The Spring Unit Global & Experiential Learning Program serves as a cornerstone of Gill St. Bernard's curriculum and educational philosophy. The signature program crosses disciplinary boundaries and challenges students to think critically and practically, serve others, and consider their place in the world.
We are excited to announce the 2022 Spring Unit Course Catalog. This year's Spring Unit will run Monday, May 23 to Friday, June 3.
The online registration period will begin on Monday, December 13, 2021 with seniors registering first. This process will be completed via a link on students’ KnightSite page. Registration for each grade level will open at 3:00 p.m. according to the following dates:
Monday, December 13 – Senior registration begins
Tuesday, December 14 – Junior registration begins
Wednesday, December 15 – Sophomore & 9th Grade registration begins
This year’s courses will provide students with a variety of hands-on educational opportunities focused on:
All students who travel overnight on a Gill St. Bernard's Unit trip will be required to provide proof of at least their first COVID-19 vaccination by December 13, 2021. Only fully vaccinated individuals who have uploaded their vaccination status to Magnus will be eligible for overnight travel. Please review the GSB "Overnight Travel" policy for additional details.
Students will have a unique opportunity to explore the diversity of lived experiences. Though these experiences may take them to locations locally, nationally, and internationally, the goal is to develop the knowledge, skills, and empathic orientation required to understand multiple perspectives and to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.
Dance:
Are you interested in dancing ‘whenever’ and ‘wherever’ like Shakira? Do you want to tap your feet to the Latin beat ‘On the dance floor’ like J. Lo? Well then, get ready because this Unit is for you! This toe-tapping and finger-snapping experience invites you onto the Latin Ballroom dance floor where you will learn signature dances with your friends and have tons of fun, NO experience necessary!
Get ready for this TERRIFIC TRIFECTA of fun. The first part will include five days of Latin Ballroom dance instruction by certified professional Latin Ballroom dance instructors. Each day the lesson will be dedicated to a particular Latin dance style which includes, but is not limited to the following: Cha-Cha, Merengue, Salsa, Samba and Swing. We will find inspiration from a variety of sources including both classic and modern music videos, as well as popular Hollywood films such as Selena, West Side Story and Shall We Dance to name a few. Studies have shown that dance contributes to better health, optimism, agility, happiness and social stimulation, and these are just a few of the rewarding results that dancing provides! You will use your mind and muscles to move your feet to the Latin beat!!
Dine:
Food is a common thread that brings people together. The second part of this Unit will offer you a variety of delicious culinary experiences in which you will enjoy a variety of authentic Latin-inspired and infused foods such as Castilian Paella, Venezuelan Empanadas, and Mexican taquitos. We will journey a bit south and enjoy a Portuguese power lunch with savory desserts, too!
Design:
The third and final part of this Unit will focus on creating and designing an authentic Latin-inspired accessory with our guest Designer/Seamstress. You will have a choice of designing your own flowing, sheer skirt/wrap or bandana/cummerbund which you can proudly wear on the dance floor!
So, the question is: are you ready to Dance, Dine and Design? If you are, then sign up and prepare yourself to put your best food forward, sample savory cuisine and design your very own dance accessory!
Working in conjunction with REI, the Desert Wonders Unit will provide an extraordinary opportunity for you to experience the majesty of the canyonlands of the desert Southwest over the course of ten (10) days. This is not meant as a trip for the tourist set, in which sights are sped past, glimpsed from tinted windows, checked off a list, and left behind in a cloud of tour bus diesel fumes. Rather, you (in the company of experienced outdoor guides and with all necessary gear provided for their comfort and safety) will tour the “big three” canyons—Bryce, Zion, and the Grand Canyon itself—the “right way,” with boots on the ground and eyes on the horizon for the next unimaginable vista to come into view.
This Unit experience is tied directly to Gill St. Bernard’s mission to educate the whole child—body, mind, and spirit —while inculcating core values.
Body: Each day will feature a challenging hike among knife-edge ridges and slot canyons to cinematic panoramas of hoodoos, mesas, spires, and archways not visible from the interstate.
Mind: In this setting, teachable moments abound in ways impossible to match in 50-minute, subject-specific chunks in the classroom. Geology (How can these bizarre rock formations and moonscapes be explained?); Native Studies (Who are the Navajo? What was the legacy of Manifest Destiny?); Wilderness Appreciation (Why bother setting aside wilderness? Why do people feel so strongly about preserving this part of America?); Biology (How have birds, reptiles, arthropods, fishes, etc., adapted to life in the desert?); Climate: (How are the demands for water and a warming globe increase the desertification of an already arid region?)
Spirit: Who can express the effects on a young person of red rocks against blue skies, peaceful nights under the stars, and campfire talks with good friends?
Values: On the trail and in the campgrounds, ample real-world chances will arise to practice Courage, Integrity, Respect, Compassion, and Excellence.
Certified outdoor guides will accompany us every step of the way over ten days. Side hikes will take you to the Petrified Forest, Canyon de Chelly National Park (with a Navajo guide), and Grand Escalante National Park, as well as a day of kayaking.
Important note when considering this Unit: This Unit involves camping outdoors in a tent and significant hiking across uneven terrain. The expectation is that you will be able to hike from 6 to 10 miles a day on elevated trails.
What makes the heart of America? Is it merely the center of a map of the United States? Is it a certain experience? Is it an understanding of our connection to the past? Many of these answers converge near the geographic center of America, where the Oregon and other migrant trails (as well as Pony Express and Lewis & Clark Trails) follow the Platte River in Nebraska. This Unit will explore what it means to get to the heart of America by following in pioneer footsteps, recreating their experiences, and pursuing their dreams.
