Immersion Program

Pine Ridge – June 2-8:  History refers to Lakota people as the Sioux, yet the people refer to themselves as the Lakota Nation.  The Pine Ridge Immersion trip historically takes place within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where a respectful and generous people have been forced to live on land that is not conducive to farming, ranching or industry. Pine Ridge Reservation is considered one of the poorest counties in the U.S., and yet, the Lakota people continue to build their culture and teach their rituals and language against tremendous odds. During this immersion, students will hear from various Lakota tribe members on the reservation to gain insight into what life is like there today, the challenges, the joys, and the history.  We will listen and learn from the Lakota experience.  We will also hear from the Jesuits living there and from teachers at Red Cloud Indian School - the only Native/Jesuit high school in the U.S.  After listening to the Lakota experience, we will discern how best to respond to the needs and desires of the Lakota people going forward. We will come to understand their core spiritual world-view which is summed up in the Lakota phrase - Mitakuye Oyasin - which translates "All my relations." Finally, we hope to plan an Assembly for the school during Native American Heritage month in November to bring the story of the Lakota people and the Pine Ridge Immersion to the Georgetown Prep community.

Bethlehem Farm – June 4-10:  Bethlehem Farm, located in Summers County, is a Catholic Community which transforms lives through service with the local community and the teaching of sustainable practices. They have been serving in Appalachia since 2004, and each year have over 400 volunteers join their full-time staff to live together as a community. During the week, students can expect to learn about and from the people of Appalachia, pray with the community, and experience ways of practicing and living a sustainable and simple life. Each day, all volunteers are divided into different work crews to travel to work sites across the community. Students will also have the opportunity to explore the nature of Appalachia and meet with members of local communities. You can go to their website at bethlehemfarm.net to explore more of their way of life and more information about what to expect.

Q’eqchi Maya: Guatemala – June 8-16:  Together with at risk Q’eqchi Maya women, Prep students will plant trees, native understory plants and Q’eqchi heirloom crops in ecologically integrated agroforest birdscapes that restore critical habitat and produce nutritious foods. Students will also have an opportunity to explore Ancient Maya archaeology and history while experiencing living Maya culture and contributing to restoration of the natural and human environment. The goal is to help indigenous Maya women to develop financial independence through sustainable farming.

Somos Amigos: Guatemala – June 11-18:  The Somos Amigos summer immersion trip will give students the opportunity to encounter and serve children and families who live and work in and around the Guatemala City garbage dump.  To help the community break the cycle of poverty, several organizations provide extensive outreach and education, including Safe Passage.  Founded in 1999 by Hanley Denning, a woman who would later become known as "The Angel of the Garbage Dump", Safe Passage transforms lives by providing students with an excellent education, a higher quality of life, and pathways to jobs with dignity so that they can build a better future for themselves and their families.  During our week in Guatemala, we will spend most of our days helping out in the school, but we will also enjoy a day trip to the beautiful city of Antigua on our last full day together.

Encuentro – June 17-23:  Located in the border region of El Paso, Texas, the Encuentro Project is a collaborative project that involves the Jesuits, Marist Brothers, Sisters of St. Francis and the Holy Family in the El Paso community. During our immersion week in El Paso, students will provide direct services in shelters and/or parishes to vulnerable migrants who have just arrived to the United States. Additionally, students will also participate in workshops with community organizers, border patrol agents, and attorneys that offer a comprehensive look at the social and legal aspects of the immigration issue. We will also consider the migrant/border realities through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching in discussions and reflection.

Flathead – July 7-13:  Prep will partner with the Jesuit community that serves the Flathead Reservation. We will be stationed at the Saint Ignatius Mission Church in Saint Ignatius, Montana. During our visit we will engage in conversations about Native American history in the region and the role that the Jesuits played in that history. We will meet various members of the Native American community and engage them in conversation about their culture, traditions, history and challenges. We will have trips to various museums that show the rich history of the region. Prep will also have the opportunity to visit Glacier National park where we will discuss issues of environmental justice, mainly climate change and its effect on glaciers at the park. After this immersion trip the students should have a deeper understanding of life as a Native American in the United States as well as the effects of global warming at Glacier National Park.

Ivanhoe – June 18-24:  Ivanhoe is a small town of about 600 aging residents in the economically- depressed Appalachian region of southwest Virginia. It is approximately 6 hours away from DC, just off Route 81. Ivanhoe, once a prosperous manufacturing town, has very high unemployment and has never quite been the same since a Union Carbide plant left the town and took many jobs with it. By the 1980s the last of the mineral companies closed and the local economy was decimated. Through the work of Phyllis and Danny Alley and the Ivanhoe Civic League, the residents of Ivanhoe refuse to allow their town to die.

Philadelphia – August 13-19:  Prep volunteers with St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia. We will spend time working inside of the Soup Kitchen and Thrift Store, which will include packing “daily bread bags” as well as assisting in preparing, cooking, and serving the meals. We will also be called upon to help with a variety of projects that arise in the community. In the evenings, we will have the opportunity to tour the city of Philadelphia.