From the Great Wall to the Chisos Mountains, school travel took students to West Texas, New York City, Italy, Costa Rica and China for immersive learning and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Dozens of Spartans traveled from The Hill to destinations around the world on school-organized spring break trips, making unforgettable memories, connections and expanding their global horizons. Each year, St. Stephen's offers students a wide range of travel opportunities and sponsors educational co-curricular trips to various parts of the world that can consist of fine arts performances, language immersion, varsity sports competitions, service learning and academic enrichment tours.

Faculty and staff led the following six trips during the first three weeks of March 2026:

• 8th Grade Outdoor Education Trip to Big Bend National Park
• Sea Turtle Conservation Expedition in Costa Rica
• Varsity Lacrosse Training and Competition Trip in Costa Rica
• Chinese Language Immersion Trip to China
• Madrigal Singers Performance Trip to Carnegie Hall in New York City
• Upper School Orchestra Concert Tour in Italy

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 8th Grade Outdoor Education Trip to Big Bend National Park

The entire 8th grade class embarked on a five-day excursion to Big Bend National Park, which is also the highly anticipated annual retreat for all 8th grade Spartans. From the moment students stepped on the vans, they unplugged from technology and plugged into the breathtaking beauty of the Chisos Mountains, the Rio Grande River and the Chihuahuan Desert. Spartans set up tents while Middle School faculty assembled an outdoor kitchen under the West Texas sky. The annual trip, led by Director of Outdoor Education Charlton Perry, is a St. Stephen’s tradition dating back at least four decades.

During the day, students split into groups to hike, canoe the Rio Grande and visit the “living ghost town” of Terlingua. At night, classmates relaxed and socialized before falling asleep under the stars.

“The trip created a bond between me and my tent mates,” said Anya Asthana ’30. “We got to know each other in a different way and on a different level than at school.”

Middle School Dean of Students Miriam Murtuza, Ph.D., said the trip allows students to experience the mental and physical benefits of being in nature, including slowing their pace, disconnecting from technology, challenging themselves, living in the moment and experiencing awe. The trip also leads to deeper student connections with one another and with teachers before entering Upper School.

“The Big Bend area is incredibly scenic, varied and fascinating — a state and national treasure that I'm grateful our students get to see and appreciate,” said Murtuza. “My favorite memory of this year's trip was the 20 magical minutes during which my group of students managed to hike silently in Boot Canyon so that we could listen and observe wildlife.”

Sea Turtle Conservation Expedition in Costa Rica

In a first-time experience for St. Stephen’s, 18 students traveled to the east coast of Costa Rica for a seven-day trip focused on working with endangered leatherback sea turtles during nesting season. The science-focused trip was led by Upper School physics and engineering instructor Danielle Horton and Middle School science instructor Stacey Wink.

“It was a remarkable opportunity to explore Costa Rica’s abundant biodiversity,” Horton said.

The group was stationed at Pacuare Reserve, a remote area along the Atlantic Ocean accessible only by boat. Students collected biometric data, tagged turtles and gathered eggs to place in a protected hatchery. The data on the number and size of nesting sea turtles will serve as a foundation for a future research project.

The group also traveled to the central rainforest at Tirimbina Biological Reserve, where they saw wildlife including sloths, poison dart frogs, iguanas in trees and bullet ants. The experience concluded with an exhilarating whitewater rafting trip down the Sarapiquí River.

Varsity Lacrosse Training and Competition Trip in Costa Rica

The Boys and Girls Varsity Lacrosse traveled to Costa Rica over spring break to compete against the Costa Rican national team and experience the country’s culture, wildlife and natural beauty.

“The trip proved to be a transformative experience for our lacrosse teams, pushing them far beyond the boundaries of the field,” said Head Boys Varsity Lacrosse Coach Noah Fink. “Competing against the National Team challenged them culturally in ways no local competition could, and gave them deeper respect for the global reach of the sport they love.”

The jam-packed six day itinerary included visits to the Irazu Volcano National Park and the ruins of the Santiago Apóstol Parish in Cartago. Students explored the Tapir Valley Natural Reserve, learning about wildlife conservation, and visited the coastal town of Tamarindo and local fresh fruit markets.

Lacrosse practices and games were woven into each day alongside cultural and educational experiences. A highlight was two clinics St. Stephen’s players hosted for local children, teaching them the basics of the sport, which originated with Indigenous North American communities.

“It was so fun to teach the local children lacrosse and help grow the game in Costa Rica, and also just get to know the kids and what their lives are like,” said Emilia Fink ’26, Noah Fink’s daughter, who joined the trip.

The teams also enjoyed recreational activities, including ziplining through a rainforest, sailing on a catamaran and snorkeling.

