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Brazil Sophomore Travel Program

Biology, History, and World Religions in Brazil

A group of people stand in front of a large, colorful mural of a woman's face painted on a brick wall.
A crescent-shaped beach lined with lights curves along the coast, backed by lush green mountains and distant, hazy peaks under a soft, twilight sky.
People stroll along a cobblestone street towards a grand baroque church with two towers, flanked by colorful colonial buildings under a bright blue sky.
A group of young people pose for a photo with two women in traditional attire in front of a historic church.
A man with white body paint and a straw hat stands in a cobblestone plaza with a historic building in the background.
A wavy black and white tiled plaza in the foreground leads to a row of colorful colonial buildings under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.
Two men in traditional headdresses and skirts dance with sticks in the foreground, while musicians play instruments on a stage in the background.
A group of people stand on a stone structure overlooking a pond filled with lush green plants, with a dense forest in the background.
Dancers in white costumes perform on a dark stage in the foreground, while musicians in colorful attire play instruments in the background.
A colorful, abstract sculpture spelling out %22Salvador%22 sits in the foreground, with a large building and a statue of a man in historical attire visible in the background under a cloudy sky.
A crowd of cheering fans in the foreground watches a soccer game unfold on a brightly lit field within a large stadium in the background.
A man carries a large sack on his head as he walks along a patterned sidewalk with a balustrade overlooking the ocean at sunset.

Each year, NMH sophomores have the opportunity to take part in an interdisciplinary travel program that allows them firsthand experiences with the people, places, and cultures they’ve studied in the classroom.

The program is open to students enrolled in the Humanities II World History and World Religions and biology courses, and the destination varies from year to year.

Some years, the sophomore travel program takes place in Brazil. Students spend two weeks traveling throughout the country, exploring themes covered in the classroom, such as the complex forces of race, class, natural resource management, and urbanization.

Applying what they’ve learned in Humanities II, students understand how the amalgamation of African, European, and Indigenous cultures and religions have shaped Brazil. And, in conjunction with the biology curriculum, they study ecology and conservation in Brazil and, more broadly, across South America.
 

Colorful mosaic tiles adorn the Escadaria Selarón steps in Rio de Janeiro, with people visible at the top of the stairs in the background.

Students visit Praia do Forte, the site of marine ecology projects, and Salvador da Bahia, where they learn about Brazil’s African roots and the history of enslavement.

On the small island community of Itaparica, students immerse themselves in the culture and connect with local students.

They also visit Rio de Janeiro, where they consider the diversity of Brazil, focusing on race, class, and urban issues.

Select an image to view gallery.

A group of teenagers and an adult woman stand together in front of a building with palm trees.
A group of teenagers listens to a man in front of an exhibition wall with text and photographs.
Six young people with white face paint stand in a cobblestone plaza in front of a large, ornate building.
Seven young men with painted arms stand on a platform in the foreground, with a grand, ornate church and colonial buildings in the background under a bright blue sky.
A group of people are seated in a circle on wooden benches in the foreground, while a woman in a white dress and a woman with a green headscarf stand in the background.
A group of young people pose for a photo in front of a colorful tapestry and wooden wall.
A group of teenagers plays conga drums in a brightly lit room adorned with colorful artwork and musical instruments.
A man in the foreground leads a group of young people in a dance class in a brightly lit room with a yellow and green floor.
A group of teenagers poses for a photo in front of several large flags, with a building and trees visible in the background.
A group of young people in aprons gather around a table in the foreground, while a diverse group of individuals stand behind them in a brightly decorated room.
A cozy living room with a wooden floor, a rustic bench in the foreground, and a dining table set for a meal in the background.
A table laden with various dishes, including a salad in the foreground and a buffet spread with drinks and condiments in the background, is set for a meal.
A group of young people listen to a woman speaking in front of a large, intricately carved wooden wall.
A group of young people and one adult pose for a photo on a cobblestone street in front of a building with a blue door.