The Term Project Trip Experience

Some of the most meaningful learning happens outside the classroom.

Every year, Term Project trips allow students to step beyond familiar surroundings and experience new cultures, environments, and communities. While students may return home with photographs and stories, these trips serve a deeper purpose. They give students the chance to learn through real-world experiences, take on new responsibilities, and see the world from perspectives different from their own.

As Dr. Parson explains, “A typical guided trip might be about hopping off a bus to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, taking a few photos, and getting back on the bus. Term Project trips are different. Students aren’t simply seeing a place; they’re immersing themselves in it. They have a project or research question that gives their experience purpose, while navigating unfamiliar places, interacting with local communities, and solving problems together. They’re active participants in the experience rather than simply passing through as tourists.”

Learning by Doing

Last year’s trips gave students opportunities to experience places in ways that went far beyond sightseeing.

On the Japan and South Korea trip, students harvested potatoes on a sustainable farm in rural Japan and took a cooking lesson with two North Korean defectors, who shared their personal stories as students prepared a meal.

For Elin Y. (Grade 12), these experiences offered a perspective she may not have gained from a typical family vacation. “It made me realize how much I have to be grateful for and how different people’s experiences can be around the world.”

In Italy, Joy G. (Grade 10) found herself speaking Italian with a grandmother who ran a small bakery in Parma and learning about the history of her shop and her life. She shared, “It felt wholesome, and I was grateful we got to explore the unseen parts of Italy.”

These are the kinds of experiences that make Term Project trips different. Students aren’t simply visiting a destination; they are engaging with the people, culture, and communities that make each place unique.

Ms. Myers saw this firsthand during a trip to Thailand, where students visited a local hospital and helped distribute food to families caring for loved ones. The students had first learned to prepare traditional Thai dishes, which they then brought to the hospital to share with families.

“The experience was invaluable to students because they were able to prepare the food they distributed and witness how appreciative the families were for their kindness and generosity,” she said.

Building Independence

Being immersed in an unfamiliar environment also gives students opportunities to become more confident and independent. Students may navigate public transportation, exchange local currency, communicate across language barriers, or work through challenges with their peers. These are everyday skills, but practicing them in a new environment can have a lasting impact.

Dr. Parson remembers a Term Project trip to Thailand when students were sent to a local market to find ingredients for a traditional meal. They had to navigate the market, communicate with merchants, and pay for the ingredients themselves.

“Every group came back with the right ingredients, the right amounts, and the correct change,” he said. “What stayed with me wasn’t the accuracy, it was what it did for their confidence. These students walked away knowing they could navigate an unfamiliar environment and succeed, even without speaking the language.”

For students, that confidence can extend far beyond the trip itself. They return knowing they are capable of navigating unfamiliar situations, making decisions, and adapting when things don’t go exactly as planned.

The People Make the Experience

There is also something unique about experiencing these moments with classmates.

Traveling with friends creates opportunities for students to strengthen relationships in ways that aren’t possible during a typical school day. They share new experiences, work through challenges, and create memories that become part of their shared experience long after they return home.

“When students go on Term Project trips, they are pushed more socially, and the result is that they make strong bonds with their peers,” said Dr. Moshofshy, who chaperoned the Japan and South Korea trip. “That is something that teens need as they grow older and become more independent adults.”

Elin encourages students considering a trip to “make plans with friends to go together.” She shared, “It’s a whole new experience to temporarily live with and travel with people whom you normally only see in school.”

That combination of independence and community is part of what makes these trips so memorable. Students are given the opportunity to experience something new while surrounded by peers and teachers who are experiencing it alongside them.

More Than a Destination

A Term Project trip is about more than checking a new place off a list. It is about the people students meet, the experiences they share, the challenges they work through, and the perspectives they bring home with them.

They may return with stories about a meal they prepared, a conversation they had, a new skill they learned, or a place they explored with friends. But they also return with something less tangible: a greater sense of confidence, curiosity, and independence.

As Dr. Moshofshy puts it, “The students have such positive, lasting memories from these trips and it is hard to put a price on the value that this brings to their lives.”

The destination is only the beginning. The experiences students have along the way—and the person they become through them—are what make a Term Project trip truly meaningful.

Where Will You Go This Year?

This year, students will have six Term Project trip opportunities designed for different grade levels and interests.

Grades 6–7: Yosemite will give students opportunities to explore the natural environment through hands-on outdoor and environmental experiences.

Grade 8: Florida Keys will offer an immersive experience centered around marine science and coral restoration.

Grades 9–12: High school students can choose from international experiences in Australia, Germany, Thailand, and France, with opportunities to explore culture, history, service, language, and the environment.

Registration for Term Project trips opens August 28, 2026, at 5:00 PM on ParentSquare and will remain open through September 27, 2026.

While every destination offers something different, the purpose remains the same: to give students meaningful opportunities to engage with the world beyond the classroom.

---

BASIS Independent Silicon Valley is a TK–Grade 12 private school offering an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, complemented by advanced STEM opportunities. Interested in becoming a Bobcat? Join our interest list to receive admissions updates, important deadlines, and more. Join the interest list.