Although many other high schools across the United States offer international travel to students, the GEMS abroad experiences vary greatly from what is typically included in a high school international travel. While other high schools often use commercial tour companies to build their itineraries, GEMS relies on community-based partnerships in our international travel destinations. This includes nonprofit organizations located within the region, sister schools and also government agencies. This establishment of community-based partnerships in these regions allows for a much more authentic and meaningful experience for our students. This allows are students to be immersed into the local culture.
Our students attend classes in our sister schools, teach lessons, complete community service projects, and also have the opportunity in some cases to stay with a host family during their visit. This rich cultural immersion leads to a life-changing experience which we believe will help students to mature and grow both academically and socially. GEMS students across all grade levels have traveled abroad. Our annual experiences to Africa, Asia, Europe and Central America are typically reserved for students in their senior year that are working on their Capstone Project. However, unused space on these experiences are typically offered to high performing high school students at all grade levels and have even included students in 8th grade.