England Trip Sign Up for 2026 Begins

The England exchange trip coming in the fall of 2026 is an exciting international trip for current freshmen. It involves going to the city of Sunderland and spending two days in Walls’ sister school. There are field trips on many days, including visits to George Washington’s family’s home and to a castle where Harry Potter was partially filmed. The aim of the trip is to connect students with peers their age in another culture and to widen their understanding of the world.

Current juniors had the opportunity to go on the trip last year, and it was reported to be a positive experience. When asked if the trip helped her grow personally, Ella Miller (‘27) said, “I think so. I mean, going abroad is always helpful to help you grow because you're out by yourself; your family isn't over there with you.” She explained how her connections with both the American and British students strengthened and how she adapted to British culture.

Part of what makes the connections with the British students so strong on this trip is that they come to live with Walls students for a week after the group returns from England. They have a homestay with a Walls student who went on the trip for about a week, giving them an opportunity to build a strong and meaningful relationship. Miller noted that she still stays in touch with Isabelle, the girl who lived with her.

These international connections are definitely a draw for many freshmen. Maggie Sellevagg (‘29) said that she wants to go on this trip because it’s “a chance to go outside of the country and build connections with kids our age in other countries and learn more about the world.” Not only do travelers build international friendships, they will also gain a clearer sense of how people in other countries see the world.

For the trip, only ten students will be able to go and experience Sunderland for themselves. An application process involves an interview, a faculty recommendation, an essay, and a personality test to determine whether the student will work well with others on the trip. When asked what she was looking for in applicants, Ms. Webster said, “We really need people who are open to other perspectives and mindsets that are really able to work well with others,” and she always wants them to be “very curious about the world around them.”

This exchange trip is a very exciting and promising one for current freshmen. It will broaden horizons, widen perspectives, and teach students about a culture quite different from ours. If interested in the trip, freshmen can go to Mr. Ghazi in room 127 to put their name on the interest list.