By Jason Suh ’17, News Writer

One of Newark Academy’s most popular programs is its off-campus study program, which stands as a key example of the Academy’s willingness to provide students with a unique learning experience. The program allows students to apply for administration-sanctioned trips to various schools for a semester away from the school.

The off-campus semester program is often seen as similar to Newark Academy’s immersion experience program because both involve not only placing participants in a new, potentially challenging environment but also allowing for personal enrichment and development. In the past the school has offered its students opportunities to travel to areas such as the Bahamas and the Rocky Mountains, and foreign nations such as China, Spain, and France. Specifically, these off-campus programs include: The Island School, The School for Ethics and Global Leadership, Rocky Mountain Semester, The Oxbow School, Chewonki, The Mountain School, The Outdoor Academy, and School Year Abroad. While all programs have seen immense student participation, the school board continues to offer opportunities to Newark Academy students.

Joining the semester away program list in the new year, the Alzar School, located in Cascade, Idaho, serves to provide sophomores and juniors with a semester of leadership training and outdoor experiences. The program’s admissions director, Yuri Davydov, stated that the school “strive[s] to achieve [its] goal of developing high school leaders through a highly scholastic and experiential program, a six week cultural exchange in the Chilean Andes, and by utilizing outdoor adventure as an environment for leadership development and education.”

At the Alzar School, students are able to continue with their traditional academic education in a setting centralized around the wilderness. Students also participate in outdoors expeditions and learn new skills such as rafting and kayaking. According to Mr. Davydov, the program is unique because “we immerse our students in Chile for six weeks and offer a strong leadership and academic curriculum.” He went on to state that “our students all take Spanish and our international contingency is continually growing.” By providing Newark Academy with a variety of challenges, the Alzar School is a promising addition to Newark Academy’s opportunities.

While the Academy has not yet sent any students to the Alzar School, the administration is hopeful that it will be successful because of the fulfilling student development experiences the program offers. Upper School Principal, Dr. DiBianca, stated that “the whole semester experience seems to include all of the different kinds of immersion themes in one: wilderness, cultural, lingual, service.” He later added “like all of our semester schools, I hope Alzar will provide Newark Academy with a unique transformative experience.” With the addition of yet another off campus opportunity, Newark Academy’s off-campus study program continues to provide students with extraordinary opportunities.