Travel Programs

The Senior Project in France offers an immersion program of activities aiming to provide students with a culminating appreciation of French culture, language and history. This seven-day home-stay on the French Riviera followed by a five-day exploration of Paris and its environs promises enrichment opportunities at once exciting and educational.

In Cannes, students participate in an authentic student-to- student exchange with the Lycée Stanislas, one of France’s finest secondary schools. The Cannes International Film Festival winds down during our stay, so students will feel some of the excitement and pizazz that annually gathers movie stars, cinephiles and paparazzi. Day-trips bring us to Nice, the Château de La Napoule, l’Ile Saint-Honorat, and the Fragonard Museum in Grasse; evenings spent largely en famille extend opportunities for immersion in French language and culture.

In Paris, we stay four nights in a 4-star hotel on the right bank, and enjoy meals in selected restaurants that serve traditional French food. Our stay in Paris includes: a dinner-cruise on the river Seine; the iconic sights and monuments of Paris; walking tours of historic gardens and quartiers; museum visits; a market visit in Versailles, followed by picnic and bike-ride in the gardens of the palace.

Please note that all participants in this program must also meet the requirements of a complementary senior project during the two weeks prior to traveling. We require that this portion of the senior project be service-oriented.

Sample Itinerary

We spend the first part of the trip in Cusco, Peru, working in an orphanage, touring ancient Incan sites and exploring this beautiful colonial city in the Andes. We live in a large guest house with our host family near the center. After five days we go to the small town of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, live with local families and do agricultural service. We experience traditional life in rural Peru. We then hike the Inca Trail and visit Machu Picchu. This trip offers an authentic cultural experience.

The couple that directs the program in Peru is the key to this wonderful experience. Chivi Uscamayta recently finished a term as the Assistant Mayor of Cusco and has dedicated her life to helping those in need. Julio Lopez is one of the foremost travel agents in Peru and an expert on Peruvian history and culture.

This is a challenging trip in many ways. We live and eat simply. We are very physically active and have one 6-7 hour hike. Our two days of farm work are strenuous.

We see a lot of poverty and coming face to face with the reality of orphanage life is not easy. We are constantly in situations in which students are expected to reach across language and cultural barriers.

Sample Itinerary

This service and learning trip to the Dominican Republic includes service work, a Spanish language course and exploring the beauty of the island. Thayer currently partners with IIC (Institute Intercultural del Caribe) and Project Esperanza to achieve our goals of having a meaningful week in a Caribbean Spanish-speaking country. Students perfect their Spanish in interactions with the children and through the experience of daily living with Dominican families.

Sample Itinerary

Sample Itinerary

This Senior Project spends the first few weeks learning about marine research on the coast of Massachusetts. We will specifically focus on salt marshes and the ecosystem services that they offer to us. Students will work with the 6th grade Marine science classes to teach them data collection techniques and join them on their annual field work trip to the marshes at Conservation Park in Scituate, Ma.

The final week of the Senior Project is spent learning about native ecosystems and environmental sustainability through immersive, place-based experiences at The Island School on Eleuthera, in the Bahamas. Past research projects have included shark-tagging, coral reef restoration, ecology of spiny lobsters and agroforestry. The opportunities for research vary each year, but students leave the island with a newfound appreciation for marine ecosystems and giving back to the community you live in. Students will also have the opportunity to study the history of the community on the island and how the commitment to sustainability has grown throughout the years. 

Located in northern Chile, the Atacama Desert is the driest high-altitude desert on Earth and one of the planet’s most striking landscapes. With vast salt flats, jagged volcanic peaks, wind-carved valleys, and brilliant blue lagoons, the landscape is defined by extremes—scorching sun during the day, freezing temperatures at night, and skies so clear they’re considered some of the best in the world for stargazing.

For more than 12,000 years, the Atacameño—or Likanantay—people have lived in close relationship with this land, building a culture rooted in respect for nature and sustainable ways of life. The region is also home to fascinating wildlife—from flamingos and foxes to vicuñas and the Andean rhea (suri)—all uniquely suited to the desert’s extremes.

During this six-day journey, students will explore the Atacama Desert through scientific discovery, cultural immersion, and outdoor exploration.  It is more than a trip—it is an invitation to engage with science, history, and human connection in one of the world’s most awe-inspiring natural classrooms.

Embark on a marine science adventure that explores the vibrant ecosystems of the Florida Keys and Everglades. This hands-on travel program immerses students in tropical marine biology, coral reef health, and coastal conservation through swimming, snorkeling, and boating. Students will engage in citizen science opportunities with the REEF Organization and visit the renowned MOTE Marine Lab and Turtle Hospital. Along the way, students will meet marine scientists and conservation biologists, gaining firsthand insight into marine research and conservation efforts. Destinations include Key Largo, Key West, and the Everglades, offering a mix of educational exploration and exciting outdoor experiences.

This national park excursion explores the stunning landscapes of the American Southwest, focusing on outdoor activities, environmental science, Native American cultures, and the connection between people and the land. Students should be prepared for daily outdoor activity and adventure. Highlights include visits to the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Park.