(Above) Students will spend 10 days abroad during the spring seminar. Of the 10 days two will be spent in London and the following will be at Cambridge. During their stay, they will visit surrounding colleges and landmarks just as students did in Oxford when they visited Tom Quad in Christ Church.
This school year Lake Highland is renewing its Spring Break study abroad trip exploring the U.K., with one expectation, students will study at Cambridge this year. This past school year (2023 to 2024) students studied at Oxford’s Pembroke College, and while the universities have changed, much of what students will gain from the trip has stayed the same. Trip participants will spend 10 days abroad, with two days in London. For the remainder of the trip, students will be studying at Cambridge University. The university shares its name with Oxford, England, and houses many exciting places waiting to be sought out and explored.
(Above) In between London and Oxford, students travel to Bath and Stonehenge, but this year students are expected to go see a soccer game in Cambridge with United Football. The game is between Match and Charlton Athletic. In addition to that, students will also decide on a field trip near the end of the Cambridge Seminar, potentially to Ely or Duxford. (Emily Cypher) (Above) Like this past year’s trip, the Cambridge Seminar will visit famous landmarks in London during their two days in the city before they travel to Cambridge. One of the popular landmarks amongst the students is Westminster Abbey. Within Westminster Abbey, students get to see the Lady Chapel, known for its beautiful ceilings, and explore in groups of three. (Emily Cypher)(Above) In addition to Westminster Abbey students also get to see the streets of London. Whether it’s on their way to dinner or another event, students will likely see other monuments. In groups of a minimum of three, students can walk by themselves in designated areas. A notable site students will pass by for photos is St. Paul’s Cathedral, which is popular with students. (Emily Cypher)(Above) As a whole, the Oxford Seminar offered many experiences for students and the Cambridge Seminar will be no different. Everything from a potential college credit to freely roaming around, simple as it seems, was a highlight for many of the students. This allowed them to find coffee shops, bookstores, and so much more. Students loved getting to explore as they found many coffee shops, such as Mjölk Kafé which the year’s previous students visited in Bath. The Cambridge Seminar is an opportunity of a lifetime and an experience students will never forget. (Emily Cypher)(Above) The class students will participate in will likely be similar to the ones students participated in the year prior. Last year’s course options were business, psychology, and medicine. The courses offered an overview of each career field and were an excellent way for students to test if the selected course was a field they’d like to pursue. Another part of the course is how it simulates a week of college life, allowing students to explore whether they’d like to live in a big or small city. The insight they gain will help them learn their preferences with where they choose to study in college. (Emily Cypher)(Above) Throughout England, a popular tourist attraction is the country’s world-famous punting. Same as in Oxford, students apart of the Cambridge seminar will be able to go punting. The unique boat ride is very calming and a great time for students to relax during an otherwise very eventful day. The boating experience seats about eight people, as they are pushed around a shallow lake by someone at the rear of the boat using a tall pole. Students should also prepare to pack for the weather in the U.K. as the temperatures are very different than the temperatures in Florida. (Emily Cypher)(Above) Before students have their afternoon activities, they can explore the surrounding city to find a lunch spot. Last year when students studied at Oxford, a popular spot to eat at was Oxford’s Covered Market. The market is a known landmark in Oxford that dates back to the 1770s and is known around the world. The Covered Market is known for its 50 independent shops, restaurants, cafes, and more. The market sells tote bags offered at almost every shop. The tote bags are a charity item that goes towards the upkeep of the market. Anyone can purchase a tote upwards of four pounds. (Emily Cypher)(Above) After the students’ final days in London, they will move on to the next part of the Cambridge Seminar. Students can expect to have a travel day, until arriving at one of Cambridge’s famous campuses. During their stay at the college students will follow a schedule starting with a breakfast check-in, their classes, lunch, afternoon activities, dinner, and an evening activity or free time depending on the day. At Oxford, the year prior (2024), students specifically enjoyed visiting the Oxford University Museum of Natural History as an afternoon because of the displays of animals and their history. (Emily Cypher)
Emily Cypher, grade 11, is the Director of Photography on Lake Highland Preparatory School’s Upper School newspaper Twice-Told Tale. She found her passion for writing for the newspaper because of the hit TV series Gilmore Girls. Getting the chance to design layouts, and the opportunities the class offers, are her favorite things that come with being on the newspaper staff. Emily wants to continue finding and exploring new passions and writing. Beyond school, she loves to travel, be with friends, write, and frequently visit New York.
