Sophomore Travel Program
Biology, History, and World Religions in Brazil
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.
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.
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