Spring 2022 Intensive Learning Options
ALASKAN AURORA ADVENTURE
The adventure begins with several late evening opportunities outdoors in sub-zero temperatures with some of the best chances in North America to experience the Northern Lights near the city of Fairbanks. During the day we explore the city and its native heritage before departing for Denali National Park, followed by a memorable journey through the tundra on the Alaskan Scenic Railway to our home base for the remainder of the trip, Anchorage. While there we will take excursions focused on native culture, Alaskan History, and nature to include experiences with Iditarod sled dog teams, musk ox, a wildlife conservation center, and a cruise through the Kenai Fjords in search of whales, glacier views, and other marine life.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
We will be visiting artistic venues in the Philadelphia area. Possible offerings include Cambridge Sound Studios, the Kimmel Center, Cunningham Piano Restoration Facility, the Franklin Institute, and Wells Fargo Center.
ART & SOCIAL CHANGE
In this program we will think about the ways artists and performers use their work to raise awareness and effect change in their communities. We will experience work by other artists and make some of our own. Our week will include a theatre/improv workshop with an award-winning Philadelphia theatre company, film study, and tours focused on public art in the Philadelphia region. This is a program all about exploration, so no previous experience in theatre or art is necessary. We will meet as a group to make some decisions together about the focus of our work — we want this to be a week of collaborative creation on ALL levels!
BLACKSMITHING
The craft of working with iron to make tools is an ancient practice. In this IL experience, students will learn the basics of metalwork and have the chance to produce tools or art objects of their own. We work in cooperation with the Harriton House (in Bryn Mawr, PA) and explore blacksmithing in the context of history, art, science, and sustainability.
CAREERS IN MUSIC
When one thinks of a musician, the image of a person performing on stage is probably the first thing that comes to mind, but there are so many more careers in music, including producers, arrangers, film composers, publishers, recording engineers, video game composers, liturgical directors, vocal coaches, session players and singers, educators, songwriters, advertising composers, licensing folks, cantors, and more. This Intensive Learning experience will explore diverse careers in music, and you will meet some highly successful musicians in the industry.
CHINESE CULTURE
We will explore Chinese culture and practice taiji and calligraphy, study traditional Chinese medicine, and sample traditional Chinese food.
GIVE KIDS THE WORLD, FLORIDA
Give Kids The World Village is an 84-acre, nonprofit “storybook” resort in Central Florida. Here, children with critical illnesses and their families are treated to week-long, cost-free vacations. There, we will serve food, run rides, and escort families around the village. We will also be working at the Second Harvest Food Bank in Orlando as well as the Christian Service Center, where we will be serving lunches to families and individuals in Orlando. Finally, after a hard-working four days, we will enjoy some fun at Magic Kingdom.
HONOLULU, HAWAII
This year students will travel to Hawaii to experience Polynesian and Indigenous culture and history as well as distinct local ecosystems. With a home base in Waikiki on the island of Oahu, day trips will include a visit to Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona, the Polynesian Cultural Center, historic North Shore, including a visit to a turtle sanctuary with snorkeling, and the Dole pineapple plantation. Students will also get to experience a luau one evening and a day of beach activities!
LOW & SLOW: THE SCIENCE, CULTURE, & PRACTICE OF TRUE BARBECUE
Students will learn, in both hands-on and more traditionally academic ways, about barbecue. The experience will cover the history and cultural importance of barbecue, the science involved in low and slow cooking of tough cuts of meat, and how to actually cook barbecue. We will cook and enjoy multiple meals together, likely involving multiple forms of both beef and pork barbecue.
MINDFULNESS — SCHOOL CLIMATE PROJECT
Students will take the Intensive Learning week as an opportunity to improve their mental health through research-based mindfulness practices. The project will offer students a chance to practice and lead empathetic exercises in order to improve the cultural climate among students, faculty, and administrators at MFS and serve the school community with reflective culture-building activities. The project will consist of five theme-days that coincide with the mission of MFS: Personal Growth; Ethical and Spiritual Growth; Community Growth; Cultural Awareness; and a special student-chosen theme. Each day will blend different mindfulness techniques including mindful listening, walking, sitting, eating, and a number of conversational and fun culture building opportunities. Best of all, this project is open to all students, as it is designed to meet them where they are, with the primary goal of improving their mental health and the health of the MFS community. Finally, the project will result in the creation of “mindfulness moments” — decorations and instructions for capturing and creating moments of mindfulness around the MFS campus.
What is mindfulness? “The awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally.”
NATIONAL & STATE PARKS OUT WEST: EXPLORATION & SERVICE
Students will spend six days exploring state and national parks in Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. Activities will include hiking, wading at the Narrows, floating down the Colorado River, sliding down the Coral Pink Sand Dunes, indoor rock climbing, and service. Students will engage in a day of service at the educational center of Picture Canyon, helping with trail maintenance and working on a sustainability project that provides reclaimed water to local areas. Destinations include Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, Zion, Checkerboard Mesa, Bryce Canyon, Queen’s Garden, Toadstool hike, Horseshoe Bend, Grand Canyon, and more.
OUTDOOR EXHIBITS — EXPLORE HISTORY, CULTURE, ART, ANIMALS, & BOTANY!
Let’s kick off the start of spring by exploring beautiful local outdoor exhibits in the Philly area! IL includes the following exhibits: Philadelphia Zoo, Grounds for Sculpture, Longwood Gardens, Shofuso Japanese house and garden, and Historic Smithville Mansion and grounds.
PINE BARRENS EXPERIENCE
Students will spend the week learning about the rich history and biodiversity of the local Pine Barrens region. The week will include hiking, a visit to a former blacksmithing/glass-making village, and visits to local businesses.
SOUTH JERSEY SERVICE
South Jersey Service will provide an opportunity for students to volunteer and serve at a variety of local organizations with varying missions. Students will learn how they can serve in multiple ways and about the different kinds of needs in our region.
PUERTO RICO: HURRICANE MARIA RELIEF
We will kick off our service/culture/adventure trip with a guided walking tour through Old San Juan. During the rest of the days we will work in the community of Villa del Rio on home construction projects to repair damage from Hurricane Maria. We will mix concrete, build floors, walls, staircases, and more. In the evenings we will have time to swim, listen to music, and do a little salsa dancing. We’ll end the trip with an evening kayak excursion through the waters of the magnificent Fajardo bio-luminescent bay. This trip is a real “work hard/play hard” experience that has been organized by Global Works to help with the continued restoration of the beautiful and culturally rich island of Puerto Rico.