Travel Opportunities

For boys to be truly ready for the world, they need to experience the world.

In addition to the array of trips offered as part of the Weekend Activities program, McCallie offers a wide variety of trips both around the country and around the world throughout the year and during school breaks. These range from intense outdoor excursions to service learning and mission trips to traditional study abroad immersion opportunities.

The trips range from days to weeks, and are chaperoned by McCallie faculty with an interest in and expertise in the topic area of the trip. All are designed to provide boys with experiences that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Deposits will be managed solely through our online system, DiamondMind, which can be accessed here. Identify the 'Payment Type" as "School Trip". Under the "Payment Notes" tab, please enter the name of the trip for which you are making a deposit. (Please note: DiamondMind accepts e-checks and credit cards. There is a non-refundable 3% surcharge if using a credit card.)

McCallie-Sponsored Trips for 2023-24

Spring Break 2024

Working on a Montana Ranch

Working on a Montana Ranch

March 21 - 27 2024
Chaperones: Bailey Adams and Keith Chapin
Cost: $3835

Deposit: $350

This trip offers a 5 day experience working on a cattle ranch in Montana.

The Barron Ranch, est. 1873, is a 3500 acre ranch in Absarokee, Montana. It has been owned and operated by the same family for 5 generations. Surrounded by the Absorka Mountain range, It is nestled along the banks of the Stillwater River just north of Yellowstone National Park.

The ranch has 300 head of cattle, 250 head of sheep, and 125 head of horses.

Late March is calving season which is the most active period of hands on ranching on the ranch each year. Daily work includes riding out among the herd searching for newborn calves and bringing them in with their mothers to a pasture near the barn to protect them from predators. The newborn calves also require vaccinations and other care. Calving has been described by the Ranch host as “The toughest job you’ll ever love.”

While it helps to have some horseback riding experience. The ranch has horses and offers instruction for any level of riding experience. All meals on the ranch are hearty, warm, and included in the cost of the trip.

This trip offers an educational and culturally immersive experience. Students will live and work with a family that has continued the tradition of ranching in Montana for 150 years. Students will learn skills for horsemanship and every aspect of sheep and cattle ranching. This experience will help students gain a real life perspective on an iconic part of American history and culture.

Trip Cost: $3500. Includes all Transportation, Ranch (accommodations, meals, and activities). Financial Aid will be considered on an individual basis. 8 spots available. $350 Non refundable Deposit to hold your spot. Any questions can be directed to Bailey Adams at badams@mccallie.org.

Summer 2024

Religious Studies and Pilgrimage to Scotland

May 28 - June 6, 2024
Chaperones: Josh Deitrick, John Green, and Will Honeycutt
Cost: $4900

Deposit: $500

This summer boys will have an opportunity to travel to SCOTLAND on a Religious studies trip to learn about the history of early Christianity in the country. The boys will spend 10 days in Scotland starting in Edinburgh, hiking to Arthur Seat, and visiting John Knox's house, and Edinburgh Castle. Boys will learn about Scottish history at the Aberdeen National Museum. While there we will travel to Dunnottar Castle and visit St. Machar Cathedral and the Old City. As they travel boys will spend time traveling around Scotland visiting other historical sites including Inverness, Loch Ness, Fort William, and the island of the Iona Abbey. The trip will wrap up in Glasgow with a number of other sites including Sterling Castle. The trip is meant to be a learning experience, but also a contemplative type of retreat in which boys will hike and reflect on their faith journeys while observing the beauty of Scotland. To reserve a spot contact Chaplain Deitrick at jdeitrick@mccallie.org. A deposit of $500 is necessary for all participants. Financial Aid is available.

Utila, Honduras SCUBA Trip

May 25 - June 3, 2024
Chaperones: Nelson Eiselstein and Megan Cooper

Cost: $3,450
Deposit: $350

On this trip we will journey to the beautiful island of Utila, part of the Bay Islands of Honduras. On Utila, we will connect with Utila Dive Center (UDC), one of the top training dive centers in the world. UDC offers certifications for all levels, and all participants will take at least one course as part of the trip. Depending on previous experience, participants will complete their Open Water, Advanced Open Water, or Rescue Diver certifications under the professional guidance of UDC's instructors, however, no prior experience is necessary! In addition to gaining new certifications, students will also work with UDC and the Coral Watch program to learn about the impacts of climate change on the coral reef ecosystem and help gather data on coral health. While not at the dive center, we will enjoy relaxing and snorkeling off Bando Beach, kayaking through the mangroves, and exploring local restaurants and shops downtown. We will be staying in private cabins among the mango trees and eating at the dive center and around town. Any questions can be directed to Nelson Eiselstein at nelselstein@mccallie.org.

Link to UDC: https://utiladivecenter.com/

El Salvador Surf and Service

May 24 - 31, 2024

Chaperones: Will Honeycutt and Keith Chapin

Cost: $2,628
Deposit: $300

McCallie students will learn to surf with private morning surf lessons. Afternoons will be spent at a local orphanage, Remar, providing activities involving sports and English language instruction. The entire trip will be spent in the two street surfside town of El Tunco, host to the 2022-23 Junior World Surfing Championships and the 2023 Olympic Qualifying Competition. The only exception to leaving the cost is a day long hiking excursion up the Santa Ana volcano. Students will learn the skill of surfing. Students will give back to the town by investing in the youth. Students will be at the same location each day providing an opportunity to know a local community. Students will have ample time to practice their Spanish with locals. Students will have a bonding experience with their fellow classmates.

The beach towns of El Salvador are very safe. We will not go into the capital, San Salvador.

This would be the third year in row for a McCallie trip to the same location. We are establishing genuine friendships.

Our Tunco friends love McCallie guys! Our time, enthusiasm and financial contributions are very appreciated by the locals. Any questions can be directed to Will Honeycutt at whoneycutt@mccallie.org.

McCallie in Montana

June 25 - July 9, 2024
Based at University of Montana Western in Dillon, Montana
Cost: $2,650 (airport transportation costs not included)

Lewis and Clark passed through Southwest Montana in the summer of 1805. Two centuries later, this majestic landscape still offers significant learning and discovery in environmental studies and ecology, transformational leadership and community building, and in self-reliance, resiliency, and reflection. We will spend our days in the field exploring the area's history, learning geology, wildlife and fisheries biology, and practicing no trace backcountry travel and fly fishing. A culminating backpacking trip will immerse our students in the high country of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, giving them a taste of the wild American West experienced by Lewis and Clark. McCallie in Montana will give McCallie students and faculty the opportunity to grow and to reflect in life-changing ways.

* limited travel scholarships available; talk to Bart Wallin/Duke Richey if interested.

Trip is limited to 36 boys in rising 10th, 11th, & 12th grades.

More details and the link to apply can be found here: https://www.mccallie.org/mccallieinmontana

Quicklinks

Menu

In This Section

In this section

Popular Searches