Chinese Language Immersion Trip to China

Emilie Xu, Upper School Mandarin Chinese teacher, along with several other faculty and staff sponsors led a group of more than 15 Upper School Chinese language students on a 12-day trip through China to experience the people, language, history, food and culture of the ancient country — bringing lessons from the classroom to life. 

“Our trip was a huge success, especially for those visiting China for the first time,” said Xu. “We learned a great deal about the history and culture of China and Asia. It wasn’t just about gaining knowledge, but also about building meaningful connections between people, which made the trip so special.”

The group spent three days in Beijing, walking along the Great Wall, touring Tian’anmen Square, the Palace Museum and Jingshan Park, attending an acrobatic show and sampling local cuisine, including Peking roast duck.

A highlight was visiting Xi’an International University, where Spartans delivered a presentation entirely in Chinese and made friends with local high school students. 

From Beijing, students rode a bullet train to Xi’an, where they participated in a traditional Chinese tea ceremony and Tai Chi, cycled on the Ancient City Wall and then boarded another bullet train to Chengdu. In Chengdu, Spartans visited the Giant Panda Base and enjoyed a traditional Sichuan mask-changing opera.

The group then flew to Shanghai, explored the historic district, took a river cruise, sang Chinese karaoke and admired the view of the Bund, the city’s famous waterfront and skyline.

“My Chinese improved so much during this trip,” said Valeria Gonzalez Reed ’26. “I loved using the language to talk to people and help others translate!”

Madrigal Singers Performance Trip to Carnegie Hall in New York City

The St. Stephen’s Madrigals added a prestigious New York City performance tour to their resumes, which was highlighted by a debut on the renowned stage of Carnegie Hall. Under the direction of distinguished faculty — including Dr. Craig Hella Johnson, Dr. Rollo Dilworth, Dr. Coty Raven Morris and St. Stephen’s Choral Director Kendra Lipman — the ensemble joined voices with elite performers from across the country for a masterwork performance and the world premiere of Dr. Dilworth’s choral work “Mirrors to Each Other.” Soprano Jenna Thomas ’27 was selected as a featured soloist following an onsite audition.

The Madrigals also performed at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College during the Harmonic Converge Choral Festival, presenting a standalone set and participating in an exclusive masterclass with Dr. Bruce Rogers, choral director emeritus at Mt. San Antonio College.

“This trip was a perfect blend of high-level artistry and cultural education,” said Lipman. “From the 100th floor of The Edge to the sobering 9/11 Memorial, our students experienced the full heartbeat of New York City.”

The tour included a Broadway night at “Chicago,” where students met the cast, visits to Times Square, Rockefeller Center and Wall Street.

Upper School Orchestra Concert Tour in Italy

The St. Stephen’s Global Orchestra, led by Orchestra Director John Moon, traveled to Italy, captivating audiences with a masterful performance tour that bridged Austin’s vibrant artistry with some of the country’s most storied musical landmarks. 

"You think you’ve seen it all after 30 years, until you stand in a centuries-old cathedral and hear your own students breathe new life into the ancient air,” said Moon.

The journey began with a powerful opening at Rome’s iconic St. Paul’s Within the Walls, followed by a standout performance at the historic Teatro Mancinelli in Orvieto. The ensemble then traveled north to the Auditorium Manenti in Crema as part of the Cremona Spring Music Festival, concluding with a grand finale at the Duomo di Piazzola sul Brenta.

Critics and local audiences praised the tour as "intense and expressive,” highlighting the orchestra’s ability to navigate a complex "journey through cultures." Reviewers were particularly impressed with the ensemble’s depth of tone, technical polish and “extraordinary maturity.” The group’s performances of tango and Latin rhythms were especially lauded for connecting with local communities.

The 2026 tour adds to the orchestra's growing legacy, which includes acclaimed performances in the Great Hall of the Mozarteum and Carnegie Hall.

Annie Ehrlich ’26 reflected on the experience:

"One of my favorite parts of the trip was bonding with our ensemble, whether warming up together, playing card games in hotel lobbies, or huddling under umbrellas as we splashed through the March rain en route from a remarkable Duomo to a hole-in-the-wall gelato shop (the best gelato any of us had ever tasted) to the masterful exhibits in an Academia. I also loved getting to witness our entire group grow musically. Since we typically rehearse and play in the same few places at school, being challenged by new spaces really puts our ability to blend as a group to the test. At each venue, which ranged from neo-Gothic churches to stunning historic theatres, I saw our ensemble rise to the occasion, adapt and learn how to balance our sounds anew, which not only made each performance that much better than the last, but strengthened our ability to deeply listen both to ourselves and to each other, something I know will continue to help our ensemble grow as we return to campus."

Learn more about Educational Travel at St. Stephen's

Current families can visit the Educational Travel tile in MySSES to learn about upcoming trips.