Global Studies Programs
Ramblers travel to expand the mind and shape the heart.
At Loyola Academy, students have the opportunity to see the world through a Jesuit lens—traveling abroad to learn, serve, perform, and grow in faith. Through our Global Studies Programs, Ramblers immerse themselves in new cultures and traditions, deepening their understanding of the global community and discovering what it means to be women and men for others.
Academic Trips
France
Students studying French experience the language in action while exploring the history, art, and culture of France and other Francophone countries such as Belgium and Switzerland. The itinerary includes visits to historical landmarks and hands-on cultural and linguistic activities.
Open to students enrolled in French; offered every other spring break during even years.
China
Students of Chinese gain a deeper understanding of Chinese language, culture, and history through visits to landmarks such as the Great Wall and the Terra Cotta Warriors. Participants connect with local students and attend cultural classes to practice real-world communication.
Open to students enrolled in Chinese; offered every other summer during even years.
Greece & Italy
Our three-week Classics Tour—the oldest continually run academic trip at Loyola—takes students to the birthplace of Western civilization. Participants earn academic credit for Honors Classical Civilization while visiting ancient sites, journaling, and engaging in group projects.
Open to Greek and Latin students who are rising juniors or seniors; offered every other summer during odd years.
Spain
Students studying Spanish travel to Seville and Madrid for a full language immersion experience, combining classroom instruction with cultural excursions to sites such as the Royal Palace and a traditional flamenco performance.
Open to students enrolled in Honors Spanish 3 or higher; offered every other spring break during even years.
Camino de Santiago, Spain
Offered through the Theology Department, this Ignatian pilgrimage invites students to walk the historic Camino de Santiago from Ponferrada to the Cathedral of St. James. Each day includes time for prayer, reflection, Mass, and community as students discern their call to be people for others.
Open to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.
Central America
This Spanish immersion experience—recently held in Costa Rica—invites students to live the language through guided instruction, service, and cultural engagement in Spanish-speaking communities.
Open to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors enrolled in Spanish; offered every other summer during odd years.
England
Students explore England’s literary and historical treasures—from London and Windsor to Oxford or Cambridge—visiting landmarks tied to Shakespeare, the Brontë sisters, and other literary figures.
Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors; offered every other spring break during odd years.
Service Trips
Mexico
Through the KINO Border Initiative, a ministry of the Jesuits’ US West Province, students serve at the U.S.–Mexico border to better understand the realities of immigration. Participants meet with migrants, border agents, and missionaries while building bridges of compassion and solidarity.
Open to rising seniors; offered annually in July as part of the Summer Service Program.
Performing Arts Trips
| Band Tour |
Band students have the opportunity to share their musical talents abroad while immersing themselves in the rich cultural and artistic traditions of another country. Past tours have included performances and visits to significant music sites in Italy, offering students a once-in-a-lifetime experience of global connection through music. Offered on a four-year rotation. |
| Choir Tour |
The Loyola Academy Choir brings voices of faith and unity to international audiences. Past destinations have included Austria, Poland, Italy, and the Czech Republic—countries known for their sacred and classical music heritage. Students perform in historic venues and engage with local communities through the universal language of song. Offered on a four-year rotation. |
| Orchestra Tour |
Orchestra students travel abroad to explore the history and artistry of music across cultures, performing in venues that reflect centuries of musical tradition. These tours combine cultural exploration, artistic growth, and the joy of sharing music with audiences around the world. Offered on a four-year rotation. |
 | The Jesuit Network |
Loyola Academy—the largest Jesuit high school in the United States—belongs to a global Jesuit network of more than 1,000 schools worldwide. From the earliest days of the Society of Jesus, St. Ignatius of Loyola encouraged travel as a means to serve others and find God in all things. Today, inspired by that same Ignatian vision and Pope Francis’s call in Laudato Si’ to care for our common home, our Ramblers continue this tradition—learning to see the world as a classroom without borders. | |