This experience will present you with the opportunity to follow the Oregon and other migrant trails upriver past California Hill, Chimney Rock, and Scott's Bluff. Along with learning about how these trails formed a central mythic element of the American spirit, you will be performing service that echoes the pioneers' historical acts along the way--hiking the trails that they hiked, engaging in river crossings, canoeing, and river sustainability & cleanup in the rivers and streams they followed, and performing service by building homes with Habitat for Humanity just as the pioneers built homes and forts to serve those who came behind them. Research and reflections will focus on the migrant experience, its role in the formation of America, and current echoes. Further research and reflections will focus on the geographic center of the US and what it means to be in the center vs. the periphery across disciplines--demographics, culture, power, etc.--as well as the role of communications in those disciplines. Final research will include ecology, sustainability, and watershed data collection.
Important Note: Students must be able to swim. Students will also be expected to hike on uneven terrain and camp outside in a tent.
Focus
Lead Faculty
Estimated Cost
Notable
Cultural Immersion,
Service Learning,
Environmental Sustainability
Which state is home to the oldest seaside resort in the United States? Which state had the most battles fought on its land during the Revolutionary War? Which state was the first to sign the Bill of Rights? Which state hosted the first-ever baseball game? Which state is home to the world’s longest boardwalk? Which state has the most diners? If your answer to these questions happened to be “New Jersey”, you are correct!
Often, something being right in front of our faces means we rarely, if ever, look closely at it. So it is with places, as well. New Jersey holds some real gems across a number of different interest areas including science, history, and the arts. This Unit will explore the culture and history of The Garden State, as well as its contributions to our country and the world.
Our adventures will see us crisscross the state as we visit landmarks of the American revolution, conservation sites and museums, while hiking, kayaking and enjoying all the Garden State has to offer. From Washington’s Crossing to the Liberty Science Center to the Shakespeare Theatre, get ready to experience all New Jersey has to offer!
“It is important to understand the longstanding history that has brought you to reside on the land, and to seek to understand your place within that history.”
- Know the Land Territories Campaign
Landscape and Legacy will explore how people connect with the land on which they live, both through personal acknowledgement of our home in New Jersey and through research of, travel to, and service for communities in the Southwest. While in New Jersey, we will learn about our connection to the land through studying the history and traditions of our region. A special focus will be given to our GSB campus. Our travel will take us to the American Southwest, which although considered a desert, is a region abundant in cultural traditions and natural beauty.
Our seven-day trip (tentatively Wednesday, May 25 – Tuesday, May 31) through Arizona and New Mexico will include visits to:
The Grand Canyon
The Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered
The Explore Navajo Interactive Museum, Code Talker exhibit
Window Rock, the capital city of the Navajo nation
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, which represents the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico
The Sandia Peak Tramway
We will participate in service projects throughout the trip in coordination with one of the region’s national parks and in collaboration with local Native American communities. These projects will support initiatives such as conservation, economic development or Native American community specific initiatives. (Tasks could include anything from maintaining hiking trails to working in a native American garden or helping reintroduce the formerly extinct California condor.)
Our time in New Jersey will include a visit to the Lenni Lenape village at Waterloo Village, an acknowledgement of our land and an appreciation of our campus, and a service project based on conservation, as time allows.
Focus
Lead Faculty
Estimated Cost
Notable
Cultural Immersion,
Environmental Sustainability,
Service Learning
From prehistoric times to today, murals continue to be an important form of expression, a powerful visual communication tool and significant part of the history of art. Artists have been leaving signs of their own existence and knowledge of history, depicting everyday life and traditions unique to the time they were created. Murals, mosaics, and street art provide a view into the rich diversity of cultures during different periods around the world.
Throughout this Unit we will discuss relevant artists, movements and cultures including Mexican Muralism, New York based artists from the 80’s such as Keith Haring and Basquiat, and contemporary street artists working today including Banksy, Shepard Fairey and Swoon. With urban art becoming more mainstream many artists work both on the street and in the studio and we will examine how their unique style has become sought-after in museums, auction houses and galleries. Contemporary mural painters and street artists studio practice also includes producing works on canvas, paper, wood, video, stickers, stencils, skateboard decks and fashion.
Students will work collaboratively under the direction of visiting artists on larger mural projects as well as develop their own skills with drawing, painting and printmaking techniques.
Possible field trips to view murals in New Jersey and New York may be included.
Working in conjunction with REI, the Desert Wonders Unit will provide an extraordinary opportunity for you to experience the majesty of the canyonlands of the desert Southwest over the course of ten (10) days. This is not meant as a trip for the tourist set, in which sights are sped past, glimpsed from tinted windows, checked off a list, and left behind in a cloud of tour bus diesel fumes. Rather, you (in the company of experienced outdoor guides and with all necessary gear provided for their comfort and safety) will tour the “big three” canyons—Bryce, Zion, and the Grand Canyon itself—the “right way,” with boots on the ground and eyes on the horizon for the next unimaginable vista to come into view.
This Unit experience is tied directly to Gill St. Bernard’s mission to educate the whole child—body, mind, and spirit —while inculcating core values.
Body: Each day will feature a challenging hike among knife-edge ridges and slot canyons to cinematic panoramas of hoodoos, mesas, spires, and archways not visible from the interstate.
Mind: In this setting, teachable moments abound in ways impossible to match in 50-minute, subject-specific chunks in the classroom. Geology (How can these bizarre rock formations and moonscapes be explained?); Native Studies (Who are the Navajo? What was the legacy of Manifest Destiny?); Wilderness Appreciation (Why bother setting aside wilderness? Why do people feel so strongly about preserving this part of America?); Biology (How have birds, reptiles, arthropods, fishes, etc., adapted to life in the desert?); Climate: (How are the demands for water and a warming globe increase the desertification of an already arid region?)
Spirit: Who can express the effects on a young person of red rocks against blue skies, peaceful nights under the stars, and campfire talks with good friends?
