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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.

One of 11 schools in the prestigious service learning program. FWCD students and teachers volunteered in Detroit, New Orleans, Pine Ridge Reservation, Panama, Tibet and Cambodia in Summer 2019.
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.  During the 2018-19 school year, FWCD 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

List of 2 news stories.

  • Apply for SStS by January 14

    Henry Brookman ’22 has taken two courses through Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder (SStS). He was recently featured by SStS. Hear why he finds the experience so valuable in this short video. 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. The 2020 SStS course application priority deadline is January 14. Contact Stephen Blan for additional information.
    Read More

  • International Peace Initiatives’ Founder Shares Story

    Dr. Karambu Ringera came to the FWCD campus to speak with students in all divisions about her Kenya-based nonprofit, International Peace Initiatives (IPI). She serves as both the Founder and President of the organization

    IPI promotes cultures of peace by supporting sustainable initiatives that improve livelihoods and enhance the quality of life. Dr. K shared that she hopes to see FWCD students spending time with her through IPI and The Amani Home in the future through SStS.
    Read More
Archive

FWCD Programs and Opportunities

List of 5 items.

  • French Culture and Language Immersion in Annecy and Paris, France

    Dates: June 2020 (approx. 3 weeks)
    Approximate Cost: $5000
    Informational Meeting
    Tuesday, October 8 | 7 p.m.
    Middle School 302 (across from the Middle School Administrative Suite)
    Review additional trip details and information.

  • Spanish Culture and Language Immersion in Avila and Madrid, Spain

    Dates: July 2020 (approx. 4 weeks)
    Approximate Cost: $5400
    Review additional trip information.
     

  • Topics in Geology: FWCD Goes to Iceland

    Students in grades 8-10 are invited to join this Iceland study abroad course through the American Council for International Studies, led by Dr. Heather Peace, Studies topics include the geothermal environment and its people, geologic foundations and global change. Learn More
    Dates: June 17-20, 2020
    Grades: 8-10
    Cost: $5,520

  • Middle School Great Smoky Mountains Adventure

    Dates: May 31-June 4, 2020
    Current grades 7-8 only
    Approximate Cost: $3200
    FWCD is offering a five-day domestic trip to seventh- and eighth-graders to the Smoky Mountains through Grand Classroom. The trip from May 31-June 4, 2020, includes hiking, rafting, zip-lining and more. View the original message from Middle School Science Teacher Jimmy Brockway. The registration deadline is November 22.

  • Cultural Exchange Reciprocal Hosting Exchange

    Host a student from Trier, Germany (Oct. 7-20, 2019) and be hosted by that student in Trier (June 1-13, 2020) - Travel to Germany
    Grades: 9-12
    Approximate Cost: $3000
    FWCD is offering a two-week summer program to Trier, Germany, from June 1-13, 2020. Students in grades 9-11 are welcome. The cost is approximately $3,000. Sign up with Stephen Blan. A $500 deposit is due December 3.

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. Costs and specific dates announced November 1.
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

 Learn more about Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder.

Pine Ridge Reservation

“This trip was far and away one of the best experiences of my life, and something I will never forget. While on and around the reservation, I met some incredible people and heard even more incredible stories, and learned about life on the reservation. While the reservation may be economically poor, it is rich in culture and heritage and the people I met who live there are incredibly nice and greeted me with open arms.”   
 -Henry '22

Fort Worth Sister Cities - Cultural Exchange

Cultural immersion, Spring Break, and Summer trips for students in grades 8-12. Approximate costs range from $350 - $3800.  Limited financial aid is available. Learn more about the Fort Worth Sister Cities Program.
Spring Break 2020
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


Benefits of an International Experience

“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
817.302.3200 x 3551
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.

List of 1 items.

  • Website Accessibility Statement

    Fort Worth Country Day is committed to understanding and respecting differences. To further support that initiative, FWCD is focused on making the information on our website accessible to all students, parents, and other members of the community. Achieving our goal of making the FWCD website fully accessible requires auditing numerous sections and correcting elements with minimal disruption for daily users.

    We appreciate your patience as we transition our content to a format that more closely adheres to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0) recommended by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Additionally, some pages of the FWCD website may contain links to third party sites that do not comply with accessibility standards and not within the range of the School’s control.

    For questions about the FWCD website, please contact Web Content Manager, Tiffini Crum at  tiffini.crum@fwcd.com.

    Learn more about Fort Worth Country Day’s Mission, Philosophy, Core Values and Commitment to Inclusivity.