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Contact Us!Thanksgiving Boston 2021:
Learning in America’s University City
Program Highlights
The Freedom Trail
A fun-filled ‘Amazing Race’ takes us on this 2.5-mile-long path through 16 locations significant to the history of the United States.
Harvard University
We go behind the scenes at one of the world’s most prestigious universities.
Walden Pond
We step back into nature and consider what it would mean to live more deliberately.
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.
Early arrivals / Late departures can be arranged to meet the needs of individual students.
Saturday/Sunday – November 20/21
Students arrive and check in to our accommodations outside of Boston. We hold welcome dinners for all arrivals, and spend some time getting to know each other, adjusting to our surroundings, and discussing what we are most looking forward to during the week.
Monday – November 22
During the morning, we depart for a ‘highlight tour’ of Boston, moving from the Boston Common along the Freedom Trail towards Faneuil Hall. Along the way, we discuss the importance of each of these spots for the identity of Massachusetts natives as well as the historical legacy of the United States.
Tuesday – November 23
We take a short walk along the Charles River to the world-famous Museum of Science. With an amazing range of permanent and temporary exhibits including nanotechnology, alternative energy sources, and the wonders of the animal kingdom, we spend a full afternoon taking in all that the museum has to offer. We close the experience with a show at the IMAX Omni Theater.
Wednesday – November 24
We explore Harvard Square, beginning with a tour of Harvard Yard and then going “behind the scenes” for a lunchtime discussion with current undergraduate and graduate students at Harvard. In the afternoon we take a trip to the famed MIT museum to learn about the birth of artificial intelligence and the development of robotics. We do a robotics workshop and learn to instruct robots to perform basic tasks. Moving through the exhibit, we find interesting tidbits to bring back and discuss as a group.
THursday – November 25
It is Thanksgiving! In the morning, we all make a menu together where each student contributes a dish related to their family’s cultural heritage tradition. We shop for the ingredients and work together throughout the day to cook a meal and enjoy it together.
Friday – November 26
During the morning, we engage in a workshop about university life and applications, providing students with a realistic “benchmark” for what awaits them in college. In the afternoon, interested students are taken on a tour of the MIT and Boston University campuses.
Saturday – November 27
The group travels to Walden Pond, where we delve into the legacy of Henry David Thoreau for the region and the country as a whole. We then spend the rest of the day exploring the artifacts, contributions, and stories of Boston’s intellectual, architectural, and cultural movers and shakers. For example, we’ll learn about Frederick Law Olmstead, the father of landscape design and designer of iconic parks such as Central Park, the Chicago World’s Fair, the Boston Common, and the Emerald Necklace.
Sunday – November 28
We close the program in the morning and assist students with departures as the day continues.