Values: On the trail and in the campgrounds, ample real-world chances will arise to practice Courage, Integrity, Respect, Compassion, and Excellence.
Certified outdoor guides will accompany us every step of the way over ten days. Side hikes will take you to the Petrified Forest, Canyon de Chelly National Park (with a Navajo guide), and Grand Escalante National Park, as well as a day of kayaking.
Important note when considering this Unit: This Unit involves camping outdoors in a tent and significant hiking across uneven terrain. The expectation is that you will be able to hike from 6 to 10 miles a day on elevated trails.
The Earth is approximately 71% water and houses well over 1 million species throughout its aquatic and marine biomes. These species include notable macro-organisms like the Carcharodon carcharias (Great White Shark) and Orcinus orca (Killer Whale), but the vast majority of the organisms are microscopic and typically not of concern to the average person. These seemingly insignificant creatures are the foundational element of any thriving ecosystem and without a thorough understanding of their importance, one cannot appreciate the full wonders of nature.
The primary objective of this field experience will be to systematically construct a working understanding of a natural aquatic system. Using the Raritan River and its various parks and river access locations, you will cultivate an understanding of all aspects of life. You will collect water samples to analyze for biotic diversity and abiotic components (pH, dissolved oxygen) and participate in large scale ecologic data collections, using techniques such as pond shocking or natural observation that are a safe and harmless technique to identify the wildlife and relative population sizes. All identified microscopic organisms will be cataloged to illustrate the diversity at the primary producer trophic level and their relationship to the consumers who depend on their production for their own survival. The macro-organism collection will allow you to construct an abridged ecological hierarchy that the microorganisms support. You will work with experts in the field, including the Raritan Headwaters association, to facilitate their scientific inquiry. You will be introduced to all aspects of the aquatic sciences including biological, chemical, physical, and geological limnology/oceanography.
Highlights include:
Students will develop a healthy appreciation for our planet, specifically aquatic systems.
Students will be able to identify and classify naturally occurring organisms along various points on the Raritan River
Students will understand the development, effort, and execution of the scientific method as it applies to natural systems.
Come join in the excitement as experienced and professional GSB personnel guide you through an aquatic adventure that will push you to your scientific limits!
Which state is home to the oldest seaside resort in the United States? Which state had the most battles fought on its land during the Revolutionary War? Which state was the first to sign the Bill of Rights? Which state hosted the first-ever baseball game? Which state is home to the world’s longest boardwalk? Which state has the most diners? If your answer to these questions happened to be “New Jersey”, you are correct!
Often, something being right in front of our faces means we rarely, if ever, look closely at it. So it is with places, as well. New Jersey holds some real gems across a number of different interest areas including science, history, and the arts. This Unit will explore the culture and history of The Garden State, as well as its contributions to our country and the world.
Our adventures will see us crisscross the state as we visit landmarks of the American revolution, conservation sites and museums, while hiking, kayaking and enjoying all the Garden State has to offer. From Washington’s Crossing to the Liberty Science Center to the Shakespeare Theatre, get ready to experience all New Jersey has to offer!
“It is important to understand the longstanding history that has brought you to reside on the land, and to seek to understand your place within that history.”
- Know the Land Territories Campaign
Landscape and Legacy will explore how people connect with the land on which they live, both through personal acknowledgement of our home in New Jersey and through research of, travel to, and service for communities in the Southwest. While in New Jersey, we will learn about our connection to the land through studying the history and traditions of our region. A special focus will be given to our GSB campus. Our travel will take us to the American Southwest, which although considered a desert, is a region abundant in cultural traditions and natural beauty.
Our seven-day trip (tentatively Wednesday, May 25 – Tuesday, May 31) through Arizona and New Mexico will include visits to:
The Grand Canyon
The Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered
The Explore Navajo Interactive Museum, Code Talker exhibit
Window Rock, the capital city of the Navajo nation
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, which represents the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico
The Sandia Peak Tramway
We will participate in service projects throughout the trip in coordination with one of the region’s national parks and in collaboration with local Native American communities. These projects will support initiatives such as conservation, economic development or Native American community specific initiatives. (Tasks could include anything from maintaining hiking trails to working in a native American garden or helping reintroduce the formerly extinct California condor.)
Our time in New Jersey will include a visit to the Lenni Lenape village at Waterloo Village, an acknowledgement of our land and an appreciation of our campus, and a service project based on conservation, as time allows.
Focus
Lead Faculty
Estimated Cost
Notable
Cultural Immersion,
Environmental Sustainability,
Service Learning
What makes the heart of America? Is it merely the center of a map of the United States? Is it a certain experience? Is it an understanding of our connection to the past? Many of these answers converge near the geographic center of America, where the Oregon and other migrant trails (as well as Pony Express and Lewis & Clark Trails) follow the Platte River in Nebraska. This Unit will explore what it means to get to the heart of America by following in pioneer footsteps, recreating their experiences, and pursuing their dreams.
This experience will present you with the opportunity to follow the Oregon and other migrant trails upriver past California Hill, Chimney Rock, and Scott's Bluff. Along with learning about how these trails formed a central mythic element of the American spirit, you will be performing service that echoes the pioneers' historical acts along the way--hiking the trails that they hiked, engaging in river crossings, canoeing, and river sustainability & cleanup in the rivers and streams they followed, and performing service by building homes with Habitat for Humanity just as the pioneers built homes and forts to serve those who came behind them. Research and reflections will focus on the migrant experience, its role in the formation of America, and current echoes. Further research and reflections will focus on the geographic center of the US and what it means to be in the center vs. the periphery across disciplines--demographics, culture, power, etc.--as well as the role of communications in those disciplines. Final research will include ecology, sustainability, and watershed data collection.
Important Note: Students must be able to swim. Students will also be expected to hike on uneven terrain and camp outside in a tent.
