2026-27 Travel

This October, The Pennington Middle School is offering an overnight adventure to camp and climb along the Shawangunk Ridge in beautiful Gardiner, New York. The cool temperatures and changing colors of fall will provide a welcome setting as students practice the basic skills of overnight camping and explore the exposed rock faces of the "Gunks." Rock climbing with local guides, we will be sure to find challenge and adventure in this remarkable landscape, developing a stronger sense of place and strengthening our connections to the natural world along the way.

Middle School students will experience an overnight on Sedge Island, just off Long Beach Island, NJ, where they will deepen their connection to the natural world, explore local marshes and estuaries, and try their hand at clamming and kayaking.

May will find Middle Schoolers taking a three-day visit to Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown, with an afternoon at Busch Gardens, to build on students’ learning of American history and government.

Grade 8 students will take a culminating academic trip to Washington, D.C., where they will visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as a major part of their English and History Interdisciplinary Unit.

This opportunity will allow 8–10 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 around the world. 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.

Estimated Cost: $4,500
Dates: September 28–October 3, 2026
Application Deadline: April 10, 2026
Financial Aid is available

Apply Here!

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

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.

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: June- July

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)