Walk Through A Program

Experiment summer abroad programs follow a structure designed to celebrate the host culture and examine a unique program focus.

Group.  Your Experiment begins at a gateway airport.  When you arrive, you meet your group and group leader.  Students may come from all over the US and abroad.  As you share experiences, you will find that the friendships you make and the support you receive throughout the program enable you to fully embrace your Experiment.

Orientation.  When you arrive to the capital or major city of your host country, you hit the ground running during an in-depth 3-5 day cross-cultural orientation. 

  • Complete a lunch-time scavenger hunt in an open-air market in Madrid
  • Learn to navigate the Paris Metro
  • Work on survival Mandarin language skills in Beijing
  • Discuss what to expect in your homestay over gelato in Rome

Homestay.  All Experiment programs have a homestay.  During your homestay, you share in the activities and daily life of a carefully matched host family.  You might cook a meal with a host parent or attend family gatherings and improve your foreign language skills. During the homestay you will also do activities and excursions with your group and leader that add to the experience and provide opportunities to explore the surrounding area. 

Program Focus.  Each program also has at least one unique focus.  These are:

  • Language training - programs where students take language classes
  • Arts - photography, cooking, theater, music, dance, watercolor, documentary film-making, etc.
  • Community service - students work with the community to complete a specially designed project
  • Ecology/Outdoor - working with a naturalist or scientist to gain a greater understanding of ecology
  • Travel and regional exploration  - the group visits a part of the country that is unique for its history, geography, etc.

Synthesis and Evaluation.  At the end of your program you will return to the capital or major city to reflect upon all that you’ve experiences.  Examples:

  • Discuss the challenges of re-enrty around a campfire in Botswana
  • Reflect on your summer over a final meal in Prague’s fairy-tale castle
  • Enjoy some last minute shopping along Barcelona’s Las Ramblas