Project Location/Destination: In & Out of town (locations intentionally kept secret)
Faculty Leaders: Chris van Benthuysen & Sarah Landis
Dates: Monday, March 13 - Friday, March 17
Cost: $2550
Special Considerations:
See below.
Objective
Students will learn to collaborate with teammates while working through widely-varied tasks. They will also learn to navigate new areas, document their time and budget for trips. They will also learn about the history and culture of their destinations.
Description
Teams of four will embark on a trek within the United States. At every destination, each team must compete in a series of challenges, some mental and some physical, and only when the tasks are completed will they learn of their next location. Teams will need to navigate new cities on a limited budget, work together to solve clues, and be clever about finding ways to earn time bonuses in each new city. They will also need to strike a balance between racing against the clock and learning about and experiencing their destinations, as this will not simply be a scavenger hunt. Not knowing where the next night’s sleep is also means you carry everything with you as you race around the country, so pack light!
Student Requirements and Expectations
Students will need proper documentation for domestic air travel. Students will need to be nimble and responsible for themselves and their group throughout the race and comfortable adapting to the changing circumstances and new environments. (If you crave predictability and the comfort of routine, this is not the project for you!) They will need to be self-sufficient in attempting to navigate a new city. They will need to carefully document all of their time/money spent each day. Students will need a competitive spirit and a sense of adventure; some challenges or circumstances may require students to push themselves outside of their comfort zone.
About the Faculty
Mr. van Benthuysen teaches mathematics in the upper school and coaches the ultimate frisbee and math teams. Over his 10 years at Latin, he’s led projects that included cultural immersion trips to Cambodia and the Ecuadorian Amazon, filmmaking, building escape rooms, and perhaps most importantly, two iterations of “Survivor” which included day-long Amazing Race components. As a fan of the Amazing Race (CBS TV show) he’s excited to expand the Amazing Race experience into a full week-long project.
Ms. Landis teaches Latin in the upper school. She has led five different Project Weeks over her nine years at Latin, including “Design a Sense-ational Day,” in which students were responsible for the design, logistics (including transportation and budget), and execution of one day during the sensory-themed week. She looks forward to the combination of logistics with race challenges, and to seeing the teams work together. This will be the second Amazing Race that Mr. van Benthuysen and Ms. Landis have planned but the first they’ll execute (RIP Project Week 2020).
Special Considerations
Ability to ride a bike - Students are expected to be able to ride a bicycle for extended distances.
Ability to swim - Students are expected to be able to swim in a pool and/or in open water., Accommodation considerations - Students will be expected to sleep in shared accommodations.
COVID related information - Some venues may require proof of COVID vaccination or negative test. Students are encouraged to travel with this information and provide it, if required. Please contact the project leaders or School Nurse with any questions or concerns.
Equipment requirements: hiking gear - Students will be responsible for bringing and carrying their own backpack, large enough to hold their own rain gear, water bottles, additional attire for layering, depending on the weather.
Expectation for physical activity - This project will require a significant amount of physical exertion and possibly some physical discomfort. Students on this project should be willing to deal with discomfort, at times, in inclement weather. Students are expected to be able to participate fully in all these daily activities.
Food limitations and allergies - Students with food allergies and food sensitivities should understand that there may be times that food options will be limited. In addition, there may be cross contamination risk of allergens, as there will be times where outside food vendors will prepare our meals. Please contact the project leaders or School Nurse with any questions or concerns.
Scheduling (Out-of-Town) - This project will have time commitment outside of the M-F (8-4) typical school week. Please note that there is an expectation that students are able to attend the whole time the project is running.
Sensitive Topics - Students will be exposed to sensitive topics.
Supervision during the day - Students might be unsupervised for short periods of time during the course of the day.
Supervision while sleeping - Students might be unsupervised for extended periods of time during sleeping hours (hotel, hostels, etc.).
Transportation considerations: CTA - Students will take the CTA with faculty.
Transportation considerations: Not meeting at Latin: Students may meet faculty leaders or be dismissed from a location other than Latin.
Transportation consideration: other public transit and possibly taxis - students will use these without faculty supervision.