Field Trips | Middle School
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, some field trips may be suspended for the 2022-2023 school year.
"Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words, but by experiences in the environment." - Maria Montessori
Students of all ages experience opportunities outside of the classroom as a means of not only broadening the mind and spirit, but as an opportunity to practice grace and courtesy in the larger world. Teachers guide students in trip planning and encourage them to take initiatives to extend what is learned in the classroom to a real-world setting. Travel experiences, whether local or abroad, are carefully planned and designed for the developmental needs of the learner at each age group.
Overnight Trips and Educational Travel | Middle and Upper School
Long after students graduate from MSR, they will remember the overnight trips experienced while Middle and Upper School students at MSR. An essential part of the curriculum, these trip also provide opportunities to share experiences, live together as a community away from home, and solidify friendships that last through their educational career and beyond.
Each fall, Middle and Upper School students participate in a variety of adventurous challenges and outdoor activities designed to engage, empower, and inspire. Hiking, climbing, canoeing, ropes courses, and group games in scenic natural wilderness environments are key educational experiences for environment studies and in developing individual grit.
Middle School Fall Odyssey Trip
Each year in the fall, the 7th and 8th years embark upon a 3-day overnight community-building trip to form friendships, develop trust, and participate in physical and mental challenges. Students travel by bus to either the Blue Ridge YMCA Center in Black Mountain, NC or the Camp Hanes YMCA Camp in King, NC.
Middle School and Upper School Spring Trips
As a high point of the spring semester, Middle and Upper School students design, plan, and lead curricular focused explorations in different national and international locales. These trips are a graduation requirement for all students who qualify on the basis of academic, social, and emotional criteria, as determined by the faculty and administration.
Middle School National Trip
Each spring, Middle School students participate in a national trip with a U.S. historical focus tied to our humanities curriculum. This trip is planned completely by the students working in small groups, and the areas of focus are interest-based and tie into lessons taught throughout the year. Past trips have included Washington D.C., Williamsburg, Va., Charleston, S.C., and Philadelphia.
Summer Service Learning Trip
MSR partners with EF Tours to offer a voluntary international summer service trip for students in grades 7 - 11. On Service Learning tours, students work with established nonprofits and locals on community-driven projects. Students are exposed to new cultures and make contributions that are both necessary and meaningful. Planning is underway for our first trip to Spain in July of 2022.