Gala 2025

Experiential Education

At Lake Forest Academy, we believe the most impactful and lasting learning happens when students engage directly with the world around them. Experiential education—through retreats, experiential-learning focused clubs, field trips, and global travel—build critical thinking, collaboration, and adaptability. These life skills prepare students to thrive in college, in their future careers, and as global citizens. 

Funds raised at this year’s Gala will be allocated across the next three to five years and will ensure every LFA student benefits from these transformative opportunities.

Specifically, proceeds from the Gala will:

Expand grade-level retreats, currently offered to freshmen and seniors, to include all grades, ensuring each class has its own dedicated retreat experience. These retreats foster teamwork, and school spirit and are among the most memorable experiences of an LFA student’s journey, cultivating a lifelong sense of camaraderie.

Enhance funding for student experiential-learning focused clubs to empower students as they explore their passions across diverse fields such as engineering, sciences, business, finance, and the arts. These opportunities allow students to engage in hands-on learning, and compete and collaborate with their peers.

Provide resources for curricular field trips to enrich classroom learning through real-world experiences. These trips spark curiosity, deepen students’ understanding of core subjects, and create meaningful connections between academic concepts and practical applications.

Prioritize opportunities for student travel by increasing financial aid and partially underwriting costs, ensuring access to these transformative school-led trips. Organized through LFA’s Stuart Center for Global Leadership, these programs offer service learning, cultural immersion, and academic exploration, helping students develop global perspectives and a sense of responsibility.