DISCOVER NEXTTERM , THE H U N SCHOOL’S EXPERIENTIAL MINI-SEMESTER.
NextTerm is learning at the next level.
Welcome to NextTerm, a three-week “mini-mester” that invites you to embark on an intense time of discovery. Each May, we take a break from our usual classes, diving deep into topics that will change your perspective and invite you to think in new ways.
Yes, it’s a blast. Yes, it creates connection. But make no mistake: NextTerm is serious learning steeped in joy. It’s experiential, real-world relevant, and transformative.
“Whether you’re in the library, the lab, the mountains, or on a boat, you’ll embark on authentic learning experiences that will translate into usable skills and knowledge in the real world.”
—
DARA MARTIN, NEXTTERM CO-DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL PROGRAMS, AND ENGLISH TEACHER
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
CONCEPTUALIZATION
NEXT LEVEL EXPERIENTIAL.
There’s learning by doing — and then there’s NextTerm, where you don’t just study a subject; you embody it. You become the scientist, the sociologist, the ecologist, the artist, the cultural critic. This isn’t simulation or surfacelevel engagement. It’s vigorous, real-world learning that challenges you to investigate complex questions and propose meaningful solutions.
NEXT LEVEL ENGAGING.
In today’s overstimulated world, traditional learning — a teacher conveying information to a passive audience — can often go “in one ear and out the other.” At Hun, and especially during NextTerm, students are immersed in intellectually engaging courses that activate deep focus and long-term retention. You won’t just learn — you’ll internalize knowledge that endures, preparing you for success in college and beyond.
NEXT LEVEL EXCITEMENT.
NextTerm is anything but routine. This immersive, one-of-a-kind experience empowers you to explore what truly excites you — intellectually, creatively, and personally. And who knows? It just might ignite the passion that shapes your next steps.
HOW HUN STUDENTS DESCRIBE THEIR NEXTTERM EXPERIENCE
EYE-OPENING
MEANINGFUL
ENLIGHTENING
EXHILARATING
COLLABORATIVE
INSPIRATION FOR NEXTTERM
“Research proves again and again that student achievement and learning thrive most when relevance is prioritized. What better way to achieve relevance than by making the world itself the classroom, and by making the application of new ideas, skills, and experiences the center of their learning experience. NextTerm is designed to do just that. Students make meaning; build understanding; and develop curiosity, empathy, and initiative across the region, the nation, and the world. They come back changed for the better and better able to create change.”
— BART BRONK, HEAD OF SCHOOL
“NextTerm is immersive like a semester abroad program, but it is also practical and focused, like an internship. Consider a hands-on internship where the intern is promoted to project leader immediately after orientation! We gave ourselves permission to imagine the best possible way to learn, and then we created it.”
— BILL ESHER, NEXTTERM CO-DIRECTOR AND THEATRE DIRECTOR
BIRDS OF A FEATHER: A FLIGHT INTO SCIENCE, SOUND, AND SOCIETY — HAWK MOUNTAIN, PENNSYLVANIA
Choose Your Own Adventure
When courses are announced each year, the excitement is palpable. NextTerm is largely student driven, which means tenth and eleventh grade students choose their three-week adventure, while ninth grade students are placed in classes but given agency over their projects. All courses are team-taught, shaped by experts in the field, and include local excursions or travel that is relevant to the topic.
The experience culminates with a team-produced project that has real-world application and is presented at NeXpo, an allcommunity exhibition event. Throughout NextTerm, there’s an electric energy that sets it apart from every other time of year.
“ NextTerm really pushes you to explore your passions, interests, and talents in ways that aren’t always possible in regular classes.”
— AAYAT A. ’25
WALLS AND BRIDGES: UNDERSTANDING BERLIN’S LEGACY AND RESILIENCE THROUGH TECHNOLOGY — BERLIN, GERMANY
Certified by Nature: Equality, Conservation, and Ethical Tourism in the Azores
Locations: The Hun School • Azores, Portugal
Tourism to coastal communities is at an alltime high — bringing economic opportunity, but also intensifying the climate crisis through rising emissions and increased strain on fragile ecosystems. On-site in the Azores, you’ll explore how we can protect marine environments while still enjoying their beauty responsibly.
ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
Known as the “gem of the Atlantic,” the Azores is both a global marine biology hotspot and a small region working to sustainably host more than one million tourists annually. Guided by local experts in conservation and ecotourism, you’ll kayak along volcanic coastlines, hike through biodiverse trails, spot dolphins and whales in their natural habitats, collect environmental data, and visit hydrothermal vents and ancient crater lakes — all while considering the environmental cost of human presence.
“In the classroom, we talk about the ethics behind making thoughtful decisions as tourists, but being out in the field brings those conversations to life.
Students engage directly with the people affected and witness the impact firsthand, understanding the difference between stated values and lived values. And that shift — from discussion to practice — is incredibly powerful.”
— MEGHAN KREGER POLLER ‘95, CHAIR OF THE INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES DEPARTMENT
IDEAL FOR STUDENTS
PASSIONATE ABOUT
T Marine Biology
T Ecology
T Ethics
T Conservation
NEXT-LEVEL LEARNING
What are the real costs — and trade-offs — of tourism? With the Azores as your case study, you’ll critically examine marine conservation strategies and the ethical dilemmas posed by global tourism. You’ll explore ways to advocate for responsible travel and sustainable ocean stewardship, while gaining a deeper understanding of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals — especially Goal 8 (Sustainable Tourism) and Goal 14 (Life Below Water).
Redesigning Fashion: Inspired by Nature’s Genius
Locations: The Hun School • New York City
Learn how to design and make sustainable clothing inspired by nature — the antithesis to modern “fast fashion” that exploits workers, pollutes the environment, and consumes vast quantities of water and resources. Bring your sketchpad, step out into nature, and prepare to revolutionize the fashion industry one garment at a time.
ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
The natural world serves as your source for inspiration as you visit diverse environments to study natural forms, textures, and systems up close. You’ll use sustainable materials and eco-friendly production processes to create a blueprint for a fashion industry that honors nature’s wisdom and cultural diversity.
NEXT-LEVEL LEARNING
With biomimicry as your guide, you’ll study things like animal fur, plant leaves, or the way birds build nests, and apply these ideas to create clothing that is functional, sustainable, and innovative. You’ll design in ways that respect and reflect how nature works, leading to solutions that are efficient and eco-friendly.
NEW YORK CITY
“I made a white dress primarily out of pampas grass that was inspired by dandelions. It was such an exciting moment when it was finally finished. I’ve never done anything like this, and I didn’t know I could do it. I’m a digital artist, and the course has impacted how I design clothing for my characters. And now, I pay more attention to my fashion choices and sustainability.”
— DORA J. ‘26
IDEAL FOR STUDENTS PASSIONATE ABOUT
T Biology
T Ecology
T Environmental Sciences
T Design
Roots, Rhythms, and Rights: Social Justice and Culture in the Dominican Republic
Locations: The Hun School • Dominican Republic
In the Dominican Republic, the production of sugar isn’t so sweet for the Haitian sugarcane workers who live in bateyes — villages lacking reliable electricity, clean water, and healthcare. You’ll examine the policies and social stigmas that perpetuate poverty and exclusion, and you’ll experience the music and traditions that bolster communities in the face of hardship.
ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
Your journey begins in Santo Domingo, where you’ll tour historic neighborhoods and visit sites that illuminate the DR’s rich but turbulent past. Guided by grassroots justice organizations, you’ll then travel to visit a batey and experience firsthand the realities of life in these marginalized communities. You’ll also attend workshops on immigration and human rights, participate in traditional music and dance classes, and reflect on how cultural identity and resistance are deeply intertwined.
NEXT-LEVEL LEARNING
What does it mean to belong? How do race, nationality, and policy shape inclusion and opportunity? Through critical inquiry, field experience, and group collaboration, you’ll explore how Haitian-Dominicans navigate exclusion and use music and art as a form of resilience, and you’ll work together to develop strategies for effecting systemic social change.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
IDEAL FOR STUDENTS PASSIONATE ABOUT
T Cultural Studies
T Social Justice
T Community Development
T History & Sociology
T Music
“This class allowed me to immerse myself in the language and practice true conversational Spanish for the first time. The most memorable experiences of this trip were the conversations I was able to have with the locals in San Pedro de Macoris and the times I spent playing with the kids at ImpACTA Kids. Learning about the Haitian migrants in the DR and seeing the bateyes firsthand made me take a step back and think about the injustices that people face every day.
