Student Travel
Each year, WMA offers exciting opportunities for students to travel around the country and around the world to enhance their classroom studies. Students can explore both the differences and interconnectedness of peoples and economies from around the world and around the nation.
Travel is seen as an opportunity for WMA students to gain first-hand experience with the people, institutions and challenges of the modern world.
Travel 2025-2026
Planned trips for 2026
Spain, March
Costa Rica, March
England, March
Iceland, June - Registration has closed!
Japan, June - Registration has closed!
Registration deadline has passed.
Financial assistance note:
In order to make student travel opportunities more accessible to all, WMA is able to provide limited support for some students. Partial travel awards will be determined by current financial aid status and provided one time during a student’s time at the Academy.
Students currently on academic or conduct status are not eligible for awards. Older students will be given priority.
March 2026
Costa Rica
Explore exquisite biodiversity while learning about environmental stewardship. During this seven-day trip, students will connect with Costa Rican culture and learn how local change-makers are protecting Costa Rica’s natural and cultural heritage. Learning doesn’t have to be without adventure. Highlights include kayaking through mangrove channels, ziplining through the rainforest canopy, spotting monkeys, sloths and tropical birds at Manuel Antonio National Park, snorkeling at Cano Island marine reserve, visiting local farms and butterfly gardens, and hiking and swimming at Nahuyana waterfalls.
Itinerary subject to change.
Faculty Leaders: Mr. and Mrs. Vartabedian
Spain
On this immersion trip, students will be staying in Sevilla for one week and in Madrid for another week. Since the focus of this trip is on culture and language acquisition, students will have two hours of conversational Spanish four mornings a week, and will stay with a host family in Seville. In Madrid, they will stay in a residence hall. There will be activities and visits every afternoon to learn more about Spanish culture and to have many opportunities to practice the language. Highlights include a flamenco show, a cooking workshop, and guided tours in Madrid and Sevilla. We will also have two great day-trips: one to Cordoba and one to Toledo.
This trip is also open to beginners in Spanish, but priority will be given to students in Spanish classes.
Itinerary subject to change.
Faculty leaders: Ms. Dubois and Ms. Linares
England
This trip is principally funded by the generosity of Mr. Hubbard $500 and available only to 4 students
Step into a world of kings and queens, rebels and revolutionaries, poets, plague, and pageantry. Join native Londoner Mr. Bloomfield and school nurse, a bona fide royal enthusiast, Mrs. Crocker for an unforgettable one-week adventure through two of the UK’s most iconic cities—London and Edinburgh with the wild majesty of the Scottish Highlands.
This tour brings a fresh perspective by combining world-famous sights with hidden gems. A strong interest in history, literature, the arts, and different foods is strongly recommended for this trip. Please write an essay explaining how this week-long trip would benefit your understanding of British history and culture, and its connection to the United States.
For application details (1-2 written pages) and deadline (Oct. 24), please contact Mr. Bloomfield.
Faculty Leaders: Mr. Bloomfield and Ms. Crocker
June 2026
Iceland
Note: Registration has closed for this trip.
Pack your hiking boots for a 12-day geologic tour of Iceland. Want to snorkel in an active rift zone, and hike up a glacier? Interested in geothermal energy? We will travel around the entirety of Iceland learning about the rich geology. Explore the largest lake on the Reykjanes peninsula in the fissure zone. Hike in the Seltun Geothermal Area, experience the Barnafoss Waterfalls and Dimmuborgir Lava Field, and take a whale watching tour to name a few of the adventures.
Itinerary subject to change.
Faculty Leaders: Ms. Lewis and Mr. Passy
Japan
Note: Registration has closed for this trip.
This 10-day educational journey through Japan explores three distinct regions that showcase the country's unique blend of ancient traditions and modern innovation. Students will discover how Japan's rich cultural heritage continues to thrive alongside cutting-edge technology and pop culture. We will explore Japanese animation and Japan's unique street fashion culture in the Akihabara and Harajuku areas. Visit temples and shrines such as Meiji Shrine and Sensoji Temple. We will also get some hands-on experiences with cooking and art (calligraphy), as well as experience a Japanese Tea Ceremony. We will visit onsen (hot springs), bamboo forests, and other natural settings outside of the two major cities of Tokyo and Kyoto, where we’ll have a chance to stay in traditional ryokans (inns) experiencing another time and place. We’ll also visit some of the traditional markets of Tokyo and Kyoto, go on a Ramen Crawl in Tokyo to experience and enjoy the many different varieties of ramen. While experiencing all of these amazing events, we’ll also learn about Japan’s social values and how those play out in everyday life. We will have a guide throughout our tour to facilitate language, culture and travel.
Itinerary subject to change.
Faculty Leaders: Ms. Lowry-Brook and Ms. Kindblom
It truly was the experience of a lifetime ... Our train ride through the Alps was incredible, and I couldn’t believe we were still on Earth; it felt like we were on Pandora from Avatar.
- Jack H. '23
Student Travel: 'Oh, the places we've been'
Amazon?
Cambodia?
India?
Namibia?
New Zealand?
Peru?
South Africa?
Check out photo galleries from recent trips.