Upper School Trips 2019-20

Explore the hidden back roads of Beijing, climb to the top of the Great Wall, and connect with the unique culture of Tianjin. Discover the striking contrast between the urban modernity of bustling Beijing and the quietude and tranquility of the rural countryside as you walk along the Great Wall. Learn about China’s shifting position on the world stage and soak up the ancient culture. Strike up conversations with local people and practice your Chinese during immersion activities and language exchanges with local students. From the Peking duck to steamed buns, big cities to small villages, tea ceremony to Tai chi exercise, the Great Wall to the Forbidden City, this trip provides the perfect chance to practice Mandarin Chinese and explore China from an insider’s perspective.   

Upper School students currently enrolled in Mandarin Chinese

18-20 students

The Costa Rica trip will have three goals. First, students will experience Costa Rican culture through such activities as visiting a native village, participating in a mask-making workshop, touring a coffee plantation, and completing a two-night homestay. Next, students will have the opportunity to use Spanish with native speakers. Finally, the trip has a community service component in which students will monitor populations of sea turtles and work on a mangrove restoration project. 

Open to students in grades 9-11. Priority will be given to students who take Spanish classes at Seattle Academy.

18-21 students

Get ready to learn how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable! This program meets you where you are and opens the door for you to reach beyond where you thought you could go. We traverse Alaska wilderness hiking, camping, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and more. Fast paced with a focus on team building, self-reliance, and wilderness learning. We partner with state and federal agencies as well as with Alaska Native Tribes to make an impact through a variety of service learning opportunities.  Service hours available.

NO OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!

Current 9th-11th grade

8-12 students

Provide a meaningful service-learning experience through volunteer work, integrated cultural tourism, and daily reflective discussion. Spend week one volunteering in the greater New Orleans area rebuilding homes and/or assisting community projects. Spend week two volunteering in the rural communities along the Southwest Louisiana coast restoring wetlands.

Rising 10-12th grade students

18 students

The group will travel by bus, plane and ferry to make their way up along the inside passage to Skagway, Alaska.  From there, the group will make their way to Lake Laberge, just outside of Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory, Canada. Camp in pristine wilderness on the frozen shores of Lake Laberge with your classmates. Go ice fishing, dog sledding, hangout around the campfire! Join the Seattle Academy tradition of the senior class trip; a time to celebrate, reflect, engage in fun activities, and spend time together.  

12th grade students

No limit

This trip is held in the Backcountry of Mt. Baker during mid-winter break in February. Lead by Martin Brakke (US Science), Catherine Klem (US Math), and The Baker Mountain Guides, students participate in two courses: AIARE Level 1, the first step in Avalanche awareness, assessment, and rescue; and Backcountry Pro 1, a 5-day field-based course focused on practical skills. Each morning the group will meet at our cabin in Glacier with our guides to discuss the hazard assessment, snow conditions, weather, and tour plan for the day. We will drive to the Backcountry Gate, near Mt. Baker resort, strap climbing skins on our touring skis and splitboards and begin our first ascent. No lifts for us, we earn some of the best turns in in North America on this trip as each day consists of 4000+ ft of human-powered vertical gain in "tour mode" and an equal amount of descent in "ski mode." Students will learn skills in outdoor leadership, decision making, team building, risk mitigation, and resource management. While never guaranteed, Baker generally promises to have deep and fluffy powder and a stable snowpack this time of year. 

9th-12th grade (ability dependent)

4-10 students

We will travel and explore the differences between the central and northern cultures of Vietnam, visiting Taipei, Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi, and Halong Bay.  Visiting the Chi Chi Tunnels, participating in cooking classes, learning Tai Chi are just a few of the many sites and activities we will be visiting. The group will also spend some time in Hue working with local organizations. 

11th grade students - 10th grade students considered

10-12 students

Work as a team (SAAS students/faculty and Zambia students/adults) to accomplish educational and service projects with our partner Lusaka schools and clinics. Learn about educational, health, and social issues in a developing nation; engage with the people and culture; continue to build for the future of the program; and have an adventure (not a vacation) with a combination of hard work, fun, safe risk-taking (e.g. safari, etc.), team work, dealing with new world-view/cultural views, sharing cooking and other daily tasks, etc. Service hours available on this trip.

Current 9th -11th grade students. Priority given to rising 11th-12th graders.

12-14 students