— MYLES M. ’26
Trouble In Ireland: A Study of Conflict and Reconciliation
Locations: The Hun School • Ireland
Travel to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and step into a living history lesson. This immersive journey invites you to explore “The Troubles” — the 25-year conflict that fiercely divided friends, families, neighborhoods, political parties, and two religions: Protestantism and Catholicism. The repercussions remain visible today, making the need for lasting peace — in Ireland and around the world — all the more urgent.
ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
History comes alive as you visit Dublin, Belfast, and Derry/Londonderry. You’ll walk along the “peace lines,” view murals that served as resistance, step into the cells that held revolutionaries, and engage with locals and experts about how The Troubles shaped their communities. Along the way, you’ll delve into the complexities of Irish identity — touring Ireland’s national stadium, Croke Park, marveling at the Giant’s Causeway, and enjoying traditional Irish cuisine and music.
“There is nothing quite like crossing the line that divides Belfast [and the Republic of Ireland]. This trip gives a face to the conflict. Being there on the ground and meeting with people changed the way students engaged with learning and showed them that it takes a lifelong commitment to maintain peace.”
—
STEVEN DELVECCHIO, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING
BELFAST, UK
DUBLIN, IRELAND
IDEAL FOR STUDENTS
PASSIONATE ABOUT
T History
T Sociology
T Conflict Resolution
T Social Activism
T Art
NEXT-LEVEL LEARNING
Why can’t everyone just get along? It’s easier said than done. Through this experience, you’ll explore why it’s so difficult — and so essential — for opposing factions to compromise. Drawing from what you learn on the ground, you’ll conduct a critical analysis of The Troubles and connect those insights to modern-day global conflicts.
Transcend and Transform: A Way of Life
Locations:
The Hun School • Maine • Concord, MA
Unplug and follow in the literary footsteps of Henry David Thoreau on a trip to the Maine woods, where you’ll better understand the literature and transcendental movement that beckoned America to connect more intentionally with the wilderness. Through this transformative course, you’ll calm your mind in nature and learn how to connect more deeply with yourself.
ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
Are you longing to spend hours of each day outside, away from the pressures and technology of daily life? In Maine, you’ll kayak in lakes, walk forest paths, hike mountains, search for moose, and attempt to recreate the experiences that inspired Thoreau to write some of the most transformative and important literature of the nineteenth century. You’ll end your journey in historical Concord, Massachusetts, exploring Walden Pond, visiting the original site of Thoreau’s cabin, and touring homes from the mid-nineteenth century.
NEXT-LEVEL LEARNING
You’ll journal, listen to the sounds of nature, and attune yourself to the rhythms of the natural world. By disconnecting with the technological world through intentional outdoor experiences, you’ll put Thoreau’s words into practice and learn to live deliberately.
MAINE CONCORD, MA
“This course changed my life. We did a cold plunge, and when I was in the water, my mind was completely empty. It was so calming, and I hadn’t felt that way for a really long time. When I came back to campus, I started running and being outside more, which has helped me mentally.”
— ALINA X. ’26
IDEAL FOR STUDENTS PASSIONATE ABOUT
T Natural History
T Literature
T History
T Outdoor Education
“Analyzing what Thoreau says about the outside world wasn’t enough. By experiencing what we were reading and actually applying it to our lives, it added a degree of intention to how we were living — and how I’m still living now.”
— EMMA S. ’26
NeXpo: The Exhibition Event
NextTerm isn’t just a three-week immersion in a single topic. It’s an opportunity for students to learn from experts in the field, create solutions to real-world problems, and see their work realized. On the final day of the mini-semester, students share their experiences and newly acquired knowledge at NeXpo, a community-wide event.
We’ve seen students create a young people’s guidebook to America’s National Parks, distribute water to refugees at the border, put themselves in the shoes of Civil Rights activists, participate in a service project at a Native American reservation, document the experiences of women in politics, and more.
