Chaminade College Preparatory School recognizes that today’s global society requires graduates who are both academically and cross-culturally prepared in order to succeed in a diverse and multicultural world. The CCP Exchange Program is designed to help prepare students for the new challenges of living and working in the global society of the 21st century.

Chaminade has had exchange programs in place since the 1990s, and we continue to search for new possibilities to increase the global awareness of our students. Below is a list of the current exchanges that we provide (and the student years involved):

Redhill, England (8^th Grade)
Lisbon, Portugal (High School)
Melbourne, Australia (Sophomores)
Abingdon, England (Juniors)
Chartres, France (Upper-level High School French students)

• San Salvador, El Salvador – Chaminade is partnering with an organization, called Project FIAT, which is run by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to reach out to families in need in El Salvador. The Chaminade group will participate in service projects such as playing with children at the Sonsonate Orphanage and building new homes/clinics in rural areas in San Salvador.
• Click here for other domestic service immersion trip information.

• Costa Rica - For 10 days students visted the cities of San José, Isla Tortuga, Monteverde, La Fortuna and Tirimbina.
• Galapagos, Ecuador - This student tour to the Galapagos allowed students to explore the islands as naturalists, to gain a deeper understanding of Darwin's research and to understand the theories of beginnings. Students explored the geology, ecology, and marine environments around the islands. We analyzed the flora and fauna in both terrestrial and marine environments via guided hikes, mountain bikes, boat, kayaks, snorkeling, and scuba.
• Wilderness Expedition - Explore beautiful national parks taking Chaminade’s Wilderness Experience course. Enjoy a seven day course with two of Chaminade's Faculty in an environmental field course. Wilderness Expedition Course spent seven days hiking, exploring, observing and learning about Rocky Mountain National Park. Each student became a subject matter expert in certain ecological/geological areas and we all learned a wealth of information about and appreciation for one of the most beautiful spots on earth. Making this a real life environmental summer field course in the Rocky Mountains. They also earned half credit hour for their experience, which includes research, presentations and study. Parks explored: Rocky Mountain National Park – Colorado, Olympic National Park - Washington State, Yellowstone National Park - Wyoming

Emergency Data Form - form to be completed prior to each experiential education trip.

For information regarding medications for off-campus trips, please review this document.

