Packer's Domestic Symposium

January 21 – 29, 2026

A seven day mini-term between semesters, the Packer Domestic Symposium program is a highlight of the Upper School curriculum. The array of unique courses designed by our faculty members extends our community’s development beyond the traditional classroom and constructs a rich, meaningful, experience-based educational opportunity that encourages both intellectual development and social-emotional growth.

Registration for Symposium begins in October and students are assigned to their classes in November. To help foster a shared sense of purpose and a genuine intellectual community, Symposium classes are graded Pass/Fail, based largely on a student’s full engagement. Please note that if a student misses 15% (or 1 day) of Symposium, their ability to pass the course could be jeopardy. Please also note that some courses have required afternoon, evening, or weekend activities as noted in the descriptions.

Why Martial Arts? (9/10 Grade)

Why do people train martial arts—both in the past and today? In this course, you’ll explore these questions through hands-on practice, field trips, films, and conversation. Each day brings something new: guided training in self-defense and partner work, a visits to an Aikido dojo and a Tai Chi studio, and sessions with masters of Judo, Kung Fu, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. We’ll also connect martial arts to culture and history. You’ll visit a Chinese Scholar's garden, explore the Arms and Armor exhibit at the MET, and reflect on martial arts in media by watching the award-winning documentary Mrs. Judo. In class, you’ll decorate your own obi belt, read and discuss articles about martial arts today, and learn expressive Kung Fu forms. No prior experience is required—just curiosity and a willingness to move. Whether you want to feel more empowered, discover new traditions, or simply try something different, this course offers a welcoming space to explore martial arts in body, mind, and spirit.

The Business of Entrepreneurship (9/10 Grade)

Through this project and activity-based exploration of Financial Literacy & Entrepreneurship, attendees are empowered to identify— and monetize— their own unique skillsets (aka, that thing within you that wonderfully distinguishes you), while generating a list of client prospects to whom they can presently sell these services. Branding and marketing strategies, business structures and formation, interpersonal and business communications, relationship/rapport management and self-regulation, ethics and failure as the paramount stepping stone for success in business and personal endeavors are all explored. Real Estate & Business Development are an added component to the programming, with a visit to a highly esteemed brokerage as a class trip. By the end of the course, students have a crystallized idea of how to build a viable business and market their skill sets as an income stream.

Where Land and Water Meet: Surfposium! (9/10 Grade)

Focusing on the beaches and surfers of New York's vibrant surfing community, this symposium engages with the city’s coastline and the people that live, work, and play there. We'll meet —and surf with —local surfers, board makers, surf shop owners, as well as coastal conservation organizations to learn about the issues facing New York's coastline. Using still and video photography, you'll share what you've learned with the larger world as we craft our own surfing movies and artwork! No previous surfing experience is required; no gear is required. But students must be able to swim and be comfortable with the idea of swimming in a wetsuit in January.

Note: students will depart via public transportation from Rockaway Beach each afternoon no earlier than 2:45 pm.

Welcome to SportsCenter (9/10 Grade)

Do you live and breathe sports? Have you ever wondered what goes into running your favorite team or making the big play on and off the court? In this symposium we’ll explore the various facets of the sports industry. Think sports marketing and sponsorship, athlete representation, media and broadcasting, data analysis, public relations, facility management, and more. Some of the most historic sports franchises and stadiums are right at our doorstep, and we'll get to experience special behind-the-scenes access. We’ll explore a variety of different organizations, including NBA/WNBA, NHL, MLB, MLS and more. You'll get a chance to debate your favorite topics and think about why sports are such an enduring part of our culture. Students will walk away with a better understanding of the sports industry, as well as the variety of career choices that it offers aside from being a professional athlete.

Math and Music (9/10 Grade)

Music is a big part of the human experience, but how exactly does music work, on a structural and physical level? We’ll explore the seven major elements of music and the mathematics used in each of those, and then turn those math skills loose to create interesting new works - maybe you’ll build an instrument, create a song, or write a mathematical exploration. Activities may include tours of places where music is made, going to a concert to experience music in action, working with synthesizers to create new types of sound, and solving interesting musical math problems.

