Grade Level 11
Credit 0.25
Instructor(s) Mr. David O'Connell and Mr. David Krieger
Location Helsinki, Finland and Istanbul, Turkey
Estimated Cost $$$$ — hard-capped at $5,000
Enrollment 10–12 students; application and essay
Prerequisite(s) Grade 11 standing; minimum 3.7 GPA; demonstrated interest in STEM or social science.
Corequisite(s) None

Course Description

What does the future look like — and who gets to design it? In this 12-day May Term program, a select cohort of 10–12 students will travel to two of Europe’s most innovative cities to find out. Embedded within host schools in Istanbul, Turkey, and Helsinki, Finland, students will spend five immersive days at each site conducting original field research, collaborating on cross-cultural STEM and futures projects with local peers, and grappling with the real-world complexities that no single classroom can teach.

The program culminates in a high-stakes group presentation delivered to a panel at a local university in each city — a professional audience that will push students to defend their ideas, sharpen their thinking, and communicate across cultures. From the layered history and rapid growth of Istanbul to the human-centered design philosophy embedded in Finnish education and civic life, students will return home with not just a passport full of stamps, but a broader lens for understanding global systems, a deeper appreciation for collaborative inquiry, and the confidence that comes from pursuing challenges far from home.

Grade Level 11
Credit 0.25
Instructor(s) Mrs. Graciela Mancebo and Mrs. Gema Canete 
Location Costa Rica
Estimated Cost $$$$ — hard-capped at $5,000
Enrollment Application required
Prerequisite(s) Completion of Spanish 2; teacher recommendation required.
Corequisite(s) None

Course Description

Take your Spanish beyond the classroom and into the real world. This immersive May Term experience in Costa Rica offers students a unique opportunity to live the language through daily interaction, meaningful service, and authentic cultural exchange. By engaging directly with local communities, students will gain confidence communicating in real-life contexts. Through hands- on service projects, collaboration with community partners, and learning from local families, students will develop a deeper understanding of the local culture and experience firsthand how language connects people, builds relationships, and fosters mutual understanding.

The program also includes enriching experiences such as visiting a wildlife rehabilitation center, exploring an organic farm with sustainable agriculture initiatives, and participating in a leadership-focused zip-line challenge. Daily reflection encourages students to think critically about their role in a global society, helping them grow as thoughtful, culturally aware individuals. By the end of the program, students will not only have improved their Spanish skills but also developed greater cultural awareness, empathy, and a strong sense of global citizenship — key competencies for thriving in an interconnected world. The experience culminates in a bilingual presentation where students share their learning and personal growth with the school community

Grade Level 11
Credit 0.25
Instructor(s) Mr. Nick McCarthy
Location Washington, D.C. and New York City
Estimated Cost $$$ — $3,252
Enrollment 10–12 students; application and essay
Prerequisite(s) GPA above 3.0; genuine interest in American history or government.
Corequisite(s) None

Course Description

Where did America come from, and what values helped shape it? Where is America going, and do we still hold those same values? It is impossible to answer the second question without some knowledge of the first. In this 13-day May Term program, 10–12 students will travel to two of the most consequential cities in our nation’s history to find out.

Washington, D.C., and New York City will become our classroom as we travel to sites that embody the values that shaped our nation. To define these values, students will be placed in groups with other students from across the country who bring different pasts, backgrounds, and viewpoints. Along the way, STA students will also get a crash course in how our government works, including several policy workshops and a mock congress in which they will try to pass a bill about an issue facing the country. They will also meet with lawmakers to bring their thoughts and concerns to their elected representatives. Students will not merely be working from 8:00 to 3:00, but long into the evening. After a year of studying American history, juniors will get to see it up close in the places where much of it was made.

Grade Level 11
Credit 0.25
Instructor(s) Mr. Luke Marks 
Location North Shore of Lake Superior, Minnesota
Estimated Cost $$ - $300
Enrollement  Maximum of 12 students
Prerequisite(s) Physically prepared for strenuous hiking, camping, and extended time outdoors.
Corequisite(s) None

Course Description

What can the wilderness teach us about perseverance, purpose, and character? In this immersive May Term experience, students will journey through the rugged landscapes of Minnesota’s North Shore while exploring the enduring themes of classic outdoor literature. Through backpacking, camping, navigation, and wilderness skills, students will complete a demanding physical expedition that challenges them to develop resilience, discipline, and teamwork.

Along the way, students will connect their experiences with reflective readings and discussions examining the relationship between nature, masculinity, and personal growth. The program culminates in a reflective synthesis that integrates students’ lived experiences with the literature, demonstrating how challenge and the natural world can shape character and leadership.

Additional required meetings: October, January, and March.

Grade Level 11
Credit 0.25
Instructor(s) Mr. Nick Honan 
Location Campus and greater Twin Cities
Estimated Cost $ — small transportation fee not to exceed $40 
Enrollment Open enrollment
Prerequisite(s) Grade of A (90% or above) in ML; signed parental permission slip.
Corequisite(s) None

Course Description

This program introduces students to navigating physical terrain without the assistance of electronic mapping devices. Students will begin in the classroom, learning how to read various maps and orient themselves in a given geographical location. Practical application will then consist of using these skills to locate designated points throughout a land navigation course.

