Remember how badly you wished you could hop aboard Ms. Frizzle’s The Magic School Bus, soar through the skies at Sky High, or belt out show tunes at Glee’s William McKinley High? Sure, they’re still off the table for your kiddos, but what if we told you the British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park (BISC-LP) comes pretty close to those one-of-a-kind, beyond-the-classroom experiences?
While BISC-LP might not have a shape-shifting school bus or superhero training, it’s got the next best thing. Parents love that the curriculum at this private international school for children ages 15 months to 11 years goes far beyond desks and chalkboards. It blends core academics with hands-on projects, global perspectives, and immersive experiences.
That means students have access to unforgettable overnight adventures, epic field trips (that take place locally and out of state!), super engaging PE classes, and incredible programs with world-renowned institutions like Juilliard, MIT, and UNICEF. It’s the kind of experience most of us could only dream of as kids.
Read on for five reasons we wish we could enroll ourselves!
1. They have next-level overnight retreats.
Forget your usual afternoon at the pioneer village. At BISC-LP, students hit the road for overnight field trips that take residential learning to new heights (truly!). Students in lower grades get their first taste of a school sleepaway by camping out on BISC-LP’s rooftop—it’s part playground, part garden, and part soccer pitch—or spending a night at a local museum.
As students get older, these retreats progress to longer and even more adventurous stays. We’re talking a three-day camping trip in Michigan that’s all about honing their wilderness skills through canoeing, campfires, and archery. Or a four-day skiing excursion in Wisconsin where hitting the slopes and snow tubing are on the agenda.
2. Their local field trips are just as cool.
At BISC-LP, hands-on learning is the name of the game, and local field trips give students a chance to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom—whether they’re participating in community service at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, diving into sustainability at Planet Chicago, or discovering the realm of biology at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
Throughout the year, kids also visit local cultural institutions, food processing centers, chocolate factories, houses of worship, and historical sites, including Urban Kayak, the Adler Planetarium, the Swedish Heritage Museum, the Holocaust Museum, Unwaste Shop, and the Chicago History Museum.
3. Their PE classes go above and beyond.
Gone are the days of rope climbing in your school’s gymnasium. At BISC-LP, children have the opportunity to engage in off-site physical development activities at two recreation centers within the city. The best part? They get to try their hand at less traditional sports like fencing, archery, and rock climbing, to name a few.
Elementary school students also have the chance to participate in BISC-LP’s sports and athletics tradition, known as the “Global Games.” Hosted in Florida, students from sister schools across North and South America come together for five full days to go head-to-head in a series of competitions and activities. Kids can go for the gold in track and field, swimming, volleyball, soccer, flag football, and basketball. Score!
4. They also enlist fascinating experts as guest speakers.
And let’s not forget the special visitors who pop by BISC-LP classrooms to chat with students, from veterinarians and entomologists to firefighters, soccer coaches, and musicians. Talk about giving your average lesson a more personal, interactive spin! Through these visits, your littles can ask all of their burning questions, see interesting demonstrations, and even try out some new skills.
5. They have one-of-a-kind collaborations with prestigious institutions.
It’s not every day you find a school with programs from The Juilliard School, MIT, and UNICEF. But at BISC-LP, kids get to explore their creativity, curiosity, and compassion with world-class instructors by their side.
If you have a budding performer on your hands, they’ll love attending a week-long, Julliard-led workshop during the Performing Arts Festival, while STEAM enthusiasts can dive into hands-on projects with guidance from MIT.
With all of these unique experiences and programs, BISC-LP makes sure that kids get a multifaceted education that stretches far beyond the classroom. They’ll not only grow academically, but they’ll also get to stretch their creativity, build confidence, and develop a global perspective.
Want to see BISC-LP for yourself? Schedule a tour or book your open house spot today to be wowed right alongside your kiddos.
