Our goal is to provide 15 exemplary, low-income, 12th grade students with an educational program in Nicaragua. This program will have three different focus areas: cultural and language immersion, sustainable ecological tours, and service learning.

The majority of the students participating in this trip have not been outside of the Mid-Atlantic region, let alone the country, and this experience would be life changing for all students involved.

 We hope to have a program that allows students to: 

• Explore international destinations to gain awareness of global perspectives and connections. 
• Promote international understanding, respect for different cultures, language learning and global citizenship.
• Align with school curricula to bring subjects, people, places and events to life.
• Provide global settings to sharpen key 21st century skills—critical thinking, problem solving, communication, collaboration and global competence.
• Develop interpersonal and leadership skills necessary to navigate new experiences with confidence and adaptability.

Our plan:

• We have created a partnership with Green Pathways an organization focused on sustainable tours in Nicaragua. 
• The program is taking place during Spring Break, April 8th-15th, 2017.
• The program will cost around $1700 dollars per student, including the cost of the passport, airfare, in-country lodging, transportation, local guides, food, transportation, and activities/adventures. Students are responsible for covering $500 dollars of the program cost. The rest of the money will be covered by fundraising, scholarships and grants. Students are willing to do whatever it takes to raise the money necessary, and have already planned a number of fundraisers to begin covering the various costs.
• We have acquired money from the Ellis Trust, which will give 3 female students $1,500 to apply to the cost of their trip.
• We have the full and complete support of the school, and they are willing to support any and all endeavors necessary to provide such an amazing experience to the students of Mastery Pickett.

Back Up Plan