What Lies Beneath: Secrets of NYC's Underground (9/10 Grade)

In this symposium, we’ll explore aspects and layers of NYC’s “underground” - its history, social movements, art scenes, spaces, and secrets. We’ll consider the purpose of the “underground” - both literal and figurative, and consider how what’s “above” relates to what’s “below.” To achieve this, you’ll visit various sites around the city, watch films, hear guest speakers, and create an artifact related to the “underground.” Come along with us while we explore the literal underground, take a graffiti workshop, and discover your new favorite secret spot in the city.

So You Want To Make a Podcast? (9/10 Grade)

When Serial exploded in 2014, a podcast revolution was born, leading to thousands of programs in myriad formats (investigations, interviews, scripted, conversational) on a variety of topics (news, comedy, sports, fashion). We'll listen to, discuss, and make podcasts. We'll be visited by podcast professionals to hear about their craft. What you create will be up to you, and by the end of Symposium, you’ll have a podcast that you can submit to The New York Times' and NPR's podcast contests for high school students. Inevitably, much of our time will be spent inside Packer as you produce your podcast; be prepared for detailed work in front of a screen to edit and produce your podcast. But if you want to get outside, you can do that by choosing a podcast topic that will get you into the city, talking and listening to the sources that you'll need.

Parks and Recreation (9/10 Grade)

Need a break from the concrete jungle? Step into the city’s wild side. From ice skating on Governors Island to a wildlife refuge in Jamaica Bay, New York City’s parks are full of surprises. In this course, we’ll uncover how legendary spaces like Central Park and Prospect Park were designed, and how today’s parks continue to shape the city’s culture and community. Along the way, we’ll explore secret spots, meet those in charge, try out park activities, and see how green spaces bring nature, play, and history together right in the heart of the city.

NYC in Film (9/10 Grade)

Who are we as New Yorkers? Is there even such a thing as a New Yorker? If so, what are our values? What are our experiences? NYC in Film attempts to answer these questions by viewing films set here; visiting museums devoted to the history of and life in the city; and inviting industry pros to discuss acting, directing, and producing in the city. In addition, members of NYC in Film write scripts, scout film locations, and ultimately direct and act in New York-centered vignettes. The symposium culminates in an intimate film festival meant to celebrate and admire one another’s work.

Mahjongg! (9/10 Grade)

In this Symposium, students will learn how to play two versions of the tile game mahjong that originated in China and gained popularity around the globe. Students will be taken through the history of mahjong and learn how it has weaved its way through different cultural groups. Instructors will explain the significance of each tile, the intricate rules of the game, and strategies for gameplay. Activities for this course include learning the Chinese and American versions of mahjong, playing mahjong with community groups, designing mahjong tiles, visiting historical mahjong neighborhoods, and learning about the history of mahjong in America. Whether you are a mahjong master or have never heard of the game before, all are welcome!

Let the Chips Fall Where They May (9/10 Grade)

Can poker be a game of chance if the same people consistently win in the biggest games every year? This quintessentially American card game has been mythologized, its participants portrayed as outlaws and savants, capable of reading an opponents soul by correctly interpreting every twitch or finger tap. Over the last 20 years, winning poker strategy has been transformed and demystified with the advent of widespread online play, data analytics, and neural networks. In this complex game of incomplete information, the most successful players are observant and expert decision makers who use mathematical concepts, such as combinatorics and game theory, along with knowledge of opponent tendencies, to maximize their chance of winning. Students will play poker and explore how its strategic concepts inform decision making in real-world situations beyond the poker table.

Artistic Alchemy: Art's Evolution in the 21st Century (9/10 Grade)

Where does inspiration come from in the twenty-first century? Is there such a thing as a new idea? Does it even matter? Paintings inspire movies, films are reimagined as musicals, and comic books become blockbusters. What is the potential when one work of art inspires another work of art? What is gained and what is lost? Students in this symposium will attend three Broadway shows, watch films, and read excerpts of texts. After focusing on original works, students will then experience the same stories in new genres.

