By Sanya Bery ’17, Staff Writer

Students at Newark Academy live relatively exciting lives, excelling not only academically but also athletically and in the arts. However, all of us dream about getting away from day to day life and exploring unfamiliar places. Newark Academy’s immersion requirement means that all students must immerse themselves in another culture or environment in order to graduate. Students can choose a faculty-led immersion, which requires an internal application process, select from a list of external organizations, or apply to get their own idea approved. Over the summer, many students went into the unknown for two weeks with Newark Academy, while others traveled with a variety of external programs. Here are some highlights from just a few of the many faculty-led and outside trips that students embarked on during summer 2014.

Faculty-Led Immersions: Greetings From the Southwest and ¡Felicitaciones de España! 

A popular Newark Academy wilderness-based immersion is the Southwest experience. During June term, twelve students and faculty advisors Mr. Stourton and Ms. Lopretto set out to explore the gorgeous wilderness of Utah and Arizona. For 14 days, students lived outside, bathing in rivers, falling asleep to shooting stars and awakening to the sunrise. I attended this immersion and it was one of the best experiences of my life. While we were hiking in Zion, Bryce and the Grand Canyon or canoeing down the Green River, we realized how small, powerless and insignificant we were compared to nature. I couldn’t put into words how incredible this trip was and how it helped me grow as a person and see the world around me.

Over the summer, Ms. McNeilly-Anta, Mr. Gomez, alum Matt Cowen ’13 and Newark Academy students immersed themselves in the extraordinary culture of Spain. Each student had a Spanish sibling whom they lived with for two weeks. Speaking only Spanish, students got a new, non-touristy version of Spanish culture and the people. This September, the Spanish students returned to live with their English siblings. When the students left, it was very emotional because everyone had become so close with each other. Chris Paradis ’16 went on the immersion and loved every second of it; he said that Spain was “one of the best times of my life”.

External Immersions: What’s Up from the West Colorado Rockies

Matteo Moretti’17, Will Schwartz’17, and Mark Berger’17 hiked, backpacked and fished for fifteen days in the West Colorado Rockies with Lillard Fly Fishing Expeditions. Since this was a non-Newark Academy immersion, the three boys not only got to enjoy the beautiful nature views, but they also got to meet people from all over the world that they never would have met if they did not go on this trip. Will Schwartz said that this immersion “was an experience of a lifetime. I got to know people from all across the country with totally different cultures while doing things I love.”

Comparing and Contrasting

Faculty-led and external immersions are different in that school-run immersions focus on teaching students outside of the classroom. In Southwest for example, over campfires, we discussed the history of the Native Americans and famous authors from the areas where we were living. Ms. Lopretto, one of the trip advisors, said that school immersions allow “students and faculty a chance to learn in a way that’s not possible in the classroom.” Issi Young ’17 said that during her France immersion, she got to meet people from “different places throughout the country. There’s diversity at Newark Academy but this was a whole new level.” Most importantly, external immersions and Newark Academy immersions are similar because they both provide students with an experience they will never forget.