Beyond Classroom Walls

Field Trips Bring Together

Academic and Co-Curricular Learning

On a rainy Tuesday morning in October, the Seeds of Service Horticulture Club drove with moderators Karen Duffy Morley ’78 and Karen Ryan Tigue ’85 to the Central neighborhood of Cleveland to plant trees in a public housing development. They were met by an urban community forester from Holden Forests & Gardens, and by mid-day they had planted 20 saplings in an under-resourced area of the city to increase the urban canopy. The field trip was rooted in Eva Miller ’23 ’s Agape Experiment, exploring environmental and racial inequity in combination with service learning and Catholic Social Teaching.

“Until a few years ago in my Theology and Environmental Science classes, I didn’t really know that there was an intersection between all these social injustices and environmental issues,” Eva said. “Learning about that was the starting point, and then having this actual experience made me realize that trees are so important.”

Magnificat’s emphasis on holistic education has long encouraged such multifaceted learning opportunities, with field trips deepening understanding of lessons taught in the classroom. The 2022-2023 school year has brought field trips back in force following limitations necessitated by the pandemic. An increasing number of field trips have been proposed this year, ranging from science research outings to English classes visiting Playhouse Square. International travel resumed last summer to the Galapagos Islands, and this year trips have been planned to Italy, Greece, France, and Belize.

“Magnificat is committed to providing these types of opportunities to our teachers and students,” Dean of Faculty and Academics Colleen Greller said. “The purpose is to make meaningful, memorable connections between our curriculum and the outside world.”

For example, Magnificat’s AP Computer Science Principles class spent a day at the Passports to IT Careers Conference in October at the I-X Center in Cleveland. The course covers computing, problem solving, data management, the Internet, cybersecurity, and programming, and the field trip allowed juniors and seniors to meet professionals in information technology fields. Experts from local tech companies and college representatives explained various pathways available to a career in the digital economy at the event, which was organized by the Greater Cleveland Partnership as part of Tech Week.

“It’s a really valuable opportunity for students to understand what a tech career can look like and how people who work in tech don’t necessarily always work for tech companies—every company has roles in tech to fill,” faculty member Lynn Taylor said. “They really enjoy interacting with industry professionals and getting to talk to them one on one.”

Also last fall, the Entrepreneurship class ventured to University Heights for the ThinkFest Ideation Workshop at John Carroll University. The daylong event, sponsored by the Veale Foundation, focused on entrepreneurial mindset strategy, design thinking, networking, and public speaking. Students met the inventor of Baked Lay’s, Dr. Jeffrey Stamp, during interactive sessions meant to encourage innovation and pitching business ideas. Faculty members have led several excursions to nearby waterways connected to the exploration of marine biology. Beth Toomey McBride ’90’s Marine Biology class went to Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve in Huron to learn about the functions of the estuary and the organisms living there. Students plan to return in the spring to conduct field research about what they learned. In September, the Marine Biology Club traveled to Hinckley Lake in Medina County and took to the water with a naturalist from the Cleveland Metroparks. They conducted water quality tests and studied a number of animals collected including macroinvertebrates and small vertebrates, learning about the impact of this human-made lake on the Rocky River watershed.

In March, Arabic and French classes and the Arabic Club will explore Dearborn, Michigan, home to the largest Muslim population in the United States. The field trip will include a tour of the Arab American National Museum, lunch at the Al Ameer Restaurant, and a stop at the sweet shop Shatila. The goal is to strengthen historical and cultural connections to language lessons and practice speaking Arabic outside the classroom. The field trip was made possible through support and funding from Qatar Foundation International (QFI).

“This trip is an experience that all our past students have enjoyed and a trip our new students look forward to,” World Languages and Cultures Department Chair Sajida Abu Ali said. “Our trip aims to expand the number of people interested in Arab culture and help young people be more respectful of other cultures and traditions. It intrigues people to sign up to take Arabic and increases the students' dedication to learning the language.”

Field trips are also taking place for faith-based experiences through Campus Ministry. Students have heard inspiring speakers through the First Friday Club luncheons, including Bishop Edward Malesic, Auxiliary Bishop Roger Gries, OSB, Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, Executive Director of the Catholic Mobilizing Network, Mary von Carlowitz, Diocesan Director of the Office for Human Life and Erin Hathway, Executive Director at Zelie’s Home. Additionally, students participated in Diocesan Masses at the Cathedral, including the Mass for Life and Catholic Schools Week.

“Learning experiences outside the classroom have long been a defining characteristic of a Magnificat education,” said Vice President of Mission Katie Higgins ’99. “These memorable experiences deepen student learning and enhance holistic growth. We are grateful to be able to offer these opportunities again to our students.”