Whether you are playing sports or going on vacation, summer is a time to immerse yourself in something exciting and out of the ordinary. Delbarton facilitates this exploration through various summer service trips, in which students are propelled into an unfamiliar environment and are given the opportunity to assist others while broadening their own horizons.
Bethlehem Farms:
For Delbarton students of at least sixteen years of age, the Bethlehem Farms trip goes to Summers County, West Virginia from June 8-15, where students repair homes and work on farms. Summers County experiences many cases of rural poverty, and the work done by Delbarton students helps to improve the quality of life for many families. Bethlehem invites volunteers to “Join us in living the Gospel cornerstones of service, prayer, simplicity, and community.”
Cost: $350
BEADS: (Benedictines of East Africa and Delbarton Students):
After school wraps up on June 6 and lasting until June 19, Delbarton students can begin their summer break in East Africa as a part of the annual BEADS trip. Established in 2007, the BEADS trip helps the local African community by working on orphanage and school facilities, providing supplies for schools, shelters, and missionaries, and interacting with Kenyan students.
Cost: $3,200
El Salvador Service Trip:
The El Salvador Service Trip presents incoming sophomores, juniors, and seniors with the opportunity to learn about a different culture, help people in need, and grow closer with God. From June 21-28, Delbarton students can enjoy not only beautiful nature and historical sites, but also solidarity that is shared between people of different backgrounds.
Cost: $2,500
Although the spots for these service trips may have been filled, opportunities will once again be available next year to anyone willing to take advantage of the incredible opportunities that come with traveling both domestically and abroad. I wish all students on these trips the best of luck, with the hope that the trips will both benefit themselves and the people they serve. For those who wish to both host students from abroad and experience life as a student in another country, I will be covering the various exchange programs Delbarton offers, including the Lyon Exchange (France), the Bildungszentrum Markdorf Exchange (Germany), and the Glenstal Exchange (Ireland).
