MINIMESTER C A T A L O G 2025-2026
Minimester Catalog 2025 - 2026
MONOPOLY STRATEGY LAB – HANDS-ON COMPETITION
What can hands-on strategy games like Monopoly teach you about decision-making, business, and resilience in competitive environments?
Taught in English
In this four-day interactive workshop, you will turn the classic board game Monopoly into a dynamic lab for exploring strategy, negotiation, and competition. Designed for students in grades 9–12, you will engage in fastpaced gameplay, test creative strategies, and apply real-world business concepts through a fun and competitive experience. Each day combines hands-on play with mini-strategy sessions, reflection, and role challenges. The workshop concludes with a high-stakes Monopoly Championship Tournament, where you will showcase the skills you’ve developed while competing for top honors.
WORKSHOP LEAD: • Blanca Monge • Daniel Borst
EXPLOREMOS EL SALVADOR Taught in Spanish
¿Cómo el explorar la historia, la cultura y la geografía de El Salvador moldea nuestra comprensión de su identidad nacional y nuestra conexión con ella?
WORKSHOP LEAD: • Herbert Lopez • Francisco Alfaro
¡Únete a nosotros en un viaje inmersivo al corazón de El Salvador! Descubre su rica historia, cultura vibrante y paisajes impresionantes a través de talleres atractivos y emocionantes excursiones. Prepárate para profundizar tu comprensión y aprecio por este hermoso país. ¿Estás listo para conocer verdaderamente a El Salvador? ¡Exploremos juntos!
WEARABLE MASTERPIECES: FROM CONCEPT TO DEMURE
How can you turn an everyday piece of clothing into a work of art that reflects your ideas and unique creativity?
Taught in English
In this 4-day Minimester, you will transform ordinary clothing into elegant, hand-painted wearable art. You will apply executive function skills like goaldirected persistence, planning and organization, and time management as you move from concept sketches to a finished, sophisticated garment. Throughout the process, you will brainstorm, plan, and paint—staying on schedule and refining your design to create a cohesive, polished final piece worthy of a fashion showcase.
WORKSHOP LEAD: • Karen Clemente • Maria A. Salinas
Minimester Catalog 2025 - 2026
Minimester Catalog 2025 - 2026
MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM Taught in English WORKSHOP LEAD: • Max Ober
FROM BEAN TO BREW Taught in English WORKSHOP LEAD: • Jairo Martinez • Damaris Cotto
What are the steps to producing both a written news story and a multimedia news story in today’s media environment? In this introduction to journalism workshop, you will learn the key skills needed to be a journalist or reporter, including structuring articles, conducting interviews, and incorporating quotes to strengthen your stories. You will explore how to research and incorporate data, as well as gain hands-on experience with audio and video equipment for news reporting. Through research, practice, guest speakers, and hands-on training, you will learn to write newspaper articles on diverse topics, acquire multimedia skills for news stories, and edit videos, ultimately putting together your own news story.
How does the journey of coffee—from seed to cup—reflect the blend of culture, craftsmanship, and community? Discover the journey of coffee from its roots in the Salvadoran highlands to the cup in your hands. In this hands-on minimester, you will explore coffee cultivation, harvest, processing, and brewing techniques while learning about the cultural, economic, and community impact of this cherished crop. Through tasting, barista practice, and creative reflection, you will experience how coffee connects craft, culture, and community—one cup at a time.
GAME CHANGERS: INVENT YOUR SPORT
How can you combine creativity, collaboration, and strategy to design a new sport that is fun, playable, and shareable?
Taught in English
In this workshop, you will explore unusual and viral sports, then work with a team to invent, test, and refine your own original game. You will create short videos or social media content to showcase your sport’s fun and viral potential, culminating in a mini-tournament and a reflection on your design and marketing process.
WORKSHOP LEAD: • Gadiel Rachelson • Graham Delashmutt
PLASTICS REIMAGINED: ECO-ART WITH IRONS
What if the next big trend wasn’t buying more—but creating more from what already exists?
Taught in English
Turn trash into treasure! In this hands-on workshop, you will transform discarded plastic bags and wrappers into vibrant works of art using heatfusion techniques. You’ll learn how to layer, melt, and sculpt recycled plastics into colorful panels that can be reused as flexible fabric, durable material for new products, or striking sculptural artworks. This experience blends creativity and sustainability, challenging you to rethink waste, reduce environmental impact, and design innovative, functional, and artistic eco-creations.
