Student Travel
Travel Opportunities for 2019-20
LFA will offer six travel opportunities for the 2019-2020 academic school year. The trips are supported by the Stuart Center for Global Leadership and led by LFA faculty members, and each opportunity provides experiences for students to build on their classroom learning and to continue developing empathy, critical thinking, self-reliance, and global perspectives. You may not sign up for any of these travel opportunities listed below if you are in a class with a curricular travel opportunity as part of the class. Please email Matt Nink at mnink@lfanet.org or Erin English at eenglish@lfanet.org with any additional questions not answered below.
LFA Co-Curricular Travel Important Dates:
- June 1, 2019: Programs open for sign-up and application
- October 28, 2019: Sign up deadline for all co-curricular travel programs
- December 1, 2019: Copy of passport must be submitted to Stuart Center for booking flights and accommodations
- April 8, 2020: Global Storytelling Celebration. Come to this evening of photos and reflections on the spring travel programs and experiences
2019-20 Opportunities
CHINA Exchange: Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Macau & Hong Kong
Dates: March 14 - 25, 2020
Approx cost: $1500 - $1600
Shenzhen Travel Application
This trip is a low-cost chance to build global perspectives, experience new cultures and China firsthand. LFA students will take part in a student-to-student exchange at Bao’an No.1 Foreign Language School in Shenzhen. Students will be living with a host family for most of this exchange, and through this experience, participants can foster a better understanding of Chinese culture.
The Bao’an District is an integral part of the China Greater Bay Area, and its convenient access to Macau and Hong Kong is one of the many reasons why it is so unique. Students will visit Shenzhen, Macau and Hong Kong. The two cities are now autonomous territories operating under the Chinese government, and are an interesting blend of Eastern and Western Cultures.
Some of the program highlights are:
- Site-seeing in Shenzhen, Ping An Finance Tower, Folk Village, and the Huangguoshu Waterfall
- Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Zhuhai
- Macau: Ruins of St Paul’s and Historic Centre
- Hong Kong: VIctoria Harbor, Hong Kong University, Victoria Peak
For more information, please contact Director of Chinese Parent Development and Senior Assistant Dean of Admission Joy Zhou at jzhou@lfanet.org.
Japan, Singapore, Malaysia
Dates: March 14 - 27, 2020
Approx cost: $3,685 - $3,932
Japan, Singapore, Malaysia Travel Application
This educational experience will bring LFA students to three of the world’s most important economies. Students will spend seven days in Japan visiting Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, exploring local culture. They will visit traditional and modern temples, markets, and natural sceneries. They will also stop by the Tokyo Skytree tower, one of the world’s tallest towers and a symbol of Tokyo. Students will also see Asakusa Kannon Temple, Mount Fuji, Nara Park, Tsukiji Seafood Market, Kasuga Taisha shrine, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Lake Biwa, Shirakawa Village, and many other amazing places in Japan.
Then, it will be off to Singapore where students will have the chance to interact and engage with students from the Hwa Chong School in Singapore, an independent school in the city. They will also visit Siloso Beach, Marina Bay Sands, Art Science Museum, Chinatown, Little India, and Arab Street in Singapore.
The last stop is Malacca in Malaysia, and the students will visit A’Famosa, Jonker Street, and the 17th century Teng Temple with ornate prayer rooms and amazing architecture.
During the 13-day trip, students will get the chance to interact with locals and sample a wide variety of delicious foods.
For more information please contact Modern & Classical Languages Faculty Ivy Jiang at yjiang@lfanet.org.
London and Amsterdam
Dates: March 16 - 23, 2020
Approx cost: $3,195 - $3,650
London/Amsterdam Travel Application & Additional Form Here
This experience will consist of eight days of unbelievable sights including Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Hyde Park, the National Gallery, and so much more! After four days in London, students will board the Eurostar high-speed train and cross the English Channel and head to Amsterdam! Four more days of cobblestone streets, glass bottom canal boats, and the historic Anne Frank house.
