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.

One of 14 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

  • Anne-Lise Knecht Woods ’85 shared that Sota Ueguri, a Japanese exchange student the family hosted through Fort Worth Sister Cities International when her son, Noah ’19, was in eighth grade, spent the holiday with them.

    A Family Reunion

    There was a family reunion in the Woods’ household this Thanksgiving break! Anne-Lise Knecht Woods ’85 shared that Sota Ueguri, a Japanese exchange student the family hosted through Fort Worth Sister Cities International when her son, Noah ’19, was in eighth grade, spent the holiday with them. Anne-Lise and Noah have kept in touch with Sota, who is a junior at The State University of New York at New Paltz, over the years. Knowing Sota would not be returning to Japan for Thanksgiving, the Woods family invited him to join them in Fort Worth. “We toured the FWCD campus on Friday, and he was like a kid in a candy store even though no one was here,” Anne-Lisa said. "It was so fun to reminisce.”  
    Read More
  • FWCD Center for International Studies

    French Immersion Trip Opportunity through CIS

    Tailored for Falcons and led by Upper School Spanish Teacher Andréanne Annis and Upper School History Teacher Quinton Davis, this three-week trip to France and Switzerland appeals to all Upper School students. This trip will provide its travelers with an interdisciplinary credit from FWCD. The teachers will maximize the opportunity to observe and study French historical monuments and sites while advancing FWCD's global citizenship competency. 
    Read More
  • Proposed Youth Exchanges for students in grades 9-12 are planned for March, June and July 2022 through Fort Worth Sister Cities International (FWSCI).

    Fort Worth Sister Cities International Youth Exchanges

    Proposed Youth Exchanges for students in grades 9-12 are planned for March, June and July 2022 through Fort Worth Sister Cities International (FWSCI). Students may apply to be a Youth Ambassador for trips to Hungary, Italy, France, Mexico, Germany and Japan. View the Time To Travel brochure and learn more about the 2022 exchanges. Scholarship opportunities are available.
    Read More

Travel Programs and Opportunities

FWCD Programs

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2022

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  • Ecuador and the Galápagos

    For students who have completed grades 7-9
    Date: May 30 - June 7, 2022
    Grades: Completed grades 7-9
    Cost:     Approximately $4,500
    Learn More

  • France

    Tailored for our Falcons and led by madame Andréanne Annis and Mr. Quinton Davis, this three week trip to France and Switzerland appeals to all Upper Schoolers. This trip will give its travelers an interdisciplinary credit from FWCD as the teachers will maximize the opportunity to observe and study French historical monuments and sites, while advancing FWCD's global citizenship competency. This History intensive and Language Immersion will take its travelers to Nice, Annecy, Chamonix, Genève and Paris. Falcons will take French classes, at their level at the Institut Français Alpes with other traveling international students. Participants will reside with an approved host family for 13 nights in Annecy and 7 nights in hotels while discovering Southern France and Paris. This amazing opportunity gives our Falcons 21 days learning, growing and developing through fun and exploration. 

    Dates: Wednesday June 1st – Wednesday June 22nd 2022
    Cost: Approximately $4,995
    Grades: Upper School students
    Learn more | View photos

  • Iceland

    Upper School Students 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.

    Dates: June 8-13, 2022
    Grades: Upper School Students
    Cost: $5,250
    Learn More | View photos and videos

  • 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, March, 2022
    Grades: Upper School students
    Cost:     $3,350 - $3,600
    Learn More

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 thirteen different locations as they seek to improve conditions in their communities.

Global Coalition of Schools

FWCD is one of 14 schools in North America in the Shoulder to Shoulder Global Coalition of Schools.

Program Locations

  1. Bolivia
  2. Boulder, Colorado
  3. Costa Rica
  4. Dallas, Texas
  5. Detroit, Michigan
  6. Kenya
  7. Nepal
  8. New Orleans, Louisiana
  9. Panama I
  10. Panama II
  11. Peru
  12. Pine Ridge, South Dakota
  13. San Diego, California
As thoughts turn to planning for next summer, the Center for International Studies would like to share Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder (SStS) information. When the world opens for safe travel, SStS will be ready to provide meaningful ethical leadership programs in the U.S. and abroad. Right now, students in grades 8-12 can reserve a spot on programs with no financial risk. Summer 2022 applications are now open for field studies in Bolivia, Colorado, Costa Rica, Texas, Michigan, Kenya, Nepal, Louisiana, Panama, Peru, South Dakota, and California with such themes as education, environment, food security, gender equality, health care, immigration, marine science, Spanish immersion, and sustainability. 

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

Bill Arnold ’86 is currently the Director of the Center for International Studies at Fort Worth Country Day. He earned a BA in History from the Virginia Military Institute and an MA in History from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Bill has been a history teacher, coach and administrator at Fort Worth Country Day since 1994.  During this time, he has taught eight different classes; coached four varsity sports; served as Assistant Director of Admissions, Assistant Director of Advancement, Dean of grades 9 and 12; Head of Upper School; and Director of Strategic Projects.

Bill also served as a Commissioned Officer in the United States Marine Corps. He deployed to western Iraq in 2004-05 as Commanding Officer of Scout Platoon, Regimental Combat Team-1. While there, he was cited for gallantry in combat during the Second Battle of Fallujah.  

He has led student trips to Normandy, France; Cotopaxi, Ecuador; the Galapagos Islands; and outdoor leadership trips around the American Southwest. Bill has also traveled to Singapore, Malaysia, Kuwait and Argentina, and had a fantastic hiking experience with the H’Mong people of northern Vietnam. His sacred spaces include the Appalachian Trail, Big Bend National Park, and rural Normandy … his trail name is Twisted Shoe.

Bill Arnold ’86
817.302.3237
bill.arnold@fwcd.com
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.