Center for International Studies

Fort Worth Country Day is committed to preparing young people to make a difference in a complex and changing world. We strive to cultivate the knowledge, skills, and disposition necessary to understand and act responsibly and creatively to resolve local and global issues. While many schools simply offer their students opportunities to travel, FWCD seeks to cultivate global competence in all JK-12 students by weaving global perspectives into the curriculum, working with local partners to contribute to our Fort Worth community, and providing meaningful international travel and hosting exchanges.

Our Mission

The mission of the FWCD Center for International Studies is to provide programs and experiences that build students’ capacity to thrive in an ever-changing global community. 

Center initiatives include overseas summer expeditions, exchange opportunities and cultural programs meant to ensure that all FWCD graduates gain an understanding of the following global competencies:
  • Experience in and ability to investigate the world beyond their immediate environment.
  • Ability to recognize and appreciate perspectives other than their own.
  • Ability to engage in open, appropriate, and effective interactions across cultures.
  • Ability to take action for collective well-being and sustainable development.

The Center at a Glance

Summer Travel Opportunities
 to Europe, Australia, South America and Asia.  Review the list of travel opportunities for 2020 and 2021.

One of 11 schools in the prestigious service learning program. FWCD students and teachers have volunteered in Detroit, New Orleans, Pine Ridge Reservation, Panama, Tibet and Cambodia.
International youth trips and exchanges intended to develop deeper cross-cultural mindsets and understanding.
Short-term hosting opportunities
in collaboration with Fort Worth Sister Cities Ambassador Middle School Program and Language & Friendship, Inc. FWCD has hosted students from Japan and France.
Campus-Based Initiatives
World Heritage Day, Multiple Service Learning Activities, On-going Development of Global Competency Curriculum and Alumni Travel

Center for International Studies News

  • Lower School Students Travel to Africa

    On Monday, February 10, Ned’s Kindness Adventure visited the Lower School. Performer Abraham and NED took students on a journey to Kenya, Africa, where they learned to be kind-hearted and caring to people from different cultures or those who are different from us. 
    Read More

  • CIS Trip to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands

    Travel to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands with FWCD’s Center for International Studies (CIS) in summer 2021. Students in grades 6-8 are eligible to sign up. Michael Parker and Jackie Rains are the trip leaders. Teachers will be added depending on the number of students who sign up in order to keep a low teacher-student ratio. The minimum number of students for the program to make is 12.
     
    View the slideshow and trip itinerary for more information. An informational meeting for parents is scheduled for Wednesday, February 19, at 6 p.m. in Moncrief Library. For additional information, contact Michael Parker or Stephen Blan.
    Read More

  • Register for a Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder Class

    Courses remain open for Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder summer 2020 courses. Click on each of the course locations in the linked digital flyer for specific information. Visit shouldertoshoulder.com to apply today. For more information, contact Stephen Blan, Director of the Center for International Studies. 
    Read More

  • Apply take an SStS Summer Course

    FWCD is one of only 14 schools to be involved in this prestigious service-learning program, which provides ethical leadership development through experiential courses. Courses offered through SStS are uniquely focused on learning through immersion in a distinctive culture and provide remarkable opportunities to work alongside local non-governmental organizations in different locations as they seek to improve conditions in their communities. The 2020 international courses take place in Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Nepal, Panama, Peru, Tibet and the U.S.-Mexico border. U.S. courses are offered in Detroit, New Orleans and Pine Ridge.
    Read More

Travel Programs and Opportunities

FWCD Programs

List of 1 items.

2022

List of 6 items.

