Reserve on the Rez

Western Reserve Academy's annual trip to Pine Ridge Reservation is a life-changing experience. WRA partners with RE-MEMBER, a non-profit organization that operates on the Reservation, to provide a service-learning experience that gives students the chance to work with the Oglala Lakota community and immerse themselves in the Lakota culture.

Students engage in service work to improve the quality of life for those who live on the Pine Ridge Reservation and learn about the culture of the Lakota people through service projects, visiting important cultural sites and speaking with members of the community.

Click here to view pictures from Pine Ridge Reservation 2023.

Ellen C. Long Study Abroad (ELISA) Program

ELISA is a fully-funded summer home stay program of language immersion and cultural enrichment offered to qualified WRA students. The program is intended for sophomore students who have successfully completed a second year of language study and who have best exemplified the spirit of Ellen C. Long through their performance, effort and keen interest in the language and culture.

Ellen C. Long demonstrated a life-long commitment to building bridges among cultures and peoples through her dedication, sensitivity to and appreciation of different languages and cultures. Thanks to the support and the generous donation of Dr. Dixon Long '51, ELISA has traveled to Costa Rica, France, Taiwan, Italy and Germany.

Read the ELISA 2024 travel blog here.

Jump the World

Jump the World is a one-to-one exchange program between students from Western Reserve Academy and students in Guatemala. Each summer, two WRA students travel to Guatemala, where they will live in a homestay, attend classes and become part of a local school community. The trip begins with a week-long community service project. For the next three weeks, students will attend schools alongside their counterpart (brother or sister) in their host families. In the final week, students will have a school vacation and will travel with their host families.

Read the international student travel blogs here.

Baylor College of Medicine Medical Center Research Experience

In partnership with President of Baylor College of Medicine Dr. Paul Klotman, 1968 graduate of Western Reserve Academy, WRA students have the opportunity to explore what a career in medical research might actually look and feel like during this selective internship. Class prerequisites and an application are required to participate.

International Summer Science School in Heidelberg, Germany

Current juniors interested in scientific research are strongly encouraged to apply for this tremendous opportunity! At Heidelberg University, two WRA students study with 24 other students from around the world. Students are given opportunities to conduct research in molecular biology, nuclear physics, astronomy and cancer. This is one of the premier summer opportunities for students interested in gaining hands-on experience in scientific research.

Click here to learn more.

Available to sophomores and juniors, the WRA College Counseling Office partners with College Visits to provide students with robust campus tours around the country. Past trips have included visits to the Southeast and New England area during school breaks.

Field trips and excursions are a powerful educational tool that extend learning beyond the classroom, providing students with real-world experiences that engage their senses, stimulate curiosity and foster a deeper understanding of the subject matter. These hands-on excursions promote critical thinking, cultural awareness and social development, making them an invaluable component of a well-rounded education. Adventures beyond our campus also introduce students to the broader community of Akron, Cleveland and neighboring states, as well as the abundant resources in this area of the United States. Field trips and excursions might be done for a specific class, as a graduating class community or for entertainment as a part of our weekend programming.

English Faculty Member Jeff Warner and his Nature Writing course voyage to Western Pennsylvania each year to spend two nights and three days backpacking on the North Country Trail, learning how to set up a tent, collect water from streams, start a fire and manage the elements. Themes include lessons to be found in nature and the need to be good stewards of our environment. As John Muir eloquently put it, “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”

Students in the Class of 2027 set out for an overnight trip to Bellwether Farms to unplug, connect with one another and support the farm in preparation of winter.

Students are consistently afforded with the opportunity to travel locally for performances, athletic events, museum visits and experiences that contribute to wellness and connection amongst our community members.