By Izzy Becker ‘24, Feature Section Writer (March 2022)

There are many important graduation requirements at Newark Academy; however, the immersion program may be the most rewarding and globalizing of them all. Approved in 2008 by the Newark Academy Board of Trustees, the immersion experience requirement was designed to give students an opportunity to engage themselves in a new environment, while participating in wilderness, cultural, or service activities. It also teaches students to develop independence and expose them to new opportunities. As described by the Director of Immersion Experiences, Ms. McNeilly-Anta, the immersion experience program encourages students to “lean into discomfort,” and become involved in enriching experiences away from home. 

There are three categories of immersion, linguistic, service, and wilderness, all of which are available for students in grades 9-12. The linguistic immersion is a language-based trip that is at least 16 days long. It heavily incorporates homestay and host family interactions. The linguistic immersion emphasizes language practice and allows the traveling student to become engrossed in the culture and world of their language and respective country. In addition, language is such an integral part of this immersion that students must pledge to only speak in their foreign language during the duration of their immersion. Current examples of linguistic trip offerings are the China immersion, Spain immersion, and France immersion.

The service immersion is a 16-day trip that incorporates a homestay and requires at least 60 hours of service work. This immersion promotes social justice and allows students to serve communities that might be different from their own, enabling them to use their skills and knowledge from Newark Academy to explore other cultures and peoples. Currently, there are no service immersions running; however, a past favorite was the Guatemala immersion, where students worked with From Houses to Homes to build houses for less fortunate families. 

The wilderness and outdoor immersion is a minimum 10-day trip in which students eat, sleep, and live outside, getting to know the animals, wildlife, and ecosystem of their environment. On these immersions, students have the opportunity to participate in activities such as hiking, kayaking, and assisting locals in harvesting crops and maintaining environmental systems. This trip encourages students to disconnect from their current realities and experience nature’s many wonders. Current outdoor wilderness immersions include the Maine Adventure immersion, The Lavender Farm immersion, and the American Southwest immersion, all of which inspire learning and problem-solving skills outside of the classroom.

In addition to the many immersion experiences run by Newark Academy, students have the option of choosing a different, pre-approved trip from an outside organization. Also, in some cases, students can design their own immersions around a place or interest of their choosing, if discussed and approved. In past years, the immersion program has been a requirement for all graduating students; however, due to COVID-19 and the resulting travel restrictions, the immersion experience was waived for the classes of ‘22, ‘23, and ‘24. Nevertheless, many students in these grades still choose to participate in them.

Senior Meredith Janay traveled on an immersion a few years ago and has a lot to share about it. She went on the Lille, France immersion during her spring break in 2019; the immersion has since been changed from Lille to Lyon, France. On her trip, Meredith and fellow students spent the first few days in Paris, visiting the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, and an old bell tower. “We mainly visited museums and popular French sites,” Janay says, “it was so immersive!” On her trip, Meredith learned to adjust to environments and situations that were completely foreign to her, and through this, gained a deeper understanding of the culture and people of France. “I definitely got a lot better at my French writing skills because of the journal I had to keep. I connected to the language in a way I hadn’t before,” Meredith, added. Meredith recognizes that her immersion provided her with a whole new way of living that posed some challenges; having to speak and write entirely in a foreign language. However, it was incredibly impactful.

In addition to students who have previously traveled, many wait to embark on immersions to come. Claire Nowak ‘24 is scheduled to go on the Lavender Farm immersion trip, from May 25-June 3, 2022. “I’m really excited to have this new experience.  I’ve never really done anything like this before, so it sounds really fun. All of the activities seem really engaging and interesting,” says Claire. When asked what made her decide to pick this immersion, especially considering that it is now not required of her, she responded: “I’ve always planned on doing one so that didn’t change things. It’ll be a great bonding experience!” 

Similarly, Dylan Wapner, class of 2024, expressed his enthusiasm about his upcoming American Southwest immersion trip, which will take place from May 31-June 10, 2022. Dylan says he’s most excited about “having a new experience where [he’ll] be able to try new things like camping.” He also mentioned that the Southwest trip stuck out to him because he would “be able to do a lot of outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and fishing, all while spending time with [his] friends.”

Although immersions will continue to be a graduation requirement for future grades, it is not in place to pose a burden. Rather they offer a handful of trips that allow students to familiarize themselves with various regions of the country and world, make valuable connections with their fellow peers, and gain a global perspective of the lives and cultures of others.