Trips and Travel

“Education is not a two-by-four: it should not be limited to the two covers of a book and the four walls of a classroom.” —John Dewey

Fresh air. It’s something we believe all children should get more of. That’s why learning at St. Francis may begin in the classroom, but it certainly doesn’t end there! Our Primary II through eleventh grade students gain a deeper understanding of a variety of subjects—from U.S. and Texas history to earth science and gardening—through class trips, cultural enrichment, field trips, and participation in our Outdoor Learning Experiences (OLE) program. OLEs enrich curriculum study with extensive opportunities for critical thinking, problem solving, and captivating primary-source learning. All while forging unforgettable lifetime memories.

Field Trips and Outdoor Learning

Students from every division learn more about the world around them through field trips to notable locations within the Houston area, as well as frequent visits to the school’s vegetable gardens and certified Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom. Based on research-driven principles for creating spaces that support children’s interactions with the natural world, this 12,240-square-foot outdoor space allows students from every grade level to collaborate as they learn about the earth’s natural resources.

Class Trips

Ask our alumni, and they’ll tell you that the annual grade-level trips for grades 4–8 top the highlight reel of their years at St. Francis. These overnight trips to locations throughout the state and nation allow our older students to experience independence and hands-on learning, bond with their fellow classmates, and apply their classroom learning in locales far from the desk and classroom.

Fourth Grade: Fourth graders visit Stoney Creek Ranch in New Ulm in the spring. The students spend a fun day way from school. They tackle challenging camp obstacles while strengthening bonds and learning to support one another.

Fifth Grade: Our fifth graders will go to Camp Cho Yeh in Livingston, Texas. There they will focus on building relationship through outdoor activities designed to unite and bond the students.

Sixth Grade: Sixth graders will travel to Camp Olympia in Trinity, Texas. Students will be given a chance to bond with their peers in a variety of team-building and outdoor activities.

Seventh Grade: During their class trip to the T Bar M Camp in New Braunfels, seventh graders experience both personal growth and hands-on academics. Ropes courses encourage team (and courage!) building, while Circle Time allows students to use telescopes to view stars and constellations normally obscured by Houston’s bright city lights.

Eighth Grade: Middle School’s highly anticipated last class trip is a memorable one, with eighth graders spending almost a week learning about a historic and significant part of the country. From Boston to Pennsylvania, selected destinations offer students a wide array of curricular connections through experiences related to literature, art, science, math, and history whole also enjoying recreational activities.

Middle and Upper School Travel Program

The St. Francis Travel Program offers middle and upper school students the opportunity to broaden their horizons, expand their minds, and embrace what it means to be global citizens through carefully curated learning adventures. National and international trips expose students to new cultures, languages, and ideas, while reinforcing classroom learning and encouraging individual growth. Trips are available to current middle and upper school students and range from five days to two weeks in length.

Click here to view the St. Francis Summer 2019–20 Travel Brochure. For more information, contact our travel coordinator, Kathryn Spinelli at 713.458.6117.