New Cultures and Experiences: March Break Trips 2026
The 2026 March Break experiential education trips pushed students outside their comfort zones, exposing them to new cultures, engaging them with locals, and helping them learn more about living and working in different parts of the world.
Service – Thailand
The service trip to Thailand encompassed 12 days and saw seven students participate in community projects, engage in Thai traditions, and explore the country’s cities, temples, and natural landscapes.
“Our March Break trip to Thailand emphasized that service is one of the pillars of St. Mike’s,” says Andrew Kiel ’09, coordinator of spiritual life. “Service on a global scale helped remind us of our Christian responsibility to love and serve our local communities. The compassionate call of God’s work was evident in our experience addressing food scarcity through sustainable agriculture and assisting elephants in an ethical sanctuary. The ability to explore the beautiful culture of Thailand at the same time was an added bonus!”
Ahead of their service project, students began their journey exploring Chiang Mai, where they had the opportunity to visit the city’s oldest temple, check out a market where they practiced speaking Thai, and enjoy a traditional Khantoke dinner. Students also sat down with a Buddhist monk to learn more about the religion, where much of his talk connected the theme of ‘being the good’ in the world with love and respect.
“Thailand was a lifetime experience; I loved participating with my friends and teachers in team-building educational activities and tours about the history of Thailand,” says Nathanael Burnett, Grade 10. “During my group’s rest days, we explored and experienced Thai culture, food, and classic Thai markets. Most importantly, the service work was a new, wholesome, hands-on, and team-building experience for me. I learned how my service impacted others in need.”
SMCS students began their service project at a local school, learning about sustainable agriculture. They helped students grow their own food by making black oyster mushroom-growing kits, built vegetable beds, and planted produce and banana trees.
At the Chang Chill Elephant Sanctuary, students learned about elephants and their significance in Thai culture. They continued their service work by preparing medicine balls to support elephant digestion and harvesting sugarcane.
“My trip to Thailand was an unforgettable experience that pushed me out of my comfort zone,” says Patrick Filippo, Grade 10. “It created memories that will stay with me forever, from helping the school with the raised vegetable beds, making medicine balls for the elephants at the sanctuary, and just overall experiencing how they do things in a completely different part of the world. Something that really stuck with me was seeing how happy the kids were when we came to their school and helped them create raised beds for crops. It made me realize how different our lives are and appreciate the impact we were able to make.”
Outside of the service project, students had the opportunity to visit the Elephant POOPOOPAPER Park to learn more about paper-making alternatives and the Museum of Siam to delve deeper into Thailand’s history. Students also participated in an outdoor education confidence course, attended a cooking class, and visited other historical temples and parks in Bangkok.
Business Studies – England, Morocco, and Spain
Thirty students embarked on an exciting international learning opportunity that took them to London, England, Marrakech, Morocco, and Madrid, Spain, over 13 action-packed days.
“Over the course of 15,250 kilometres and across two continents, this journey became so much more than a trip,” says Dr. Daniel Lumsden ’96, community engagement and learning lead. “From the streets of London to the markets of Marrakech to the energy of Madrid, our students immersed themselves in new cultures, new perspectives, and new challenges. They built confidence and embraced the unknown. This experience did not just change where they have been, it shaped who they are becoming.”
During their first five days in London, students toured many sights, including Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, and the London Eye, attended a Mass at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, and watched a Queen’s Park Rangers football match at Loftus Road Stadium.
Throughout their stay, students also had the opportunity to listen and engage with three professionals. Jack Czarnota ’86 reflected on his formulas for professional success, his career, and spoke about the impact of Brexit and how global markets are responding. While in Bedford, students visited Wells & Co Brewery, where they met Nick and Keaton Wells ’24, learning more about the family business, how it has evolved over generations, and how the hospitality and brewing industries are changing. Finally, students had the very special opportunity to meet Nikki Doucet, CEO of the Women’s Super League, who shared a powerful and honest discussion about leadership, resilience, and the importance of creating opportunities for future generations of women in sport.
“The March Break trip was a meaningful experience that gave me a deeper understanding of different cultures and ways of life that would have previously felt completely foreign,” says Liam Hubbard, Grade 11. “The business-centred focus helped me see how professionals operate in different environments, while also providing me a chance to try once-in-a-lifetime activities that made the trip memorable.”
While in Morocco, students immersed themselves in the local culture, exploring famous markets, trying local cuisine, and learning more about one of the country’s most famous natural products—argan oil. They also went hiking through the Atlas Mountains and participated in a guided ATV excursion through the Agafay Desert.
In Spain, students visited two IE University campuses in Madrid and Segovia, participating in workshops each day where they designed their own app and presented their ideas, and engaged in critical thinking about communication and cultural awareness.
“The March Break trip provided an excellent chance to immerse myself in various cultures,” says Lake Kreklewetz, Grade 11. “It also broadened our collective perspective on the world, helping us grow into more well-rounded young men. From sharpening my business acumen to pushing me beyond my comfort zone, this trip will be unforgettable!”
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