Travel Opportunities/Exchange Programs

2026-27 OPPORTUNITIES

AUSTRALIA

This opportunity will allow six Pennington students in Grades 9–12 to participate in the 2026 Round Square International Conference in Australia, where they will join more than 1,000 students from over 270 schools worldwide. Designed for student leaders who are actively involved in school clubs and embody the Round Square IDEALS, the conference will offer international forums, cultural exchange, collaborative global projects, and experiential learning in the heart of Australia. Students selected for this program will be expected to engage fully in the conference experience and bring new skills, ideas, and perspectives back to the Pennington community. Our trip will include a few days touring Sydney following the conclusion of the conference.

Estimated Cost: $4,500
Dates: September 25–October 4, 2026
Application Deadline: April 10, 2026
Financial aid is available

Neon signs for Robert's Western World and Jack's Bar-B-Que illuminate a street at night, with a large cowboy boot and guitars featured prominently.

A Chilean flag waves proudly on a tall flagpole against a clear blue sky, with a tiny airplane visible in the distance.

Stone walls frame a view of a bell tower and red-roofed buildings in the foreground, with a vibrant blue sea and a distant green coastline in the background.

Two deer graze in a sunlit meadow with tall grass, while a massive, rocky mountain peak looms behind a dense forest.

Colorful baskets overflowing with spices and dried goods fill the foreground, while shelves packed with jars of spices create a vibrant backdrop.

Kayakers paddle down a calm river surrounded by lush green jungle under a clear blue sky.

Cyclists ride on a street in the foreground with the U.S. Capitol building in the background under a hazy, golden sky.

Children in the foreground hold a basket filled with clams and yellow pool noodles, while others in the background stand in shallow water.

Six young people stand on granite steps in the foreground, with the Washington Monument and other structures visible in the background under a cloudy sky.

Language Intensive Immersion Program:
Spanish, Mandarin, French, and German

This three-week immersion program is designed to foster language fluency, deepen cultural understanding, and promote global awareness in an authentic setting. Upper School students will have the opportunity to live and study in a country where their target language is spoken. Students will be fully immersed in the language and culture while living on campus at accredited language institutions.

For Spanish and Mandarin, program locations will be determined by student interest and enrollment, and a Pennington faculty member may accompany the group, depending on the number of participants. For German and French, students will have the opportunity to select from a range of immersion programs to pursue independently. These experiences are not part of a School-organized trip and will take place without a Pennington chaperone, allowing for greater flexibility and individual exploration.

Estimated Cost: $3900
Tentative Dates: TBD; June-July 2027

Upper School Exchange Programs

Exchange Programs for Grades 9 and 10

Application Link for Exchange Programs

Pennington offers a four-week international exchange opportunity for students in Grades 9 and 10. Travel dates are flexible, with the exact timing of the exchange determined by the destination and each student’s academic schedule. Interested students should consult with Mr. Peeler, their academic advisor, and Dr. Castro to identify the most suitable window for participation. Most exchanges are based on host family arrangements and require reciprocal hosting: Pennington students stay with a family abroad and, in turn, their families will host a student from the partner institution when they visit Pennington.

During the exchange, students are expected to remain fully engaged with their coursework and meet all academic responsibilities at Pennington. All partner schools are accredited international institutions with instruction in English; some also offer additional language immersion opportunities in Spanish, French, or German.

Admission to the program is selective and determined through an application and interview process conducted by a faculty committee. Applications are due by September 30. For more information, check the FAQ.

Estimated Cost: Round-trip ticket to destination plus incidental expenses
Tentative Dates: Four weeks

Exchange Programs for Grade 11

Application Link for Exchange Programs

During the school year, juniors may participate in a one-week exchange program, with the option to extend their stay to up to three weeks by coordinating with Thanksgiving or spring break. As part of the exchange, students are expected to host a visiting student from the partner school during the other student's return visit to Pennington.

In the summer, rising juniors and rising seniors may take part in Pennington’s four-week cultural immersion program at one of our Round Square international partner schools in Chile, Australia, South Africa, or Japan. These experiences are designed to deepen global understanding and foster meaningful cross-cultural connections.

Estimated Cost: Round-trip ticket to destination plus incidental expenses
Tentative Dates: June- July

Partner Schools for Exchange Programs

Partner Schools

Barcelona, Spain: St. Paul’s School
Bogotá, Colombia: Gimnasio Campestre (boys school) Colegio Anglo Colombiano (coed)
Reykjavik, Iceland: Verzlo School
Prague, Czech Republic: New Porg
São Paulo, Brazil: Aubrick School (open to exchanges during the months of June, July, and August)
Santiago, Chile: Craighouse School (open to exchanges during the months of June, July, and August)
Johannesburg, South Africa: St Sithians College (open to exchanges during the months of June, July, and August)
Cape Town, South Africa: St Cyprian’s School (girls school; open to exchanges during the months of June, July, and August)
Loches, France: St Denis International School (French students only)
Mortefontaine, France: St Dominique School (French Students only)
Schondorf am Ammersee, Germany: Landheim Schondorf (German students only)
Madrid, Spain: Jesus Maria School (Spanish students only)

2025-26 Experiences

A group of people stands in the foreground with the ancient Colosseum in Rome as the background.

In 2025-26, we offered many opportunities for students to enjoy academic experiences that connect classroom knowledge with real-world learning. All travel opportunities have a student application process. Those selected for each trip must commit to attend four pre-travel and two post-travel academic sessions as well as to develop a project that will expand their knowledge and then share it with the School community upon their return. Click the images above to see a Flickr album of each trip.

Click here to read more details about each trip.