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LM has a long tradition of offering mini-courses during the final week of the school year on an every-other-year basis. This year we were excited to reintroduce these trips for the first time after the pandemic. Juniors and seniors chose from the list of options listed below. These trips are enriching for our students in many ways!
Spain
Lancaster Mennonite students had the opportunity to travel to Spain as a mini course this year. They spent a week in Madrid with Spanish host families and visited El Escorial, the Prado Museum, El Retiro park, and the Royal Palace, among other sites. In the second week, they traveled to Sahagun and Leon, where they participated in several local festivals and traditions and walked part of the world-famous “El Camino de Santiago” with local Spanish students.
Throughout the trip, the students experienced the contrast between the vibrant cosmopolitan life of the Spanish capital and an enriching rural region of the country.
Mexico
Another exciting minicourse provided LM students the opportunity to travel around Mexico! They explored the vibrant metropolis of México City and the ancient temples of Teotihuacan, hiked in caves and swam in thermal springs in the state of Hidalgo, and immersed themselves in the colonial architecture Querétaro.
The trip included visits to some of the most famous cultural and natural sites of central México, as well as the chance to learn more Spanish and spend time with people from the country.
Jamaica
The Girls Varsity Soccer team took a minicourse trip to Jamaica! While there, they ran soccer camps with Christian Service International (CSI) and played games, painted faces, and made bracelets with the students.
They also participated in service projects like painting at the school and community building in the area. They had fun enjoying a little swimming, snorkeling, hiking, and attending church with CSI too.
Germany
LM students traveled to Germany as part of the 11th German-American Partnership Program school exchange with Kreisgymnasium, Bad Krozingen. The first exchange happened in June and October of 2000. In the 23 years since then, we have exchanged 11 times. The exchange began with the German group coming to Lancaster Mennonite from January 28 to February 17. German students lived with their partner students’ families, attended school, and took trips to Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and NYC.
The LM group then traveled to Hamburg, Germany where they experienced Miniatur Wunderland, the view from the Elbphilharmonie, the Neuengamme concentration camp, the Elbstrand – the beach along the Elbe river, and eating and shopping in Hamburg. Then, they spent two-and-a-half weeks with their host families in the Bad Krozingen area, attending school and experiencing life with those families. The students visited numerous English classes and were interviewed by the students. During that time they learned a lot about the differences between the German and American school systems.
The group also visited Freiburg; Staufen; and Strasbourg, France. In Strasbourg, they toured the European Union Parliament, visited the cathedral there, and explored the shops and sights in the old city.
Grand Canyon
Students experienced the majesty of God in the beauty and magnificence of His creation in the Grand Canyon of Arizona. They also acquired life skills in a setting where the community is authentic, built and enhanced leadership skills, participated in character and spiritual development while learning how to prepare, pack and live outdoors.
Local Think-Outside-the-Box Golf
This group spent two mornings at Leisure Lanes bowling, mini-golfing, and driving golf balls. Then they transitioned to a local park to play basketball, frisbee golf, and yard games. One day they played a pitch-and-putt course and a soccer-golf course. They finished the school year by having a feast together!
Philadelphia Day Trips
Students took two day trips by train to Philadelphia, PA and also spent one day volunteering in Lancaster. On day one they visited important historic sites, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. They walked to Reading Terminal Market for lunch and stopped by City Hall and Love Park. Their second day in Philadelphia included the Art Museum and dinner at the Mediterranean restaurant Fig.
The Art of Japanese Tie-Dyeing and Cuisine
Students explored the art of Shibori, a Japanese fabric dying technique. Each student made a wearable item to keep and had the opportunity to create a Japanese meal starting with Matcha lattes and ending with Japanese ice cream with the help of our Japanese trained guest chef. They ended the course by traveling to downtown Lancaster for lunch at Sakura Asian Fusion.
Backpacking the Appalachian Trail
This three day trip consisted of backpacking along a segment of the Appalachian Trail. Their time was spent hiking along scenic mountain ranges, cooking and talking over camp fires, and enjoying the outdoors. They hiked roughly 7-10 miles per day, carried their own food/supplies, and slept in tents at night.
Theater Experiences
Students attended three performances at three different locations: The Wiz at The Fulton Theater, a local historical landmark, Footloose at Dutch Apple Dinner Theater in Centerville, PA, and The Lion King at Broadway in New York City.
Historical Adventures in Pennsylvania
This minicourse started with a day trip to Philadelphia where students visited Eastern State Penitentiary and Reading Terminal Market. Next, they spent a day kayaking on the Susquehanna River with visits to Lock 15 and the Susquehanna & Tidewater Canal. Finally, they visited Gettysburg National Historic Park, which included some hiking across various parts of the battlefield.