Interested students can sign up for this once in a lifetime trip here www.explorica.com/Witmer-4644 The trip site has a detailed daily itinerary and payment information. Students will also need to complete the London-Amsterdam Application
For more information, please contact Science Faculty Debbie Witmer at dwitmer@lfanet.org.
Spain: Madrid, Segovia, Barcelona
Dates: March 13 - 20, 2020
Approx cost: $3,671 - $3,791
Spain Travel Application and Additional Form Here
Travel to three historical cities for a fun-filled cultural experience in Spain! In Madrid, students will visit the Prado Museum and have a picnic in Retiro Park. In Segovia, the group will see Roman aqueducts and the Crystals of La Granja. In Barcelona they experience the architecture and sights of the Park Güell and the Sagrada Familia.
For more information, please contact Asst. Dean of Pluralism and Multicultural Affairs and Modern & Classical Languages Faculty Tameka Carter at tcarter@lfanet.org or Modern & Classical Languages Faculty Marianela Gonzalez at mgonzalez@lfanet.org.
United Arab Emirates: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah
Dates: March 14 - 23, 2020
Approx cost: $3,692 - $3,992
UAE Travel Application
Enjoy the most luxurious tourist destinations in the world while studying the culture and ancient history of the Middle East with a visit to the three largest cities in the United Arab Emirates: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. Witness the tallest building in the world, visit the Bedouin Heritage Village, and ride camels through the desert, all the while enjoying the souks, mosques, and camels of these dazzling cosmopolitan cities. While exploring Emirati culture, take a visit to Ferrari World theme park where the world's fastest roller coaster in the world is, go snow tubing down an indoor mountain, and go off-roading in the desert. Take a closer look at a region that dictates the global economy as a member of OPEC all while exploring a new part of the world!
For more information, please contact History Faculty Sam Wold at swold@lfanet.org.
Head of School Symposium: Global Poverty and Economic Inequality Field Experience: Kenya
Dates: March 14 - 27, 2020
Approx cost: $4,249 - $4,729
HOSS Kenya Travel Application
The HOSS Kenya trip will have a little touch of everything in the regular trips. Most importantly, students will have a life-changing experience on so many levels! Building on Ms. Chen’s trip two years ago, this experience will give students the chance to engage with communities and build strong relationships.
During the 12 days in Kenya, students will work on classroom building projects and interact with students, teachers and community members at a local school. They will learn about traditional Kenyan cooking, bead making from local women, and how to make paper out of elephant dung! They will also visit two national parks and spend their last two days on the beach. Through this experience, students will step outside their comfort zones, expand their horizons and develop their global competence.
For more information, please contact Modern & Classical Languauges Faculty Yue Chen at ychen@lfanet.org.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I apply?
- When is the Application Deadline?
- When will I know the actual cost of the program?
- Is there financial aid available?
- When will these programs take place?
- Can I apply for two programs?
- What if I am interested in something not listed below?
- What about travel insurance?
How do I apply?
When is the Application Deadline?
When will I know the actual cost of the program?
Is there financial aid available?
There is limited financial aid for the Head of School Symposium programs. Please see the Dean of Students Office to apply for financial aid for the trip to Kenya. Other programs may have limited aid. Check the application to see if aid is available and the DOS office will contact you with more details. If you have received financial aid for travel in the past, you are less likely to receive it this time.
When will these programs take place?
Can I apply for two programs?
What if I am interested in something not listed below?
What about travel insurance?
All of the programs have basic travel insurance included, but students may purchase additional insurance at their own expense when they sign up for the program.
What if I cancel? What is the refund policy?
Trips arranged with a third-party provider have individual refund policies and all inquiries should be directed to the appropriate travel company. If you register through their website, you would work directly with them to seek a refund should you need to cancel.
Travel programs that are booked directly by Lake Forest Academy and then billed to student accounts will follow the following refund policy:
Fees include both a program fee and airfare. Once airfare is purchased, travelers will need to work directly with the airline and follow their policies about credits and refunds.