Focus
Lead Faculty
Estimated Cost
Notable
Cultural Immersion,
Service Learning,
Environmental Sustainability
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a farmer? Well lucky you, GSB is home to the Home Winds Farm. This Unit will provide you with a big picture view of what it means to do the work of a farmer. We’ll start our days with barn chores, we’ll work in the garden, we’ll intellectually engage with farming as the foundation of our civilization, and you’ll get to bring home some bacon. Not actual bacon, because we don’t have pigs, but metaphorical bacon in the form of a planter with tomatoes and basil so you’ll be ready to make your family a delicious caprese salad when your tomato plants are producing in August.
Additionally, we’ll visit farms nearby, to understand the various kinds of agriculture practices in the area, and how they can succeed in the complex modern agriculture market. We’ll keep a journal to track what we learn, understand the importance of record keeping on the farm, and pay careful attention to all the subtle signals nature provides us. Finally, we’ll develop our broader understanding of agriculture by watching documentaries, reading some passages from books, and doing some cooking! Be prepared to think deeply and get your hands (and clothes) dirty.
Important Note: Students must be comfortable with being outside in heat, sun, and rain. We will spend a lot of time outside.
How did we come to inhabit this land of ours? How can we preserve it for the future?
In this Unit, students will work to gain an understanding in the history of New Jersey’s indigenous peoples, the Lenni-Lenape, and seek to understand the land which we live on and how to best preserve this land for future generations. In order to best understand the Lenni-Lenape, we will begin by exploring the history of Native Americans in the United States and the treatment they faced from the country’s founding to the present day. Then we will narrow our focus and see how the Lenni-Lenape have fit into the scope of American history. We will visit Waterloo Village, located in Stanhope, NJ as well as the National Museum of the American Indian in New York City. We have to acknowledge the sacrifices and the struggles of the Lenni Lenape to understand how to best preserve the land and the world in which we live for future generations.
We will spend the second week exploring ways to ensure that our land can and will be passed down to future generations. We will experience the great outdoors through educational programs at the Pocono Environmental Education Center and spend time exploring the land in its natural beauty.
Please note we will spend two nights at the Pocono Environmental Education Center located in Dingman’s Ferry, PA, approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes away from GSB. Workshops that we will engage in include topics such as forest ecology, geology, environmental sustainability, plant study and traditional earth skills. Everyone will be required to bring their own bedding and will be housed in cabins on the premises.
Are you inspired to be the next Ansel Adams? Exploring the land, learning about its wildlife, and capturing its raw beauty through photography? Situated atop a volcanic hotspot Yellowstone National Park, the FIRST national park, is a tristate phenomenon that spans over 3400 square miles of wilderness. Home to more geysers and hot springs than any other place on earth, it is truly unique. But Yellowstone National Park encompasses so much more, including but not limited to the Grand Prismatic Springs, Jenny Lake, Snake River, Antelope Island, the Great Salt Lake, and Grand Tetons (all destinations we will be visiting and exploring). To say we will cover it all would be ridiculous, but we will not be selling ourselves short on this journey. And to ensure this we have enlisted the help of Grand Classroom, a professional travel and educational company to help us plan every aspect of the trip.
The focus of this Unit will not only be exploring the land itself but learning about the endangered species that inhabit these spaces. In conjunction with learning how to use a digital camera either as a beginner or experienced photographer capturing and sharing the importance of national parks. Keeping an ongoing photo journal of our experiences and making prints of our photographs to share what we have seen. We will be going on guided tours, hiking, swimming, kayaking, tubing and much more during our five days. Taking in as much as possible so that we can return to campus and share what we have learned.
If you are interested in helping spread awareness of land preservation, becoming knowledgeable of endangered species, and the importance of nature sustainability, this opportunity should not be missed. Capturing what Yellowstone National Park has to offer through hands-on experiences and the lens, students will achieve a deeper understanding of a truly unique place.
Potential Travel Dates: Thursday, May 26 - Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Students will learn various activities and skills through active participation. This involves students working directly with experts in any given field to learn and develop specialized skill sets. These hands-on experiences will provide students with a unique opportunity to apply concepts learned in the classroom to a practical setting.
You are relaxing in the shade of a beautiful tree on a warm Spring day, when you suddenly wonder, “hey, what kind of tree is this anyway?” They are all around us, yet many of us know very little about trees. Sure we can identify a maple leaf, or even an oak, but did you know there are more than 10 species of oak that are found in New Jersey? What other types of trees are common to the Garden State? How big can they get? Why do certain species thrive exactly where they do?
This unit aims to explore the world of trees around us. Why do we plant the trees that we plant? What do we use them for? What do we seek from a tree? We will explore the science, history, economics, symbolism and lore of the trees in our area. Using the GSB campus as a home base, we will catalogue many of the trees on the school’s acreage, and also explore the heritage of our campus in connection to the past inhabitants and their varied uses of the trees in the region. We’ll learn about planting, pruning, mulching, and caring for trees; and we’ll also learn about when to just let them be. We’ll bring in some guest speakers-botanists, landscapers, arborists - and we will discuss the issues that our trees face here in our home state. We will read and write about the trees we find, and we will plant a few more in some ideal locations, depending on topography and future purpose.
Have you ever entered a building that left you stunned by its beauty? Have you ever visited a well-constructed urban plaza and noticed the way it made you feel at home? This unit experience will examine time-honored principles and practices of architecture and urban design. Students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in an experiential study of architectural styles, both civic and domestic, found in and around the GSB community, North Central New Jersey, and New York City. We will involve on-campus research and presentations, class discussions, and analysis. In addition, students will travel to sites, and explore buildings that will bring to life the concepts under study. Possible destinations include, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Frick Museum, Thomas Edison National Historic Park and the Guggenheim Museum.