The class will then progress into an urban variation, in which students will be given starting points and destinations throughout the greater Twin Cities area. Using various forms of public transportation — or their legs — cadets will once again have to rely on maps and terrain features to find their way to a variety of destinations without the use of their cell phones. This will not only decrease students’ dependency on electronics for navigation, but also build an appreciation for life without a personally owned vehicle.

Grade Level 11
Credit 0.25
Instructor(s) Mr. Doug Hoverson
Location Twin Cities metro area
Estimated Cost $ - small transportation fee
Enrollment Open enrollment
Prerequisite(s) Must provide own bicycle suitable for road and rail trails; good physical condition (able to ride 25 miles per day at 14 mph).
Corequisite(s) None

Course Description

Approaching the study of neighborhoods through cycling will encourage students to examine how communities work and how they can work better. Goals include exploring metropolitan development over time, identifying major styles of architecture, applying the basics of bicycle care and maintenance, and understanding the importance of non-car forms of transportation. Students will apply their lessons to policy-making, historic preservation, and personal fitness while working with others to expand opportunities for bicycle use.

Grade Level 11
Credit 0.25
Instructor(s) Mr. Justin Larson and Mr. Logan Moe 
Location Campus and metro
Estimated Cost $ - small transportation fee
Enrollment Open enrollment
Prerequisite(s) Good physical and mental capacity for hiking, rock climbing, high ropes, and rafting.
Corequisite(s) None

Course Description

Iron Sharpens Iron is a course designed to help students grow through challenge, reflection, teamwork, and service. Through physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding experiences, students learn that true strength is not measured only by physical toughness, but also by self-awareness, honesty, resilience, and the ability to support others.

Activities include rock climbing, hiking, a high ropes course, white water rafting, team challenges, mindfulness practices, sports psychology, and community service. By the end of the course, students will leave with a deeper understanding of themselves, a stronger connection to their peers, and the belief that leadership begins with humility, integrity, and service.

Grade Level 11
Credit 0.25
Instructor(s) Mrs. Melissa Judy and Mrs. Gema Canete 
Location Campus
Estimated Cost $$ — technical resource costs
Enrollment 8–12 students
Prerequisite(s) Interest in engineering and AI; no record of unethical technology use.
Corequisite(s) None

Course Description

This course guides students through the complete lifecycle of a modern computing system — from electrical fundamentals and hardware assembly to software development and deployment. Students will design and troubleshoot basic circuits, assemble a functional desktop computer, develop a 2D video game using Python, and deploy a personal portfolio website.

The course uses generative AI tools responsibly for debugging and code scaffolding while maintaining human oversight. The experience culminates in a public Demo Day, where students test and present the completed systems and software they built.

Additional required meetings: November, February, and April.

Grade Level 11
Credit 0.25
Instructor(s) Mrs. Jillian Harvalis
Location Campus Innovation Center and partner sites
Estimated Cost $ - small transportation fee
Enrollment Open enrollment
Prerequisite(s) CAD training and/or Introduction to Engineering preferred.
Corequisite(s) None

Course Description

This program introduces students to the full product design engineering cycle through authentic civic engagement. Students will work in teams to identify real needs within the school or local community, interview stakeholders, define requirements, and design functional prototypes. The program emphasizes empathy-driven design, ethical decision-making, and iterative problem-solving. Students may extend their project through the summer to earn service hours.

Grade Level 11
Credit 0.25
Instructor(s) Mr. Dan Connolly
Location Campus
Estimated Cost $ — small transportation fee
Enrollment Open enrollment
Prerequisite(s) At least one year of experience with guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, or vocals.
Corequisite(s) None

Course Description

In this course, students will work together to create their own band or project and spend two weeks living the life of a recording artist and producer. Students will gain experience recording and editing music using a digital audio workstation (DAW), rehearsing for public performance, and touring professional recording studios and venues. The course culminates in the release of a class EP and a live performance at the school assembly on the final day.

Grade Level 11
Credit 0.25
Instructor(s) Mr. Jeff Smith
Location Campus and metro area
Estimated Cost $ — small transportation fee 
Enrollment Open enrollment
Prerequisite(s) None
Corequisite(s) None

Course Description

This two-week experiential course explores how statistics and data shape the world of professional sports far beyond the traditional box score. Through site visits, conversations with industry professionals, and real-world examples, students will examine how sports organizations and the surrounding community use data to forecast, solve problems, evaluate results, and make everyday decisions. The emphasis is not on calculating statistics, but on understanding how information is collected, interpreted, communicated, and ultimately used to make decisions.

Students will explore how statistics and data are used in areas such as:

• Sports business and operations: ticket pricing, attendance, marketing, merchandise, concessions, staffing, scheduling, sponsorships, finance, and fan experience.
• Cities and major events: public safety, traffic, transportation, crowd management, event costs, and the economic impact of professional sports.
• Sports journalism: finding meaningful stories in data, questioning statistics and their sources, distinguishing correlation from causation, and communicating what the numbers actually mean.