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Holy Innocents' Episcopal School El Camino de Santiago 2020
Program Highlights
MEDIEVAL CATHOLICISM
Students’ have a robust understanding of the historical context of this route and the role of the Catholic Church not only within religious institutions but in socio-political life before the Reformation.
SPIRITUAL & RELIGIOUS IDENTITY
Students explore, across a variety of mediums and experiences, what spiritual & religious identity means to different people along the Camino. Then, through intentional reflection, students begin to explore this for themselves.
PILGRIMAGE CULTURE
Students come to understand the unique empathic and community-based culture that has emerged on El Camino de Santiago between walkers.
Itinerary
The below itinerary provides one projection of the daily schedule. Changes may be made to improve the program quality, based on the logistical and educational needs of enrolled students.
DAY 1: INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL ARRIVAL
Students depart from Atlanta to board their international flight to Madrid. The group arrives and after clearing customs, meets their Envoys instructors and checks into a hotel for the evening.
DAY 2: ARRIVAL & STAGING TRIACOSTELA, SPAIN
• Breakfast at Hotel
• Train/flight to Triacastela
• Exploration of town
• Lunch
• Staging & Packing Workshop
• Expedition Full Value Contract and Dynamic-Building
• Dinner
We start the day with fresh eyes and a full night of sleep, enjoying a full breakfast at our accommodations before transferring to the train station. The 3-hour train ride to Triacastela is a wonderful opportunity to get a feel for the Spanish countryside. Upon arrival in Triacastela, students check in to their accommodations for the final ‘staging’ night. After exploring town a bit, the group has lunch and begins an important afternoon of reviewing everyone’s gear, clothing, and doing a packing workshop to ensure everyone’s pack fits them correctly.
Before dinner, we also do our expedition Full Value Contract workshop where we discuss how we will build our supportive culture on the program.
DAYS 3-11: WALKING EL CAMINO ILLUSTRATIVE DAILY SCHEDULE
• Breakfast at Albergues
• Daily Hiking (8 - 12 miles)
• Picnic Lunch
• Complete hike
• Arrival to Albergue & Check-In
• Workshop/Course Activities
• Town Exploration
• Dinner
We settle into daily life on El Camino through the establishment of a regular routine. We sleep in the classic Albergues, typical accommodations for pilgrims along the Camino. Rather than staying in large dormitories, Envoys ensures that each Albergue has private bunk rooms for HIES; with distinct rooms for male and for female students. After breakfast each day at the Albergues, we spend our mornings walking, with a special lens to student leadership daily and building over the arc of the program. Lunches are picnics on trail or upon arrival
in town. We spend our afternoons in a course workshop related to our program lenses, and then spend time relaxing, reflecting, or exploring the towns. Dinner each evening we will eat at our accommodations or at a restaurant.
DAYS 12-13: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA ARRIVAL AND TRANSFER HOME
Building in 2-3 rest days, we should arrive in Santiago de Compostela on our 12th day of the program. We spend the afternoon relishing in the view of the sea, celebrating each other, and visiting the holy pilgrimage site to pay homage to this beautiful trail and all it has given humanity.
After a big breakfast on Day 13 and some final trinket shopping in town, we board a flight back to Madrid. That evening, we enjoy a big tapas dinner and final program closing activity and awards ceremony. On the morning of Day 14, we board our international flight home to Atlanta.
Dates
Students must register by December 15th, 2019.