With the newly gained understanding of the universal principles of architectural composition, form, and design, students will be able to recognize and identify different architectural styles and time periods as well as create a cardboard model inspired by the architectural style of their choosing.
Focus
Lead Faculty
Estimated Cost
Notable
Experiential Learning
Paul Canada
$1,250
Not athlete friendly
Proof of Covid vaccination required for NYC museums
Two very popular and influential shows on Broadway in the last few years are “Hamilton,” the story of our Nation’s founding, and “Come From Away,” the story of a small Canadian town on 9/11. Each of these shows has shown light on lesser-known aspects of history. Prior to 2015, Alexander Hamilton was an unfamiliar Founding Father, despite being our original Secretary of the Treasury and Washington’s “Right Hand Man.” In addition, everyone knows what happened in New York and in DC on September 11, 2001, but not many have heard of the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, and the way that the people there opened their homes and hearts to stranded travelers from all over the world. This Unit will take you to see both “Hamilton” and “Come from Away” on Broadway and learn more about the truth behind these shows, and where the playwrights took some dramatic license. Highlights include:
Two separate days in NYC- Day 1: You will see “Hamilton” on Broadway and visit Trinity Church (Hamilton’s grave) or the Hamilton archives at the New York Public Library. Day 2: You will see “Come From Away” on Broadway and visit the 9/11 Memorial.
Visit to the Schuyler House and Washington’s Headquarters in Morristown to learn about the background of Hamilton based on the EduHam curriculum provided by Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
Learn the true stories of the characters that were featured in “Come From Away,” for example Captain Beverly Bass- first female Captain in American Airlines history.
Learn how Lin Manuel Miranda, Irene Sankoff and David Hein researched the stories that they chose to share in “Hamilton,” and where they took poetic license to create a hit show.
Possible guest speakers include actor, Jenn Colella, and notable Hamilton historians.
You will choose a topic related to one of the shows to research for historical accuracy.
At the end of the unit, you will collaborate with other students to create a Google Site to highlight your research about Alexander Hamilton and September 12th in Newfoundland.
Focus
Lead Faculty
Estimated Cost
Notable
Experiential Learning
Kristen Armstrong
$1,000
Athlete friendly
Proof of Covid vaccination required for Broadway shows and NYC attractions
How great would it be to do a job that you absolutely LOVE? Bruce Beck loves what he does and he’s eager to share his passion for this exciting and challenging profession with you.
With the explosion of cable TV, the internet, live webcasts, mobile TV and social media, there is more opportunity than ever for men and women to find a career in sports broadcasting. Whether you dream of being in front of the camera or working behind the scenes on the production side, this unit will give you a fascinating insight into the world of television and radio.
This unit allows you to get hands-on experience and to learn the fundamentals of broadcasting from one of New Jersey’s own, WNBC-TV Lead Sports Anchor BRUCE BECK. The former Livingston resident has won 8 New York Emmy Awards and has been named New York State Sports Broadcaster of the Year 8 times. Mr. Beck and his team of professionals have developed an exciting program that will enable you to interact with some of the best announcers in the New York Metropolitan area and gain valuable insight into every facet of the field.
You will learn how to write for television and radio broadcasts, read off a teleprompter, co-host a sports talk radio segment, be a public address announcer, do field reports – and even interview a professional athlete. If safety protocols permit, there will be off-campus day trips.
This class has been a home run whenever it’s been offered in the past. If you want to get in on the action and create even more action, THIS CLASS IS FOR YOU. It promises to be the experience of a lifetime.
Dance:
Are you interested in dancing ‘whenever’ and ‘wherever’ like Shakira? Do you want to tap your feet to the Latin beat ‘On the dance floor’ like J. Lo? Well then, get ready because this Unit is for you! This toe-tapping and finger-snapping experience invites you onto the Latin Ballroom dance floor where you will learn signature dances with your friends and have tons of fun, NO experience necessary!
Get ready for this TERRIFIC TRIFECTA of fun. The first part will include five days of Latin Ballroom dance instruction by certified professional Latin Ballroom dance instructors. Each day the lesson will be dedicated to a particular Latin dance style which includes, but is not limited to the following: Cha-Cha, Merengue, Salsa, Samba and Swing. We will find inspiration from a variety of sources including both classic and modern music videos, as well as popular Hollywood films such as Selena, West Side Story and Shall We Dance to name a few. Studies have shown that dance contributes to better health, optimism, agility, happiness and social stimulation, and these are just a few of the rewarding results that dancing provides! You will use your mind and muscles to move your feet to the Latin beat!!
Dine:
Food is a common thread that brings people together. The second part of this Unit will offer you a variety of delicious culinary experiences in which you will enjoy a variety of authentic Latin-inspired and infused foods such as Castilian Paella, Venezuelan Empanadas, and Mexican taquitos. We will journey a bit south and enjoy a Portuguese power lunch with savory desserts, too!
Design:
The third and final part of this Unit will focus on creating and designing an authentic Latin-inspired accessory with our guest Designer/Seamstress. You will have a choice of designing your own flowing, sheer skirt/wrap or bandana/cummerbund which you can proudly wear on the dance floor!
So, the question is: are you ready to Dance, Dine and Design? If you are, then sign up and prepare yourself to put your best food forward, sample savory cuisine and design your very own dance accessory!
Imagine it’s your birthday and you receive a whopping one hundred dollars as a gift. What would you do? Would you put it under your mattress? Would you put it in your savings account? Did you know that by opting for any of these options, you are losing money? What if I told you that, that the one hundred dollars have the potential to double? No, I am not talking about gambling or a pyramid scheme. I am talking about learning to invest. Many people make millions of dollars by making the right investments, and you can be one of them.
This unit is broken down into two main parts. The first part will be on personal finances, which includes topics such as budgeting, credit cards, debt, taxes, insurance, interest, and retirement. You first have to know how to budget your money so that you can begin investing. This can only be done by understanding debt, interest, and other factors.
