“Before the trip, I was a little nervous that something would go wrong. However, I loved the trip and all the activities. The activities were so fun and the food was amazing! I also became closer to the people I was rooming with.” – Sameer K. ’30

The Curricular Travel Path to Chicago offered Grade 7 students a unique opportunity to embark on an overnight trip with their teachers and peers, exploring new urban landscapes while uncovering the connections between place, scientific innovation, and artistic expression. From Friday, April 25, to Tuesday, April 29, 28 students, led by English faculty Lee Marcus and Middle School Science Faculty Luke Davoren, visited several museums and cultural sites throughout the city. As they unlocked the secrets of Chicago’s architectural marvels, celebrated its literary heritage, and explored its scientific achievements, students engaged in a wide range of hands-on, interactive experiences. Highlights included taking in panoramic views from the top of the Willis Tower, exploring the Museum of Science and Industry, attending a workshop at the Poetry Foundation, experiencing an evening performance of The Da Vinci Code at Drury Lane Theatre, and indulging in new culinary experiences that the city has to offer. The Path’s enrichment was enhanced by time spent exploring Chicago’s neighborhoods, each reflecting the city’s rich cultural identity. By the end of their travels, students returned home with a deeper appreciation for how urban landscapes can ignite both scientific discovery and creative expression.

“The trip was about using the city’s fabric as a way to understand the stories it holds,” says Marcus. “We looked at meaningful history exhibits at the Chicago History Museum, including the powerful Emmett Till exhibit, took an Architecture Boat Tour to understand the city’s construction from fire to present, visited the American Writers’ Museum, learned about Chicago’s stories of gangsters on a walking tour, and spent time exploring the city’s diverse cultures. Students had an amazing time!”

The Chicago trip gave students a meaningful opportunity to explore the stories that shape such a multicultural metropolis. The experience began with learning about the Great Fire of 1871 and, through a variety of engaging activities, students came to understand how Chicago was rebuilt and transformed over the following 150 years. They encountered powerful narratives such as the story of Emmett Till at the Chicago History Museum, and engaged with the work of local authors at the American Writers Museum. Throughout the excursion, visits to key cultural sites helped illuminate Chicago’s identity as a “phoenix city,” continually rising and evolving. An architecture boat tour, diverse dining experiences, and a visit to the Art Institute further reinforced the city’s rich and layered history. Students returned with a deeper appreciation of how individuals contribute to the fabric of a place, shared Marcus, and with a clearer sense of their own place in the story of our shared world.

One of the student participants, Sameer K. ’30 offered his reflection about Chicago: “Before the trip, I was a little nervous that something would go wrong. However, I loved the trip and all the activities. The activities were so fun and the food was amazing! I became closer to the people I was rooming with. Going to Navy Pier and the Chicago Flyover Experience were the most interesting. The Navy Pier has so many different restaurants that it was hard to choose just one.” 

“The Chicago Flyover Experience,” he added, “was a simulation where you are flying over Chicago, it was so exhilarating! We went to the Museum of Science and Industry, which has become my favorite museum. The activities in the museum were very immersive and interactive, and they appealed to tweens and teenagers. A restaurant that I particularly liked was Ed Debevic’s (a retro-themed diner). It was hilarious.”