• 6th GRADE TRIP – Explore scenery and science while educating the “whole boy” with Chaminade’s Outdoor Education Program. In collaboration with the Teton Science Schools in Jackson, Wyoming, sixth graders at Chaminade embark on a world-class learning experience as they live, work and play in the ecologically diverse Grand Teton National Park and Snake River for an entire week! Teachers at Chaminade team up with graduate students from the Teton Science Schools to guide students through lessons that explore the worlds of ecology, bio-diversity, geology and sustainability. The boys will also gain greater senses of responsibility, independence, teamwork and accountability as they spend a week away from home in the late spring. The Outdoor Education Program engages the boys in an unparalleled education outside the boundaries of the classroom, fostering growth of their minds, bodies, and spirits. The Teton area scenery provides an incredible background as the boys participate in authentic, hands-on experiences and physical activities, such as hiking, animal tracking, field ecology experiments, wildlife observation, conducting ecological field research, field journaling and sketching, practicing “leave-no-trace” guidelines, alpine ecology and GIS/GPS orienteering. The Teton Science Schools’ new Jackson Campus allows the boys to live, work and play in an ecologically-centered environment. Just completed in 2006, the Jackson Campus offers the perfect accommodations for the Chaminade’s Outdoor Education Program.
• 7th GRADE TRIP - The boys at Chaminade explore an urban playground and discover the ideas and innovations that have revolutionized America over the last century during Chaminade’s four-day Urban Experience Trip to Chicago, Illinois. Chicago is a bustling Midwestern metropolis that nearly three million people call home. A multitude of museums, dynamic attractions and landmarks, and plenty sports, arts and culture to experience make this city a standout option for Chaminade’s boys to learn, explore and become inspired. With endless opportunities for work and play, the boys have a schedule of activities that is nearly as packed and busy as the city of Chicago itself, including The Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Chicago Art Institute, Soldier Field, Millennium Park, Buckingham Fountain and the John Hancock Building.
• 8th GRADE TRIP - Agricultural Experience – To enhance the American agriculture focus of their science and social studies courses, Chaminade eighth graders have the opportunity to explore one of our country’s most important agricultural centers. Guided by their teachers and local farmers, the students gain an understanding of the significance of farms and farm communities on the cultural and economic growth of our country. By visiting during the harvest, students are exposed to all aspects of a modern farm. On this four day experience, the students witness large combines harvesting corn and soybeans, help feed livestock, visit a local co-op, and tour one of the largest grain companies in the country. Additionally, students also tour the Agricultural Sciences Department at Iowa State University in Ames and Living History Farms Museum in Des Moines.
• 8th GRADE TRIP - During the second semester, Chaminade eighth graders have the exciting opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. for an intense, four-day tour of our nation’s capital. Some of the attractions that the boys visit include the U.S. Capitol Building, Arlington National Cemetery, Mount Vernon, The Smithsonian Institute, The Jefferson Memorial & Tidal Basin, The Lincoln Memorial, The Vietnam & Korean War Memorials, World War II Memorial, The Washington Monument, the Martin Luther King Memorial, Old Towne Alexandria, and Washington, D.C. Union Station.
• FRESHMAN TRIP- With the focus staying in science (physics, biology, chemistry, ecology, sustainability), the freshman class spends 2 ½ days at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory’s School of Ocean Science and Technology, in Ocean Springs,Mississippi. This program is sponsored/overseen by the University of Southern Mississippi. Coastal Science Camp provides participants with hands-on and field experience focused on dynamic coastal habitats, marine plants and animals, and current research at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory. Some of the topics covered include:
  Ecology: beach and barrier island systems, salt marsh communities, estuarine ecosystems, and pine savannah habitat.
  Camp participants enjoy kayaking, swimming, birding, fishing, beachcombing, and other water sports while learning about beach and barrier island ecology and marine biology.
  Shark and other fish identification, classification, and dissection
  Water quality sampling and testing
  Coastalornithology
  Marine aquaculture
  Trawling for local species of vertebrates and invertebrates
  Kayaking
  Marine artifacts & museum collections

• SOPHOMORE TRIP - The Road to Freedom trip gives sophomores the opportunity to experience the struggle for freedom and justice as they travel to Nashville and then on to Memphis, TN to visit a number of sites associated with the American Civil War and our struggle for civil rights. While on the trip, stops are made at many historic sites including the Carter House (site of the Battle of Franklin), the National Civil Rights Museum, the Carnton Plantation, Battle of Franklin battlefield and cemetery, Slave Haven and the Mason Temple, Church of God in Christ.

Multicultural and Diversity Office

Mission: The Multicultural and Diversity Office shows its commitment to the gospel teachings of loving thy neighbor, by formulating proactive strategies in eliminating racism, sexism, classism and discrimination against those with disabilities. Through positive dialogue and support we can increase our levels of acceptance and tolerance to those we deem different.

Vision: The Multicultural and The Diversity Office’s vision is to reduce and eventually rid the campus of acts which are counterproductive to the teachings of the gospel.

The Multiculturaland Diversity Office functions are guided by Five Characteristics of the Catholic Marianist Education:

• Educating for Formation of Faith
• Providing an Integral, Quality Education
• Educating in Family Spirit
• Educating for Service, Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation
• Educating for Adaptation and Change

Since August 1998, Mr. Dietrich L. Smith has served as the Director for Diversity. You may contact him at

(314) 993-4400 extension 1122 or dsmith@chaminade-stl.org

The Multicultural and Diversity Office:

Conducts Multicultural and Diversity lectures to Middle and High School students;

Sponsors extra-curricular activities to promote diversity;

Coordinates Servant Leadership projects for international students

Sponsors extra-curricular activities to promote leadership