Off-Campus Learning

Upper School students have opportunities to travel and study off campus and abroad, either through Country Day-sponsored programs or affiliate programs, such as School Year Abroad and Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki.

Students who have an interest in other semester-away opportunities not listed below are free to pursue those as well. Country Day awards academic credit as able for work with most accredited programs; however, GPA is not impacted by courses completed outside of Country Day. 

SISTER SCHOOL EXCHANGES, STUDY TRIPS, AND SERVICE-LEARNING EXPERIENCES
The International Studies office administers Sister School exchanges, study trips, and cultural and academic experiences. Upper School students travel and, depending upon the experience, spend some time at schools for approximately two weeks (usually in June). Faculty-led experiences abroad take place during school breaks during the academic year and the summer. Exchanges, study trips, and cultural and academic experiences vary from year to year, based on program developments by the Office of International Studies in collaboration with the Upper School Office and Department Chairs.

SCHOOL YEAR ABROAD
Offering a high school semester or year in France, Italy, or Spain, this program is the only secondary-level program that allows students to live with a host family while earning Upper School graduation credits and preparing for selective United States colleges and universities. Founded in 1965 and sponsored by three New England boarding schools (Phillips Academy, Phillips Exeter Academy, and St. Paul’s School), School Year Abroad (SYA) operates its own schools in Rennes, France, in Zaragoza, Spain, and in Viterbo, Italy. SYA’s program includes a nine-month home-stay with courses taught exclusively in the native language, plus American core courses taught by faculty from the sponsoring schools. courses taught by faculty from the sponsoring schools.

ALZAR
Splitting time between Patagonia and Idaho, this semester-long program is a favorite among those who enjoy the outdoors. Students are involved in experiential learning, including time spent immersed in Chilean culture. Core subjects are required as part of the program, and Alzar is able to offer a limited number of AP exams on the national testing days.
Outdoor Classroom and Cultural Exchange | Semester School | Alzar School

MAINE COAST SEMESTER AT CHEWONKI
Founded in 1988, Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki offers about 40 juniors from top day and boarding schools around the country the chance to spend half of their year on a 400-acre coastal peninsula, surrounded by salt marshes and tidal inlets and bordered by several miles of shoreline. The Afternoon Work Program affords the opportunity to work on an organic farm, chop firewood, and help with construction projects. The curriculum includes traditional junior year courses as well as distinctive courses such as Environmental Issues, Natural History of the Maine Coast, and Art and the Natural World. Country Day and Chewonki coordinate the program of study for our students’ year courses. One co-curricular credit is granted for the work program, and a 
fine arts studio credit is granted for Art and the Natural World. Country Day is pleased to be one 
of fourteen member schools. Life-Changing Learning in Nature - Maine Coast Semester (chewonki.org)

SCIENCE OUTREACH PROGRAM
We have many high school students who are passionate about science. The school promotes relationships with science professors at local institutions to give our students primary research opportunities over the summer. Interested students should speak to their current science teacher and get in touch with the Science Outreach Coordinator, who can provide guidance about possible placements. These experiences involve a large time commitment over the summer and are generally offered to rising seniors and juniors. The Science Outreach Coordinator can also help with applications to existing summer research programs across the nation. Students who take part in summer research are asked to present their work at the annual Science Symposium in the fall each year.

SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Country Day does not offer summer general academic courses for credit. Summer courses taken at other institutions do not transfer to the Country Day transcript or factor into a student’s GPA.