Whether learning in the vibrant setting of Los Angeles, exploring California, or traveling globally, our students immerse themselves in real experiences that enhance cultural understanding, expand creativity, and build the skills needed to shape a better future. Some of our annual trips include:
Iowa City
Buckley is the only high school in the country partnered with the prestigious Nonfiction Writing Workshop at Iowa University. Every March, English teacher Mitch Kohn takes a group of 20 Upper School students to cozy, snowy, collegiate Iowa City for two full days of nonfiction writing workshops. They learn from “Buckley Fellows,” graduate students in the program who have applied for and earned the opportunity to work with our students. Their master classes teach topics such as crime fiction, prose poetry, writing from memory, and more.
New York City
Members of the Model UN join students from all over the country at the United Nations each spring to flex their diplomacy muscles and engage in the work they’ve been preparing for all year. They also use the trip as a catalyst to explore the Big Apple. Destinations and activities have included ice skating in Central Park, the 9/11 Memorial, a Broadway show, and more.
Palm Springs
Upper School students in philosophy and environmental science classes embark on a day-long whirlwind trip to Palm Springs each January. Once in the crisp clear air of the desert, they learn about the interconnection of plants, animals (including humans!), and the elements. Making seven stops through the town and neighboring canyons, they experience the stark contrast between civilization and wild outdoors.
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Downtown L.A.
Multiple groups of Upper School students take field trips to DTLA each year, to experience art and performances, to explore neighborhoods, and engage in service learning. Past trips include taking in the L.A. Opera, taking a walking tour of City Hall and other historic landmarks, and a visit to the arts district.
Washington, D.C.
Grade 8 students embark on a multifaceted experience to Washington, D.C. that enriches their knowledge and appreciation of American history, culture, and government. This 5-day trip incorporates a robust itinerary which includes a guided evening sightseeing tour of the Memorials coupled with a reflection on U.S. history, a ferry ride to Mount Vernon in Virginia, followed by a tour of George Washington’s estate and gardens, a visit to the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, the Holocaust Museum, and Arlington National Cemetery.
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Cannes
Grade 11 students enrolled in advanced French, French cinema and all levels of film studies travel to Cannes, France to attend the Cannes Film Festival! This 8-day trip includes a tour of Côte d’Azur (French Riviera), visits to Nice, nearby museums such as the Fondation Maeght, and the renowned perfumeries in and around Grasse. In addition, students intern with The American Pavilion at the Film Festival, an opportunity typically reserved for students from top American universities, making Buckley the only high school in the country to participate!