Winterim

The best way to explore and appreciate this planet is by traveling and volunteering! In partnership with Green Communities - a nonprofit organization that hosts volunteer groups from around the world to engage in sustainable development projects with locals in four communities in the Los Santos region of Costa Rica - eighth-grade students who attend the Costa Rica service learning trip work alongside organic coffee farmers in the cloud forest for three days, learning about green farming and the culture of the region. Activities in the cloud forest region of Providencia include zip lining, cooking classes, conversation cafe with locals, and a waterfall hike. Once finished with the service project, the waves are waiting! On the Pacific Coast, the group takes surf lessons and visits a national park.

The five-day Washington, D.C. trip is more than just an educational tour of DC's famous monuments and memorials! Students examine the people, events, debates, and enduring questions that have forged our form of government. Guided by highly trained Close Up instructors, students visit DC's must-see sites, participate in a Mock Congress exercise, discover Capitol Hill and experience the legislative process by visiting the congressional galleries, explore the Smithsonian museums, and make lifelong friends and exchange ideas with students from around the country.

Living in the Lake Tahoe basin means endless opportunities for adventure, exploration, and growth; however, sometimes living in paradise makes it harder to actually get out and experience it! The local Lake Tahoe School Winterim option provides students with the opportunity to truly explore the wonders of their own backyard. With a combination of outdoor adventure, community service, and cultural and historical exposure, students will be sure to come out ofd the week with a deeper understanding, appreciation, and sustainable mindset for growing up in the Lake Tahoe region!