  • Ecuador and the Galápagos

    For students who have completed grades 7-8
    Date: May 30 - June 7, 2022
    Grades: Completed grades 7-8
    Cost:     Approximately $4,500
    Learn More

  • France

    French Culture and Language Immersion in Nice, Annecy, Chamonix, Genève and Paris France. Falcons will earn an interdisciplinary credit from FWCD.
    Dates: June 2022 (approx. 3 weeks)

  • Iceland

    Students in grades 8-10 are invited to join this trip to Iceland. This study abroad course is presented through the American Council for International Studies, led by Dr. Heather Peace. On the trip, we will study topics including the geothermal environment of Iceland, its people, its geologic foundations, and global change. Learn More
    Dates: Mid-June 2022
    Grades: 8-10
    Cost: $5,520

  • Panama

    FWCD Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder Service Learning and Ethical Leadership Custom Course for Upper School students
    Service hours credit offered; 7 days
    Dates: Spring Break
    Grades: Upper School students
    Cost:     $3,000 - $3,500

  • Peru

    This trip offers an experience of Spanish culture, language immersion, and service learning for Upper School students. Academic and service credit offered. It will involve working with Shoulder to Shoulder non-profit partner Llama Pack Project.
    Date: June 2022 (3 weeks)
    Grades: Upper School students
    Cost: Approximately $6,400-6,700 

  • Trier, Germany

    1:1 Exchange for Upper School students: You host someone for 2 weeks in October 2021, and that person hosts you in early June 2022
    Dates: October 2021 and June 2022
    Grades: Upper School students
    Cost:     Approximately $3,000

Students Shoulder to Shoulder

Ethical leadership development through experiential courses. Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder (SStS) courses offer unique opportunities to work alongside local NGOs in nine different locations as they seek to improve conditions in their communities. FWCD is one of 15 schools in North America in the Shoulder to Shoulder Global Coalition of Schools. Costs and specific dates announced in November.
1. Detroit, Michigan
2. Pine Ridge, South Dakota
3. New Orleans, Louisiana
4. Panama
5. Peru
6. Bolivia
7. Kenya
8. Nepal
9. Tibet
10. Cambodia
11. U.S. Mexico Border -Upperclassmen only
12. Dallas, Texas

 Learn more about Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder.

Fort Worth Sister Cities - Cultural Exchange

Cultural immersion, Spring Break, and Summer trips for students in grades 8-12. Approximate costs range from $350 - $4000.  Limited financial aid is available. Learn more about the Fort Worth Sister Cities Program.
Spring Break Opportunities
1. Budapest, Hungary - $2500
2. Reggio Emilia, Italy - $2500
3. Nî​mes, France - $2500
4. Toluca, Mexico - $1700

Cultural Exchanges
1. Nagaoka, Japan - $2700
2. Nagaoka, Japan - $350 (Harashin Scholar Program)
3. Guiyang, China - $3800


Travel Shifts Perspectives

“We live in a global economy and it is imperative that FWCD students are prepared to work and live in this global society. We want our students to feel the freedom of travel and not be intimidated by the unknown. If our kids think the world is a small place, they will be much more likely to venture out into the world and do amazing things.”
-MS Parent
“International experiences, whether cultural or academic, give students a look into the broad spectrum of the world and does not limit their learning to the United States.”
-US Parent
“While language immersion is at the top of my list, I also feel that the experience of traveling and seeing different cultures, different life perspectives is critical for raising a global citizen able to communicate with all people and to destroy stereotypes.”
-US Parent

Partnership Programs

Meet the Director

“A global perspective is not developed in one class, one department or division. It takes a JK-12 commitment. The center seeks to develop our students’ capacity to thrive in an ever-changing global community. We plan to do this through assisting teachers in weaving global perspectives into their curriculum and providing students with meaningful travel and hosting exchange opportunities.” 

Stephen Blan, 
Director of the Center for International Studies
817.302.3272
4200 Country Day Lane, Fort Worth, TX 76109
Phone: 817.732.7718
Fort Worth Country Day (FWCD) is a JK-12 private, independent, coeducational, nondenominational college-preparatory school located on approximately 100 acres in Fort Worth, Texas. The mission of Fort Worth Country Day School is to foster the intellectual, physical, emotional, and ethical development of capable students through an academically rigorous college preparatory program that integrates the arts and athletics.