In order to promote the international mindset of our students, Santiago College has developed an academic and sports travel program. In this way, students can live new experiences and learn about other cultures, educational systems and ways of life.
This opportunity contributes to students forming their principles and new perspectives. It also helps to forge people with an open mind who value diversity, which is an essential characteristic for the International Baccalaureate community and the basis of our educational program.
The destinations, frequency and number of participants in these trips change from year to year, but to date our students have been able to visit the United States, New Zealand, Australia, England, Spain, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Costa Rica, among others.
Destination: England
Objectives: English Immersion and learning about British culture.
Participants: Students from 8th to 11th grade.
Selection Process: Open. Pre-conditional or conditional students require school approval.
Estimated duration: Three weeks.
Brief Summary: Project UK is a language immersion program at a British boarding school, near London. The trip lasts three weeks, during which the students participate in many recreational activities aimed at helping improve their command of English, particularly oral skills. Each student receives a diagnosis upon arrival and instruction according to their level of English. In addition, the trip includes a series of cultural outings to London and other places of interest. In previous years young people have visited Bath, Madame Tussaud’s, Stonehenge and Windsor Castle.
Destination: Spain
Objectives: Learn about Spanish culture and give life to the Spanish literary studies.
Participants: Students from 8th to 11th grade.
Selection Process: Open. Pre-conditional or conditional students require school approval.
Estimated duration: 15 days.
Brief Summary: Don Quixote’s journey travels through significant places from the novel “Don Quijote de la Mancha” and other Spanish literary works. The students visit different Spanish towns and taste typical foods of each area. The trip includes cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Burgos, Toledo, Escorial, Belmonte, Seville, Ávila, Segovia, among others.
Destination: Chile / USA – Cary, North Carolina.
Objectives: To learn how an American family lives and practice English, creating ties between American and Chilean families. (SC generally receives foreign students the first semester and sends SC students the second semester).
Participants: 10th graders.
Selection Process: Open. Pre-conditional or conditional students require school approval.
Duration: Generally, approximately 10 days of accommodation in Chile for the Cary student and 15 days of accommodation for the SC student with the family in Cary.
Brief Summary: Cary Academy is a private school in North Carolina. Its curriculum includes study trips for all its students in 10th grade, which is why between 10 and 20 students visit us each year and stay in SC family homes. In return, our students are welcomed there with a special program to perfect their English. In addition, they have the opportunity to take trips to universities and attractions in nearby Cary.
Destination: New Zealand / Australia
Objectives: Participate in sports activities and enhance English.
Participants: Exclusively for 9th and 10th grade athletes, in Hockey, Volleyball, Basketball, Rugby and Soccer.
Selection process: Nomination by the coaches of the respective sports based on technical criteria and prior compliance with academic (global average 5.8) and conduct requirements.
Duration: Approximately three weeks.
Brief Summary: The purpose of the sports tour is to expose our student athletes to other sports realities and, at the same time, to foster personal ties with both the team and the hosts. Six games are played for each discipline and places of tourist and cultural interest are visited in New Zealand and Australia. A vital component of the tour is home stays with local families.
Destination: Washington D.C.
Objectives: Learn more about American culture and history, improve English, and bond with peers.
Participants: 11th grade students.
Selection Process: As a school curricular activity, participation in this trip is mandatory, unless otherwise determined.
Duration: Approximately 12 days.
Brief Summary: The 11th grade study trip includes a 10-day visit to Washington D.C., the capital of the United States, where students visit important monuments of the city, including the Capitol Building. The trip also includes visits to the Holocaust Museum, the Smithsonian and the National Art Gallery, among others. There are also excursions to relevant sites such as: Monticello (home of Thomas Jefferson), the zoo and the Luray caverns. Additionally, in order to strengthen bonds among the generation, various activities are planning, including formal meals and a costume party.
Average cost: The cost of the trip is included in the tuition.
Extra Expenses: Additional funds are required for lunches and out-of-pocket expenses depend on each family.
Destination: Varies. In previous years countries such as Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Mexico have been visited.
Objectives: Show Chilean culture abroad and take our student artists to an international context, fostering leadership, perseverance and creativity.
Participants: Students from 8th to 12th grade.
Selection Process: Students from all artistic disciplines of the school can participate, which include Visual, Musical and Theater Arts.
Duration: 12 days.
Brief Summary: The art tour is a two-week trip in which students prepare a work that includes elements of visual arts, theater and music. The work is defined based on the interests of the participating students themselves, together with their teachers. The trip normally includes a social action visit in addition to staging of the work in multiple settings.