Submitted by Explorations Academy
Explorations Academy, Bellingham’s premiere experiential high school, is launching the pilot for its long-anticipated Global Student Program. The three-week program will host three Chinese students from April 12 to May 1, 2015. Staff members at Explorations are working with Wayne Chu of the Blue Sea Academy and Esther Renyan of the Beijing Academy Charter School to implement the first formal student exchange collaboration between Explorations Academy and an international school.
One of Explorations Academy’s core principles is an emphasis on global issues and educating young leaders for positive global change. While Explorations Academy has hosted individual international students from countries such as Germany, Indonesia, Slovakia, Colombia, and the Czech Republic, the new Global Student Program will create longterm global connections with sister schools. “It’s exciting to fulfill the vision of a Global Student Program,” says Anni Kamola, Explorations Academy’s executive assistant and GSP project manager. “This has been a focus of Explorations Academy since it was established 20 years ago, and this marks a maturation point for the school.” Other components of Explorations’ global education focus includes curriculum in areas such as ‘Arab Spring,’ ‘Geopolitics,’ and ‘Comparative Religion,’ and yearly month-long expeditions to countries as diverse as Thailand, Cuba, Kenya, India, Peru, Indonesia, and Guatemala.
On April 12, Explorations Academy will host a welcoming ceremony for the visiting students from Beijing Academy Charter School. During the three-week pilot program, the Chinese students will live with Explorations homestay families, participate in classes, help in the school garden, and join students and faculty in a weeklong outdoor expedition in the San Juan Islands. The pilot program will conclude May 1 with an awards ceremony in Explorations Academy’s Lower Level Theater.
The Global Student Program will officially begin welcoming international students for the 2015–16 school year.
