Student Life
We believe that designing a superhero suit is as important as learning chemistry (and in some in cases, more so). We believe that you learn best when you're allowed to learn in the way that suits you best (and not the system). From your first day on campus, you'll see — we do things differently here.
Student Body Facts
- 50% of students are residential and about 50% are day students
- Students come to Explo at St. Mark's from more than 40 states and 50 countries
- 30% of our residential students are made up of international students
The Explo Way of Life
At some point this summer, you’ll feel the joy that comes with making your own choices, and open your mind to thinking and seeing the world in ways you’ve never fully experienced. You’ll uncover something new — something you can’t believe you’ve gone this long without knowing — and you’ll let your passion lead you from finding a new intellectual pursuit to discovering a creative wonderland. You’ll find out that really, you’ve been creative all along.
Structuring Your Day
Since we know that students in grades 4 + 5 (Pioneers) are developmentally quite different than students in grades 6 + 7 (Voyagers), we've structured our daily schedule to reflect those differences in subtle but important ways.
A Supportive Schedule
Pioneers thrive on structure, which is why our schedule has a strong element of routine, while also providing a range of choice both in classes and activities. The Pioneer day starts with two morning classes, each 75 minutes in length and with a 15-minute free time in between for play.
In the afternoon, while their Voyager counterparts are in class, Pioneers choose from a variety of activity options that range from the artistic, to the athletic, to the academic, to the zany. Our day comes to a close with the Main Event, which is a nightly performance, trip, or activity that Pioneers, Voyagers, and staff take in as a program-wide community.
A Foray into Freedom
As they grow into adolescence, Voyagers look for opportunities to take on new choices and freedoms. At the same time, students at this age still embrace structure and routine.
At Explo at St. Mark's, our schedule brings together the best of both worlds. Voyagers start with activity periods, which provide a variety of artistic, athletic, and recreational options to choose among. The lunch break allows for time to play games, read, or socialize with friends, and then Voyagers take their structured academic courses in the afternoon.
Every evening, Explo hosts a Main Event. On certain evenings, though, we offer Voyagers the choice to attend special activities like a trip to an indoor water park (seventh graders) or an off-campus laser tag party (sixth graders).
A Sense of Community
It's true — you might not know anyone when you arrive on campus. But that's ok, because within the first ten minutes, that'll change. You'll meet — and become friends with — more people than you thought you'd meet all summer. And no matter what walk of life you (and they) come from, at Explo, we're all part of one community.
Community starts with your campus family: your Living Group. Your Living Group will include the girls or guys living on your hall — students that can come from as close as the place where you grew up to as far as the other side of the world. If you come as a day student, your Day Group will become your new best friends. Your group will become the people who will look after you, support you, and have fun with you from morning to night.
Each day, your community will continue to grow until you feel like you know everyone on campus.