The second part will consist of investment opportunities such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, hedge funds, cryptocurrency, and real estate. This is an option you can have once you properly budget your money. Additionally, we will also have the privilege of having guest speakers such as bankers and investors.
Lastly, we may take a trip to the NY stock exchange environment to see where the magic happens and interview some investors. So, if you are interested in potentially doubling your money, join us. This is going to be a fun, practical, and exciting unit. The only requirement is for you to be ready to make some money.
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a farmer? Well lucky you, GSB is home to the Home Winds Farm. This Unit will provide you with a big picture view of what it means to do the work of a farmer. We’ll start our days with barn chores, we’ll work in the garden, we’ll intellectually engage with farming as the foundation of our civilization, and you’ll get to bring home some bacon. Not actual bacon, because we don’t have pigs, but metaphorical bacon in the form of a planter with tomatoes and basil so you’ll be ready to make your family a delicious caprese salad when your tomato plants are producing in August.
Additionally, we’ll visit farms nearby, to understand the various kinds of agriculture practices in the area, and how they can succeed in the complex modern agriculture market. We’ll keep a journal to track what we learn, understand the importance of record keeping on the farm, and pay careful attention to all the subtle signals nature provides us. Finally, we’ll develop our broader understanding of agriculture by watching documentaries, reading some passages from books, and doing some cooking! Be prepared to think deeply and get your hands (and clothes) dirty.
Important Note: Students must be comfortable with being outside in heat, sun, and rain. We will spend a lot of time outside.
“Nearly everyone wants as least one outstanding meal a day.”
- Duncan Hines
“People who love to eat are always the best people.”
- Julia Child
Have you ever dined at a nice restaurant and wondered how the chef thought of that day’s menu? Or what food critics look for when they are analyzing and reviewing the restaurant? This unit will explore the criteria of the food critic industry. In this unit, students combine experiential engagement and cultural immersion as they learn the language of food critics and head chefs. Students will write their own review of the business and its food, using the knowledge given to them by the New Jersey food critic.
While a school curriculum rightfully honors and rewards planning, forethought, and looking to the future, it is equally important to hone the ability to think and act in the moment. If you’re in a job interview or at a networking event, there is no way to plan for every eventuality. Sooner or later, something is going to happen that you’re not prepared for. At that moment, will you freeze up? Or will you be able to adjust, redirect, and go with the flow of the conversation? Improv strengthens these skills, allowing students to get out of their heads for that brief moment and lead them down avenues they might not have considered.
This Unit will work in collaboration with The People’s Improv Theater (The PIT), selected in New York Magazine’s “Best of New York” feature for their improvisation classes. Each day, one of their trained instructors will come to Gill and teach you a new form of improvisation. From short form to long form, musical improv to sketches, you will explore the stage and learn to trust their instincts. By working with a variety of teachers in a number of methods, you will strengthen your ability to think on your feet in any situation.
This is not a Unit for students who prefer to sit and listen. You will be on stage, learning how to perform both individually and as part of a group. You will push yourself to act in unexpected ways; this can involve solo performance, duos, group work, and even planning and writing sketches. Each Friday, our group may travel to New York City to watch professionals put to use the skills they’ve learned at an actual PIT performance.
Do you ever wish you could just get away from the stressors of daily life for a few days? In our fast-paced world it can sometimes feel like we are constantly treading water. This unit will offer you an opportunity to take a step back from our busy lives and get back in touch with what really matters to you.
Through the guidance of expert instructors during a 5-day residential retreat, you will learn awareness and concentration practices that lead to beneficial outcomes validated by science. Through guided mindfulness meditation, small group discussions, and movement, you will learn how to calm your mind, direct and sustain attention, explore emotions and thoughts, cultivate compassion, and communicate more authentically with peers and others. There will be scheduled periods of silence and you will get to experience what it’s like to be unplugged from your phone!
The retreat structure combines formal periods of sitting and walking meditation, relational mindfulness practices that support connection and authentic sharing, and both silent and non-silent free periods. The flow between structured and unstructured practice time, can be both challenging and deeply rewarding for participants who are working to integrate mindfulness skills into their daily life.
Retreat will be held in one of the following locations:
Crossroads Camp and Retreat Center - Port Murray, NJ
Be your own boss. Determine your own destiny. Start your own business.
In this Unit, you’ll learn what it takes to launch a startup by looking through the lens of the food truck industry. The valuable skills you learn can be applied to all kinds of business endeavors. Plus, we’ll visit some cool food trucks and eat plenty of delicious food!
A single food truck runs well in the right location(s) can pull in hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, and with the possibility of franchising and expansion, the sky is the limit. Take it from Shark Tank success story, Cousins Maine Lobster, whose business has grown to dozens of food trucks in 35 cities across the country as well as a successful e-commerce business shipping their lobster, crab and other products directly to consumers.
As with any startup where you take an idea and transform it into a viable business, there are several steps involved. We’ll dive into the whole process of market research, creating a business plan, pitching to potential investors, budget projections, location scouting, permits and fees, legal matters, staffing, marketing and customer acquisition, community relationships and more.
Field trips include a visit to a Business Incubator or Accelerator such as The Keller Center at Princeton University as well as trips to visit food trucks and talk with food truck owners about their experiences in the business. Each student will work individually or collaboratively with another student to develop a proposal for a new food truck business or pop-up restaurant, including choosing a name, designing a logo, creating a menu, sourcing ingredients, creating a budget and drafting a business plan.
How did we come to inhabit this land of ours? How can we preserve it for the future?