Calculated Creations: Melding Math and Art (9/10 Grade)

In this hands-on course, you’ll dive into the vibrant intersection of mathematics and artistic expression, discovering how patterns, symmetry, structure, and abstraction give rise to both beauty and meaning. Along the way, you’ll create a wide range of collaborative and individual works that showcase the surprising artistry hidden in mathematics. The centerpiece of the class will be the design and construction of your own math-inspired stained glass piece. You’ll gain practical skills—scoring and cutting glass, grinding edges, foiling, and soldering—while translating mathematical ideas into luminous works of art. Complementing this project, you’ll explore math ideas possibly including tessellations, aperiodic tilings, fractals, modular arithmetic, and polyhedra through smaller art-making experiments. You’ll also encounter the work of contemporary mathematical artists and experience the wonders of the National Museum of Mathematics on a field trip. No specific math background is required—just curiosity and a willingness to create. Whether you’ve always loved math or simply enjoy making art, this course is designed to spark discovery and joy. The experience culminates in a student-curated Math-Art Museum at Packer, where your creations will be exhibited and shared with the community.

Cooking in Service of Others (12 Grade Only)

Creating food is an important form of self-expression, allowing us to find joy and passion through cooking and sharing food with others. This year, we will explore the incredibly diverse culinary worlds that NYC offers and learn essential cooking skills. To hone our skills, we will volunteer much of our Symposium time to cook and serve food in service of high need communities. Each day, we will learn vital skills for food preparation and visit culinary institutions and charitable centers, where we will learn to prepare dishes from different cultures to share with others in the community.

Five Borough Minds: Mental Health and Wellness in the City (12 Grade Only)

Students in this symposium will transform New York City into their own dynamic, hands-on laboratory for understanding mental health and community psychology. Through visits to community-based organizations, hospitals, private practices, colleges, and city departments (like the NYPD Response team for Emotionally Disturbed Persons), students will gain insight into New York City’s psychological support networks. In the classroom, we will examine the history of mental health in New York City to analyze the trajectory of the city’s support system while envisioning what the future can look like through an equity lens.

The Great Outdoors (12 Grade Only)

Are you looking for an adventure? In the Great Outdoors we will spend a week in New Hampshire's White Mountains where we will be living and learning in the winter wilderness. We will snowshoe, explore nature, prepare meals together, and more. During the course of the week, we will explore relevant theorists and historians of wilderness, set and accomplish goals, all the while appreciating the quietness and tranquility of forest living. Please note that this trip is physically challenging. All gear needed is rentable free of charge. We will be away from campus from January 21st through the 28th.

East Meets West (12 Grade Only)

As global citizens, you will be well-served by this introduction to Chinese history and culture. You will learn about the different worldviews and in the process reflect on your own western attitudes, values and beliefs. Some topics we explore include regional cuisines, religious and philosophical thought, education, the arts and current events. We will also debunk stereotypes. Through exploration of Chinatowns in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, you will learn about the Chinese American immigrant experience, participate in community service, and enjoy a variety of different Chinese cuisines. Most of our days will be spent off campus; guest speakers and visiting artists will engage students during our days on campus.

Perceptions... (12 Grade Only)

How do our minds make snap judgments about the people we encounter—and what are the social and ethical implications of those judgments? This intensive, interdisciplinary course brings together cognitive science, identity, and visual storytelling to explore one of the most pressing issues of our time: the power of unconscious bias. Drawing on cutting-edge research, students will investigate how the brain relies on mental shortcuts—essential tools for navigating a complex world—that too often produce systematic errors in how we perceive, evaluate, and treat others, especially across lines of race, gender, class, sexuality, and ability. At the same time, students will examine the central role that stories and media play increating these biases—and discover how storytelling can also disrupt stereotypes and open space for empathy, fairness, and change.

Resilience and Reciprocity: Lessons from Plant, People, and Place (12 Grade Only)

How do communities—human and ecological—thrive in the face of challenge? In this 7 day symposium, seniors will explore how plants and people model resilience and mutual care. We’ll visit urban farms and community organizations in NYC to see how food justice and cultural preservation take root in city soil. Then we’ll head upstate to engage with farmers and learn about how they are reclaiming food systems and celebrating heritage through sustainable practices. Along the way, students will work alongside activists and growers, and reflect on the reciprocal relationship between people and the land. The week culminates in a creative showcase that captures what it means to build resilient, reciprocal communities in a changing climate..

Page updated

Report abuse