WORKSHOP LEAD: • Gabriela Mora
Minimester Catalog 2025 - 2026
Minimester Catalog 2025 - 2026
NO WORRIES WORKSHOP: THE ART OF BEING PRESENT
How can we use mindful movement, meaningful discussion, and creative art to transform worry into a sense of calm, focus, and confidence?
Taught in English
Tired of worrying about everything? Ready to feel more in control of your mind and life? The No Worries Workshop is a four-day deep dive into becoming a master of your own mental well-being. This immersive course is designed to empower you with the life-changing skills of mindfulness in a safe and supportive space. You’ll learn to calm your mind, manage stress, and handle difficult emotions with greater clarity and confidence. Each day features a unique focus, from understanding the science of the brain to navigating the complexities of social media and relationships. We’ll use three powerful tools to achieve these goals: meaningful discussions that teach you practical strategies, gentle yoga for mindful movement and stress reduction, and creative art to express thoughts and feelings in a new way. By blending these simple mindfulness techniques with mixed-media art journaling, this workshop will help you build a solid foundation for emotional resilience and a more peaceful, focused life. No prior experience with art or mindfulness is required—just an open mind and a willingness to explore.
WORKSHOP LEAD: • Marjorie Barnes
Open for 10th to 12th grade students.
TALLER DE ARTES ESCÉNICAS Taught in Spanish
¿Por qué es importante que aprendas a interpretar y gestionar tu expresión facial y corporal? ¿Cómo influye la transmisión de sentimientos y emociones en el escenario?
WORKSHOP LEAD: • Gerber López
En este taller de artes escénicas, aprenderás a dominar distintos tipos de expresión: verbal, facial, corporal, gestual e incidental. Desarrollarás tanto habilidades artísticas como personales, fortaleciendo la comunicación, la empatía y el trabajo en equipo. Además, participarás en la creación de vestuario y escenografía, integrando todos los elementos que dan vida a una puesta en escena. A lo largo del taller, presentarás tus obras ante audiencias reales dentro de la comunidad escolar, buscando que cada presentación genere un impacto positivo y ofrezca una experiencia significativa para quienes las presencien.
BUILDING AND TESTING SOLAR FRUIT DEHYDRATORS
What can you learn about science, design, and problem-solving by transforming sunlight into energy for food preservation?
Taught in English
Over four days, you will work in a small group to build two solar dehydrators using materials like cardboard, netting, tape, and aluminum foil. Once constructed, you will place slices of fruits such as bananas, apples, and other suggested fruits inside the dehydrators. Each day, you will record the temperature inside each dehydrator and measure the mass of the fruits to track water loss. The project will culminate in your analysis of the data to determine which dehydrator design is most efficient, which fruits dehydrate faster, and how solar energy can be harnessed for practical food preservation.
WORKSHOP LEAD: • Fernando Sorto
Minimester Catalog 2025 - 2026
Minimester Catalog 2025 - 2026
SABORES Y JUEGOS CON HISTORIA: EXPLORANDO LA CULTURA SALVADOREÑA
¿Qué puedes descubrir sobre un país cuando te atreves a probar y entender su gastronomía, jugar sus juegos más representativos de la infancia y vivir su cultura a través del cuento de su historia?
Taught in Spanish
En este Minimester, te sumergirás en las tradiciones y la cultura salvadoreña a través de su comida típica y sus juegos más representativos. Tanto si has crecido aquí como si vienes de otro lugar, descubrirás cómo los sabores, las risas y las costumbres cuentan historias sobre quiénes somos y cómo vivimos. Probarás platos deliciosos, conocerás sus orígenes y te divertirás participando en juegos tradicionales llenos de energía, colaboración y alegría. Será un espacio relajado e inclusivo, donde te conectarás con tus compañeros, celebrarás la diversidad cultural que nos une y vivirás El Salvador de una forma auténtica, divertida y llena de sabor.
WORKSHOP LEAD: • Yesenia Linares • Wilber Beltrán • Silvia Martinez
AEROMODELISMO Y AVIONES REALES
¿Qué factores de construcción debemos considerar al diseñar un avión a escala para que vuele correctamente?
