Academics

Global Programs

Learning Beyond Lancaster

LCDS Global Programs comprise travel courses with a robust, experiential-learning focus that benefit our entire PS-12 community. Students also enjoy opportunities to host international students and to travel domestically with them, for a true cultural exchange.

Travel Courses

Full-year travel courses in Upper School allow students to develop an understanding for cultural, real world connections that are directly related to curriculum. For each course, interested students need to meet specific prerequisites and sometimes there is a competitive application process for admittance to the course. For the Model United Nations, students travel to The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) conference in the Netherlands or the Doha, Qatar (offered 2018-19). Other trips include Spanish Civilization and Culture to study language and culture in Spain and The Science of Hawaii to study geology and marine biology across the big island. Please see below for more trip examples.

Middle School students can participate in an exchange with Kelvinside Academy in Scotland. In addition, all MS students also go on a regional overnight trip specific to the grade: Outdoor School at Shavers Creek near State College, Refreshing Mountain in Stevens, Pa., or Echo Hill Camp on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. These trips promote community building and learning outside the classroom walls, while helping students gain independence and personal growth.

 

Trips

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  • Explore Iceland: North to South

    Open to students in grades 9-12. Experience stunning fjords and breathtaking waterfalls, then travel to a red mountain where mud boils and steam flows out of the earth. Journey through the Dimmuborgir lava formations, which some believe are trolls exposed to the sun, then walk along the gap separating two tectonic plates. This adventurous trip will keep you moving, climbing, and hiking—and constantly questioning how your surroundings can possibly be real. (offered Spring Break 2019, signup closed-waitlist available)

  • From Florence to Rome

    Open to students in grades 9-12. Florence was king during the Renaissance, and the city is still full of treasures from that transformative period in history.  Brunelleschi’s amazing Duomo changed the rules of architecture, and Michelangelo’s David is one of the great achievements in the history of art. In Rome, awe-inspiring remains of the ancient empire still stand, from the Colosseum to the Forum. (offered Spring Break 2019, spaces available)

Exchanges

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  • Cape Town, South Africa

    Open to students in grades 9-11, spend four weeks in the summer studying in Cape Town, South Africa at either Bishops School for Boys or Herschel Girls’ School.  Students stay with host families and experience the school life, culture and many hands-on nature experiences.  South African exchange partners then travel to LCDS September-November. (offered Summer 2019)
  • Glasgow, Scotland

    Open to students in grade 8, this is an exchange with our global partner school, Kelvinside Academy. Students tour the UK, visit Kelvinside Academy classes, and stay with host families. Travel abroad promotes the pillars of MS-- respect, responsibility, honesty--and helps students gain independence and personal growth. MS faculty participate in all activities with the students. (offered SB 2019)
  • Madrid, Spain

    Open to grades 10-12. Spend four weeks in March studying at our Global Partner School, Colegio Virgen de Europa, in Madrid, Spain. Students stay with host families and experience school, culture and many hands-on experiences in this language immersion program. (Spanish teacher recommendation required, offered March 2019)
  • Shanghai, China

    Open to students in grades 10-12. Spend ten days in China at the SMIC School. Students stay with host families and have the opportunity to attend classes in either Chinese or English.  SMIC exchange partners travel to LCDS in February. (offered Dec-Jan break 2018-19).

Meet our Staff

List of 3 members.

  • Photo of Beky Weidner

    Beky Weidner 

    International Student Coord. | MS/US Art Faculty
  • Photo of Jennifer Brubaker

    Jennifer Brubaker 

    Global Programs Coord. | MS Dean of Students | MS Language Faculty
    Bio
  • Photo of Betsy Altemus Hedbavny '90

    Betsy Altemus Hedbavny '90 

    Kindergarten Teacher | LS Global Outreach Coordinator
    Bio
Lancaster Country Day School is a preschool-12th grade, coed college preparatory school with students from Lancaster, Hershey, York and Reading.