The dates below apply to program fees:
- Cancel by January 1 – 100% refund
- Cancel by March 1 – 50% refund
- If you cancel after March 1 – no refund will be available, but LFA will work with you to receive a credit for program fees or flights if possible.
2018-19 Trips
Peru
Spring Break 2019
Approx. $3,400
A trip to Peru is a journey from the ancient to the modern. The sacred cities of the Inca (Cuzco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu) will provide students with an understanding of Incan culture. The highlight stop on this trip is one of the true wonders of the world: Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu itself is a stunning complex of buildings, clinging to the surrounding mountains, which overlook the Urubamba River. Students will have the opportunity to discover the diverse ecology of Peru venturing between the Andes Mountains and Lake Titicaca. They will have a chance to learn about and meet with the indigenous communities that live on the Uros islands. Finally, Lima provides an example of a vibrant and modern city with colonial architecture and some of the best food in Latin America! The trip will encompass a wide array of disciplines including history, anthropology, archaeology, sociology, ecology, and the arts.
For more information, please contact History Faculty Sam Wold at swold@lfanet.org.
HOS Symposium – Russia: Revolution and Resurgence
Spring Break 2019
Approx. $2,300 - $3,500
This 12-day experience in Russia will be a great learning opportunity for LFA students and teachers. The group will spend 4 days in St. Petersburg immersed in Russian language, culture, history, and politics. As a key port city, St. Petersburg is home to the Mariinsky Theatre hosting opera and ballet, and the State Russian Museum housing iconic works by Kandinsky. Afterwards, students Travel to Kaszan and learn about this important historical and economic region. Finally students will take the high-speed train to Moscow for three more days of exploring historical landmarks and modern marvels. As part of the annual Head of School Symposium, “Russia: Revolution and Resurgence, “ this promises to be an excellent trip.
For more information, please contact Director of Stuart Center for Global Leadership Matt Nink at mnink@lfanet.org.
France
Two weeks in early June 2019
Approx. $4,300
Signup Deadline: November 1, 2019
Students will have a full week in Paris, taking in as much of the great historical, art, cultural, and culinary offerings of the city. During the second week, students will stay with a host family in the south of France, attending language classes in the morning, taking part in excursions as a group each afternoon, and then having dinner and improving their French with their host family each night. This trip is ideal for students studying French at any level who want to improve their skills in a fun, enriching immersion experience.
For more information, please contact Dean of Curriculum and Innovation, French Faculty Kristine Von Ogden at kvonogden@lfanet.org.
Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia
Mid June 2019
Open to current 9th, 10th and 11th grades at LFA.
Signup Deadline: November 1, 2019
Approx. $3,995
This 14-day experience will give LFA students a great overview of Asia, starting with a stop in Seoul and South Korea for 5 days. As an adventurer on this journey you will visit famous Changduk Palace, which is of the “Five Grand Palaces” of the Joseon Dynasty. After two days in Seoul, you will travel to Mount Seorak, which was named a UNESCO Biosphere preservation site due the many rare species in the national park. After this nature experience, you will travel to Andong to participate in a traditional “Hanji” paper-making class. From Korea, you will travel by air to Hanoi, Vietnam to experience the famous landmarks such as the Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, Pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature--Vietnam’s First university. Then it is on to Ho Chi Mihn City, the countryside of Ben Tre and the Mekong river. You will experience a beautiful boat ride up the river to see coconut production facilities. Our final stop will be in Cambodia where we will start with Siem Reap, well known from the Tomb Raider movies. You will see wonderful Buddhist monasteries, the Victoria Gate and the Elephant Terrace where Angkor rulers would review returning armies. We will also tour the ancient Buddhist University of Preah Khan and finally get to experience Neak Pean, an island of temple sitting in the tranquil pools of an ancient reservoir.
For more information, please contact Modern & Classical Languages Faculty Ivy Jiang at yjiang@lfanet.org.