Daystar XP Travel

2024-2025 XP Trips: "Cultural Crossroads"

Each carefully selected destination this year offers students the opportunity to witness and immerse themselves in the fascinating and surprising ways that cultures intersect around the world. Whether it is through their past or their present, each destination shows our students what the unique cultures offer these regions and the ways that cultures blending and cultures clashing affect the political climate, artistic expression, culinary offerings, language, and environmental sustainability.

We will reach a cultural crossroads in each place and see where these worlds—and our own—collide.

Miami/Everglades

January 2025

In Miami, students will visit street art displays, try food from all of the different cultures represented in the city, and learn about how immigration policies have affected the city’s past and shaped its future. Students will also get to visit XP’s third National Park: the Florida Everglades, one of the most biodiverse landscapes in the United States and home to many endangered species such as the manatee.

Peru

January 2025

Students will see the incredible accomplishments of the Inca builders of Machu Picchu, walk through the strong clash of Inca civilization and Spanish conquistadors in the city of Cusco, and learn how modern indigenous populations are combating climate change by cultivating potatoes at altitude.

Vietnam

January 2025

By walking in the steps of its past, students will gain an understanding of the Vietnamese people’s struggles for independence and reconciliation. Some possible activities include exploring the Old Quarter and the imperial city of Hue, entering the Cu Chi tunnels, and visiting beaches and rice fields to experience Vietnam’s scenic beauty.

Questions about the trips? Email Mrs. Dragan at kathleen.dragan@daystaracademy.org

2023-2024 XP Trips

Benelux Trip

November 2023

Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg - Students engaged in a deep dive into European politics, economics, history, and transportation, as designed by the Global Politics teacher. The cities of Brussels, Bruges, Luxembourg, and Amsterdam made up the busy and engaging itinerary.

Mexico City

January 2024

A city with no limit to the opportunities for artistic and cultural exploration, this trip focused on artistic expression, Spanish language practice and culinary exploration of the regional specialities. The Visual Arts and Spanish teacher led this trip.

Sankofa Journey

February 2024

Led by our high school Chaplain, this trip to the American south provided a window into the Civil Rights movement and a chance for students to gain a perspective on this history as well as a view towards the future of social justice and their roles in achieving it. Sites included the Selma bridge, the Equal Justice Initiative and a variety of HBCU chores.

During the 2022-2023 school, high school students had the opportunity to join one of four teacher-curated trips to the following locations:

Peru--Sponsored by the ESS and I&S teachers to study environmental sustainability in indigenous cultures while practicing Spanish immersion.
Marrakesh, Morocco--To explore geometry and design in a culture vastly different from Chicago, as proposed by the math teacher.
Santa Fe, New Mexico--An exploration into the art and landscape of the desert with opportunities to receive instruction from the art teacher on plain-air drawing and photography.
Stratford, Ontario, Canada--The initial foray into international travel and its challenges and adventures with the additional benefit of a Shakespeare play at the Stratford Festival alongside the Language and Literature teacher.