Middle School Puerto Rico Trip 2026: Learning Beyond the Classroom

At Seattle Amistad School, bilingual and multicultural education is more than a curriculum — it's a lived experience. Each year, our middle school students take what they've learned in the classroom and bring it into the real world through an immersive trip to a Spanish-speaking country. For many of them, it's the moment when everything they've practiced suddenly becomes tangible.

Why Puerto Rico

In the spring of 2026, our students will travel to Puerto Rico, a place where history and modern identity intertwine. As they walk the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan, step inside centuries-old forts, and listen to stories carried through generations, they begin to understand Puerto Rico not just as a destination, but as a narrative — one layered with resilience, artistry, and ancestral roots.

The journey also introduces students to the heritage of the Taíno people, whose influence is still felt across the island's language, customs, and stories. Learning about Indigenous history in a place where it still breathes helps students see culture as something living.

The island as teacher

Students will visit the striking pink salt flats of Cabo Rojo and other ecological sites, observing biodiversity up close and engaging with conversations about environmental stewardship. These moments in nature often become some of the most memorable parts of the trip.

And throughout it all, Spanish is no longer just a subject. It becomes a tool, a bridge, a voice. Whether students are ordering food, asking questions, or interacting with community members, they grow more confident using the language organically.

Every student, no exceptions

We believe this opportunity should belong to every student, and we are committed to ensuring that cost never determines who gets to participate. We are raising funds that directly support travel, lodging, cultural excursions, meals, and overall program accessibility. Every contribution — no matter the size — helps bring this journey within reach.

This is more than a trip. It is a moment of growth, connection, and discovery — one that can only happen when a community comes together to make it possible.