In this Unit, students will work to gain an understanding in the history of New Jersey’s indigenous peoples, the Lenni-Lenape, and seek to understand the land which we live on and how to best preserve this land for future generations. In order to best understand the Lenni-Lenape, we will begin by exploring the history of Native Americans in the United States and the treatment they faced from the country’s founding to the present day. Then we will narrow our focus and see how the Lenni-Lenape have fit into the scope of American history. We will visit Waterloo Village, located in Stanhope, NJ as well as the National Museum of the American Indian in New York City. We have to acknowledge the sacrifices and the struggles of the Lenni Lenape to understand how to best preserve the land and the world in which we live for future generations.
We will spend the second week exploring ways to ensure that our land can and will be passed down to future generations. We will experience the great outdoors through educational programs at the Pocono Environmental Education Center and spend time exploring the land in its natural beauty.
Please note we will spend two nights at the Pocono Environmental Education Center located in Dingman’s Ferry, PA, approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes away from GSB. Workshops that we will engage in include topics such as forest ecology, geology, environmental sustainability, plant study and traditional earth skills. Everyone will be required to bring their own bedding and will be housed in cabins on the premises.
If you’ve ever longed to write, draw, or photograph in a breath-taking natural environment, then Monhegan Island is the perfect setting for you. Barely a mile and a half in length, and located ten miles off the coast of mid-Maine, Monhegan, with its dramatic cliffs, pine-scented forests, and quaint village comprises an ideal environment for nurturing artistic expression.
This course is intended and designed as a writers and artists colony and takes as its central assumption that place inspires expression. For more than 100 years, Monhegan Island has inspired both visual artists and writers. The island’s famous Blackhead Cliff has been painted, photographed, and drawn by generations of noted artists including Robert Henri, Edward Hopper, George Bellows, Rockwell Kent, and numerous Wyeths. Dozens of artists maintain studios on the island and open them to the public regularly during the summer season.
In this course, students will produce an agreed upon number of pages of writing or pieces of art per day or week, depending on the size of the projects undertaken. All students will engage in a writing component to produce poetry, fiction, or nonfiction prose and choose a visual art in addition—photography, painting, or drawing. At least once during each day, the group will meet together in order to conduct a writer’s workshop in which the day’s yield will be distributed and discussed in workshop fashion. Students will have the opportunity to critique and be critiqued by their peers in constructive fashion. Over the course of 2 weeks, each student will produce a portfolio of original work.
Week 1: Workshops with visiting artists and writers; visits to parks; goal-setting session.
Week 2: Monhegan Island
Dates of Travel: May 26—June 2
There are 2 components of travel for this Unit.
Travel by passenger van to New Harbor, Maine. About 9 hours with minimal stops.
Travel by boat from New Harbor, Maine to Monhegan Island. About one hour.
Lodging
An overnight stay on the mainland is required on the way up due to connecting times with the Boat ferry to Monhegan.
From prehistoric times to today, murals continue to be an important form of expression, a powerful visual communication tool and significant part of the history of art. Artists have been leaving signs of their own existence and knowledge of history, depicting everyday life and traditions unique to the time they were created. Murals, mosaics, and street art provide a view into the rich diversity of cultures during different periods around the world.
Throughout this Unit we will discuss relevant artists, movements and cultures including Mexican Muralism, New York based artists from the 80’s such as Keith Haring and Basquiat, and contemporary street artists working today including Banksy, Shepard Fairey and Swoon. With urban art becoming more mainstream many artists work both on the street and in the studio and we will examine how their unique style has become sought-after in museums, auction houses and galleries. Contemporary mural painters and street artists studio practice also includes producing works on canvas, paper, wood, video, stickers, stencils, skateboard decks and fashion.
Students will work collaboratively under the direction of visiting artists on larger mural projects as well as develop their own skills with drawing, painting and printmaking techniques.
Possible field trips to view murals in New Jersey and New York may be included.
Are you inspired to be the next Ansel Adams? Exploring the land, learning about its wildlife, and capturing its raw beauty through photography? Situated atop a volcanic hotspot Yellowstone National Park, the FIRST national park, is a tristate phenomenon that spans over 3400 square miles of wilderness. Home to more geysers and hot springs than any other place on earth, it is truly unique. But Yellowstone National Park encompasses so much more, including but not limited to the Grand Prismatic Springs, Jenny Lake, Snake River, Antelope Island, the Great Salt Lake, and Grand Tetons (all destinations we will be visiting and exploring). To say we will cover it all would be ridiculous, but we will not be selling ourselves short on this journey. And to ensure this we have enlisted the help of Grand Classroom, a professional travel and educational company to help us plan every aspect of the trip.
The focus of this Unit will not only be exploring the land itself but learning about the endangered species that inhabit these spaces. In conjunction with learning how to use a digital camera either as a beginner or experienced photographer capturing and sharing the importance of national parks. Keeping an ongoing photo journal of our experiences and making prints of our photographs to share what we have seen. We will be going on guided tours, hiking, swimming, kayaking, tubing and much more during our five days. Taking in as much as possible so that we can return to campus and share what we have learned.
If you are interested in helping spread awareness of land preservation, becoming knowledgeable of endangered species, and the importance of nature sustainability, this opportunity should not be missed. Capturing what Yellowstone National Park has to offer through hands-on experiences and the lens, students will achieve a deeper understanding of a truly unique place.
Potential Travel Dates: Thursday, May 26 - Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Community service has long been a tradition at our school providing students with opportunities to gain a deeper appreciation for organizations and causes that assist those in need. Students in these programs will participate in immersive service learning projects that support our broader community.
What makes the heart of America? Is it merely the center of a map of the United States? Is it a certain experience? Is it an understanding of our connection to the past? Many of these answers converge near the geographic center of America, where the Oregon and other migrant trails (as well as Pony Express and Lewis & Clark Trails) follow the Platte River in Nebraska. This Unit will explore what it means to get to the heart of America by following in pioneer footsteps, recreating their experiences, and pursuing their dreams.
