Class of 2028 Explores Nature, Culture, and Community in New York City

Broadening their global perspective and sharpening their powers of observation, members of the Class of 2028 traded the classroom for New York City during a full day of discovery designed to bring their curriculum to life.

The trip centered on a big idea: how everything is connected. Students set out to investigate their own place within the natural world, the diversity of species that have existed on Earth, the many forms and variations of Earth’s ecosystems, and the similarities and differences between human cultures.

Their first stop was the American Museum of Natural History, where exhibits spanning the planet’s history gave students a firsthand look at the remarkable range of life and cultures they have been studying in class. Seeing these connections up close helped turn classroom concepts into something students could explore, question, and discuss together.

The learning continued outdoors in Central Park. Students visited Belvedere Castle and climbed the park’s large rock formations to take in sweeping views.

Throughout the day, students paused to reflect on how nature, culture, and community intersect, both in the city around them and in their own lives. The experience offered a meaningful bridge between what they learn at school and the wider world beyond it.