Taught in Spanish with English translation
En este Minimester, construirás aviones a escala mientras trabajas en equipo y pones a prueba tu creatividad, precisión y atención al detalle. Aprenderás los principios básicos del aeromodelismo y la aviación, aplicándolos en un proyecto práctico que te hará sentir como un verdadero ingeniero. Además, podría incluirse una visita opcional al aeropuerto para conocer más de cerca el mundo de los aviones —¡todo dependerá de la logística y la disponibilidad!
WORKSHOP LEAD: • Carlos Clemente • Francisco Veloz
INTRODUCTION TO ROBOTICS THROUGH ARDUINO Taught in English WORKSHOP LEAD: • Cody Dahms • Carlos Avila
RESILIENCE IN MOTION: HEALTHY HABITS TO GET YOU THROUGH LIFE Taught in English WORKSHOP LEAD: • Kimberly Harper • Myah Fisher-Hopkins
Ever wonder how some of your favorite electronic devices function? This hands-on minimester course introduces you to the exciting world of physical computing through Arduino microcontrollers, basic electronics, and programming. You will learn to write computer codes that interact with the physical world, building projects that combine software and hardware. By the end of the course, you will develop skills in C++ programming, circuit design, and general creativity!
How can you build strong roots of resilience to live a healthy, balanced, and fulfilling life? Feeling balanced, capable, and strong doesn’t just happen—it’s something you can build through healthy habits and experiences. In this minimester, you will explore fun and active ways to boost your overall well-being. You will hike, move, create, serve, and reflect as we learn how physical activity, creativity, and connection all work together to support a healthy, resilient life. If you want to get outside, try new things, and discover practical ways to stay strong and balanced in everyday life, then this workshop is for you!
Minimester Catalog 2025 - 2026
Minimester Catalog 2025 - 2026
ART WITHOUT LIMITS: EXPLORING COLOR, TEXTURE, AND SELF-EXPRESSION Taught in English and Spanish (when guest speakers lead the sessions) WORKSHOP LEAD: • Michelle Motz
What can you discover about yourself when you are given a space to create freely through color, texture, and imagination? The Multidisciplinary Art Workshop invites you to immerse yourself in a creative experience that blends exploration, technique, and self-expression. Throughout the program, you will explore a wide range of artistic forms, including ceramic sculpture, tile painting, canvas art, faux stained-glass painting, screen printing, and wearable art design. Guided by experienced instructors from El Árbol de Dios, you will learn to work with different materials and textures while experimenting with color, composition, and form. The experience also includes a visit to the AURA Gallery at El Árbol de Dios, where you will draw inspiration from Fernando Llort’s professional artworks and creative spaces. All materials are provided, so you can freely explore your creativity in a supportive and dynamic studio environment.
UNLOCKING THE HITS: THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF SONGS
How can the careful crafting of poetic devices, structure, and tone elevate a popular song into a lasting work of art that transcends language and genre?
Taught in English
This is an enriching and rigorous four-day workshop that treats the lyrics of popular music as a form of serious poetry. You will trace the literary lineage from the foundational Blues form and the simple, impactful verses of Garage Rock to the complex narratives of Classic Rock and the compelling social commentary found in Latin American music. You will explore the poetic craftsmanship of artists such as Chico Buarque and Silvana Estrada, the vivid, raw imagery of The Velvet Underground, and the cultural punch of The Rolling Stones, Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift, Karol G, and Feid. Together, you will analyze how these artists use metaphor, rhythm, tone, and cultural allusion to convey lasting meaning and emotional truth. The workshop culminates in you composing your own original song lyrics by applying the full poetic toolkit to create a personal and powerful work of musical art.
WORKSHOP LEAD: • Ivonne Sosa
CONOCIENDO NUESTRAS RAÍCES CULTURALES Taught in Spanish WORKSHOP LEAD: • Juan José Rivas • Néstor Orellana
¿Cómo el estudio de las estructuras coloniales y los sitios arqueológicos de El Salvador revela una compleja narrativa de identidad, resiliencia cultural y transformación histórica del territorio y su gente? En este minimester, te convertirás en un explorador del pasado para descubrir cómo los lugares históricos cuentan la historia de nuestro país. A través de visitas, observación y actividades prácticas, conocerás cómo las estructuras coloniales y los sitios arqueológicos reflejan siglos de cambio, adaptación y crecimiento. Este recorrido te invitará a reflexionar sobre cómo el pasado sigue dando forma a la identidad y la vida en El Salvador hoy.
Minimester Catalog 2025 - 2026