students a strong foundation to use as they create the music they so enjoy playing.