This experience will present you with the opportunity to follow the Oregon and other migrant trails upriver past California Hill, Chimney Rock, and Scott's Bluff. Along with learning about how these trails formed a central mythic element of the American spirit, you will be performing service that echoes the pioneers' historical acts along the way--hiking the trails that they hiked, engaging in river crossings, canoeing, and river sustainability & cleanup in the rivers and streams they followed, and performing service by building homes with Habitat for Humanity just as the pioneers built homes and forts to serve those who came behind them. Research and reflections will focus on the migrant experience, its role in the formation of America, and current echoes. Further research and reflections will focus on the geographic center of the US and what it means to be in the center vs. the periphery across disciplines--demographics, culture, power, etc.--as well as the role of communications in those disciplines. Final research will include ecology, sustainability, and watershed data collection.
Important Note: Students must be able to swim. Students will also be expected to hike on uneven terrain and camp outside in a tent.
Focus
Lead Faculty
Estimated Cost
Notable
Cultural Immersion,
Service Learning,
Environmental Sustainability
“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
In this Spring Unit, we will spend time engaged in enjoyable and rewarding experiences centered around service learning. All participants will be required to plan and execute their own service project, scheduling and contacting organizations while ultimately implementing their project with the help of their peers. Additionally, guest speakers who work as volunteers or paid staff will visit to discuss the importance of a life of service to others.
Examples of possible service- learning opportunities include visits to:
Morristown Food Pantry
Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary
Goryeb Children’s Hospital
Randolph Animal Shelter
Avalaon Beach Cleanup
Bristol Glen Assisted Living
This experience will deepen your understanding and appreciation for the altruistic, compassionate, and selfless work that so many do for those in need. In the end, when we give, we ultimate are the ones who receive.
“It is important to understand the longstanding history that has brought you to reside on the land, and to seek to understand your place within that history.”
- Know the Land Territories Campaign
Landscape and Legacy will explore how people connect with the land on which they live, both through personal acknowledgement of our home in New Jersey and through research of, travel to, and service for communities in the Southwest. While in New Jersey, we will learn about our connection to the land through studying the history and traditions of our region. A special focus will be given to our GSB campus. Our travel will take us to the American Southwest, which although considered a desert, is a region abundant in cultural traditions and natural beauty.
Our seven-day trip (tentatively Wednesday, May 25 – Tuesday, May 31) through Arizona and New Mexico will include visits to:
The Grand Canyon
The Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered
The Explore Navajo Interactive Museum, Code Talker exhibit
Window Rock, the capital city of the Navajo nation
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, which represents the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico
The Sandia Peak Tramway
We will participate in service projects throughout the trip in coordination with one of the region’s national parks and in collaboration with local Native American communities. These projects will support initiatives such as conservation, economic development or Native American community specific initiatives. (Tasks could include anything from maintaining hiking trails to working in a native American garden or helping reintroduce the formerly extinct California condor.)
Our time in New Jersey will include a visit to the Lenni Lenape village at Waterloo Village, an acknowledgement of our land and an appreciation of our campus, and a service project based on conservation, as time allows.
Focus
Lead Faculty
Estimated Cost
Notable
Cultural Immersion,
Environmental Sustainability,
Service Learning
GSB’s Spring Internship Program is designed to provide select 11th and 12th grade students with an opportunity to enhance their educational experience by exploring career possibilities. The internships provide students with an in-depth exposure to regional businesses, educational and medical institutions, legal professions, cultural programs, and community service organizations.
Interested students should complete an application and submit required documents by Friday, December 3, 2021. Students selected for the GSB Internship Program will be notified by Friday, December 10 and will not need to register for a Unit course.
Students who meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to participate in the program. Details of the application process are outlined below.
Current 11th and 12th grade students who are in good academic standing, has submitted a recommendation by their advisor, and is available to work a minimum of six hours daily for the duration of the program. The internship must take place on each of the scheduled days during the Spring Unit Program. Students may not work for a family member or family business and are not to be reimbursed for their services.
Students who do not meet the eligibility requirements, choose not to participate, or are not selected for the program must register for a course in the Spring Unit Program.
The Spring Internship Program provides students with a substantive learning experience to work with a mentor host in a profession or industry of interest while gaining a real-world work experience. GSB will identify prospective mentor hosts.
The internship will provide students with the opportunity to:
Gain practical experience within a business environment.
Acquire knowledge of the industry in which the internship is focused.
Apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom in a professional setting.
Develop a greater understanding about career options while more clearly defining personal career goals.
Experience the activities and functions of various business professionals.
Develop and refine oral and written communication skills.
Identify areas for future knowledge and skill development.
Student interns will be closely monitored by the GSB Spring Intern Coordinator throughout the duration of the internship to ensure compliance with GSB’s and the mentor host’s expectations. Students’ conduct, punctuality, and job performance must meet the standards set forth by GSB and by the mentor host, organization or representative.
Juniors and seniors who wish to participate in the internship program must submit a completed Student Application Form, including essay, and the Advisor Recommendation Form by Friday, December 3, 2021.
A copy of each student’s application and Advisor Recommendation Form may be shared with the student’s advisor, the Director of the Upper School and the internship host or representative.
Students will be interviewed by the GSB Spring Internship Coordinator and the Director of the Upper School to clarify the student’s interests and abilities. The GSB Spring Internship Coordinator and the Director of the Upper School will make all final intern selections.
Prior to starting the internship, students and parents will be asked to sign both the Student and Host Agreement and the Parent/Guardian Authorization.
Throughout the program, student interns will be expected to maintain an account of all their activities. Student interns will be provided with the grading rubric and will be required to maintain a daily journal of their activities, write a reflection paper, and present their experiences at the Spring Unit Fair in June. Students will also be formally evaluated by the internship host as well as the GSB Internship Coordinator. The formal evaluation will help determine the student's final grade.
