Intersession is a unique, long-standing opportunity available to Evansville Day School Upper School students, allowing learning and enrichment outside the traditional classroom. During the week of March 18-22, students in grades nine through twelve will embark on weeklong learning experiences. Each year, teachers partner with students to plan and organize a variety of opportunities and cultural immersion experiences in many areas of interest.

In 2019, five different Intersession experiences will be offered. They range from local exploration to destination adventures:

Local Service Learning

Under the guidance of Dr. Hanes and Mrs. Weisheit, students will assist classmate Drew Phillips in completing his Eagle Scout project by building outdoor seating on our campus. They’ll also give back at local organizations like the Tri-State Food Bank, Borrowed Hearts, Ronald McDonald House, Wesselman Woods, and the Rescue Mission.  This trip is geared toward the service-minded student looking to learn more about the community and give back to it in a positive way!

Regional Art Exploration

With Evansville as its hub, this group will take day trips to learn about what’s going on in art both locally and a car ride away. Under the direction of Mr. Bosler and Mrs. Ziemer, students will visit museums and galleries in Louisville, St. Louis, and Indianapolis and get to make some of their own art, including learning the delicate skill of glass blowing at Flame Run Gallery in Louisville and working with wood and resin with artist Del Pekar. This experience is excellent for the student looking to be immersed in art and try his/her hand at creating original works.

Animal Experiences

Animal lovers will join Mr. D and Ms. Huber for a week with creatures both big and small. From meeting penguins at the Newport Aquarium in Cincinnati to feeding elephants at Wilstem Ranch in Paoli, students will experience the area’s animal conservation and care efforts through a different lens. The group will also visit the Exotic Feline Rescue near Terre Haute and learn more about the group’s efforts to protect big cats right here in the Midwest. In addition, the group may spend time at Turner Stables and give back a little at local animal rescues in town.

Tennessee

This intrepid group, led by Ms. Heck and Mrs. Kanetkar, will drive to Gatlinburg, TN, where they will hike to a waterfall, visit the highest point in the eastern US, sit around a campfire, tell ghost stories and eat s’mores, learn about Native American culture, and get educated on the wild and crazy at Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum and Aquarium. A drive to Chattanooga will follow, where students will visit Ruby Falls, the tallest cave waterfall in the world, hike Lookout Mountain, take an inline railway ride to the top, and trek Rock City. Nashville, Country Music Capital of the World, will conclude the week. Students will tour Vanderbilt and Belmont University, visit the famous Honky Tonk Row in downtown Nashville, and maybe even take in a concert at the Grand Ole Opry. Several other historically significant attractions may also join the itinerary, including Andrew Jackson’s home and Nashville’s famous Parthenon replica.

San Diego

Ms. Sarol and Mrs. Swinford will navigate students on this southern California adventure! Students help plan a trip catered to the group’s interests and budget in partnership with the teacher leaders. They will have opportunities to explore interests in marine biology/zoology as well as art and culture via activities like sea lion watching at La Jolla beach and research at local tide pools, as well as visits to museums in Balboa Park and the WorldBeat Cultural Center. They may do some hiking at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and spend some time soaking up San Diego’s history in Old Town.

2019 proves to be another exciting Intersession lineup! These opportunities exemplify the many ways Evansville Day School takes learning to the next level, fostering students to become balanced, resilient, globally minded, entrepreneurial learners. We believe these experiences enhance the education of our students and prepare them for the real-world challenges that lie ahead.