Winter Experience
True to the vision of our founders, the Daughters of the Heart of Mary, Nardin Academy continuously looks for ways to live our mission by encouraging life-long learning, helping our students ignite their curiosity, finding their inner passion, and inspiring their potential. One of the unique ways Nardin supports this is through Winter Experience (formerly known as WinterMission). When students return from Christmas Break, they come back to a week of experiential learning in our Western New York community and beyond. This is a time for our students to participate in internships, academic intensives, cultural experiences, and service. Winter Experience at Nardin Academy is a part of all students’ graduation requirements.
Winter Experience Courses 2023
Arts
Experience the Arts, NYC - This experience is devoted to developing the creative, curious, and critical minds of our students interested in the fine arts. Students will be immersed in the literary, dramatic, musical, culinary, and visual arts during this comprehensive experience in New York City. Each day will offer engaging activities devoted to one of the arts, including participating in workshops, viewing performances, and speaking with alumni currently working in an arts related field.
Program Dates: January 2 - January 6
Cost: $1400
Chaperone: Mrs. Spaulding
Please click Here to submit your deposit >>>
Nard”En Vogue” - Through the eye of a needle, view the world of fashion up close. Create an inspiration board reflecting your personal style; learn embroidery and sewing techniques; design and create garments and accessories; choose fabrics through exploration; explore fashion with professionals who work in the industry; give back to the community as you share your talents with those in need. Our culminating activity will be a multi-media fashion show. Alum Payton Bierk ‘19 will be sharing her journey as a student at Fashion Institute of Technology with us.
Program Dates: January 3 - January 6
Cost: TBD
Studio Life - An intensive art experience. Students develop a concept, create it in the medium of their choice, take field trips to local art galleries and studios, as well as interact with local artists. Students will also take a trip to a local college so students are able to see what a college fine arts building looks like and their studio spaces. At the end we have a group critique and reflect on our experience.
Program Dates: January 3 - January 6
Cost: TBD
Career Exploration
Local, State & Federal Government (w/Homeland Security) - With a Special Agent from Homeland Security serving as our contact we will experience all that our wonderful local, state and federal government has to offer. This Winter Experience session is ideal for students who are interested in pursuing careers in civics, political science, law, or law enforcement. Students will have the opportunity to watch live court proceedings, observe tactical SWAT team training, meet and greet a variety of K-9 units, operate TSA checkpoints at the Buffalo Airport, get a behind the scenes look at the local Border Patrol office, and view live fire training from a tactical anti-terrorism squad. Throughout the week you will have the opportunity to meet a variety of established professionals who are at the head of their respective fields. For select students, internships at the local, state, and federal level may be available.
Program Dates: January 3 - January 6
Cost: Free
Student Internships - This experience offers students a meaningful and professional learning opportunity related to a student's field of study or career interest. This experience will give students the opportunity for career exploration and development, and to learn new skills.
Students can choose from the following categories and will be paired with a professional in that industry:
- Computer/Software
- Design
- Engineering
- Finance
- Healthcare
- Human Services/Social Work
- Law
- Marketing
Open to sophomores, juniors and seniors. Students will need to provide their own transportation.
Program Dates: January 3 - January 6
Cost: Free
Student Teaching Experience - Get a chance to experience the world of teaching before you commit to it as a major in college. This program will include an opportunity for students to observe the classroom, work as an aide to the classroom teacher, and create and then implement an activity/lesson.
Program Dates: January 3 - January 6
Cost: Free
Culinary
A Culinary & Hospitality Experience - Students will explore career opportunities in the culinary and hospitality fields through hands-on learning at area restaurants and hotels by partnering with local programs and restaurateurs. In addition, students will participate in hands-on cooking lessons guided by professionals in the field. We will end our week with a day of service at St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy.
Program Dates: January 3 - January 6
Cost: TBD
Cafe Nardin - The Earnest Bean Cafe is back! This experience will focus on the reestablishment of the Earnest Bean Cafe. Students will learn about the process of producing and roasting coffee, different brewing methods and the economic impact that coffee has on the regions in which it is grown. We will visit local cafes and pick the brains of local cafe owners and roasters. We will then split off into working groups to improve and optimize our business model we have with the goal of opening our improved cafe the last day of Winter Experience and beyond. Working with Campus Ministry, all money raised will be donated to an organization in need.
Program Dates: January 3 - January 6
Cost: TBD
Cultural
The Civil Rights Tour - This trip will focus on all pillars of the Portrait of a Graduate by highlighting some of the most influential people and places of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s. Students will look at history through a critical lens, visiting Atlanta Georgia, Birmingham, and Montgomery, Alabama. They will immerse themselves in the lives of leaders who led with both integrity and spirituality and championed for equity and justice, while showing and serving others with humility and compassion.
Program Dates: January 2 - January 6
Cost: $1640
Chaperone: Ms. Kazmierczak
Exploremos Puerto Rico - Students will discover Puerto Rico, an island of multitudes through the lens of culture and language. There students will be immersed in Spanish and English spoken side by side. You’ll mingle with locals and see Taíno, Spanish, and U.S. influences converge all at once. And then you’ll see how easily forts and colonial architecture can blend in with modern buildings. When you explore Puerto Rico and its vibrant language and culture, you explore an island of harmonious differences. Enjoy a perfect blend of man-made creations and natural wonders in beautiful San Juan. Behold Spanish colonial architecture as you walk along the stone walls of El Morro. Then, witness the glow of a Phosphorescent Bay during a kayak tour.
Program Dates: January 2 - January 6
Cost: $1900
Chaperone: Mrs. Puntoriero
Quebec & Montreal - Students will broaden their experience of the world by traveling to two world class cities: one is the second largest French speaking city in the world, and the other is one of the most bilingual cities in Canada. Immersing students in a language other than their own is humbling and strengthens their character. Students will learn about the history of the oldest city in North America and the impact of colonialism on the native population, encouraging a broader perspective on the world as we know it. Students will study the history of the local cultures and of religions and visit a local seminary and famous church and will reflect on the similarities and differences of their faith and others’. Students will also learn about local indigenous cultures through interactive lessons on dog sledding, local folk dances and music, and sugar pulling. Students will participate in more experiential learning activities by visiting enormous natural wonders like the Chutes Montmorency and in snowshoeing trails in the historic Plains of Abraham. Finally, students will learn about the ecosystems of North America in the famous Montreal Biodome.
Program Dates: January 2 - January 6
Cost: $2100
Chaperone: Dr. Byczkowski
We’re Talking Proud: Buffalo History - With our rich history in the American Expansion we will explore our beautiful city. Possibilities could include the History Museum, Black Musicians Club, Pierce-Arrow transportation, Darwin Martin & Graycliff, Underground Railroad Heritage Center,, Pegula Sports and Entertainment, Botanical Gardens, and the Basilica. Our young ladies will also experience the social responsibilities of travel and economic planning. There will be connections with Nardin Alumnae during the week. Reflections through student led activities engaged in trivia, kahoots, digital media, and a documentary.
Program Dates: January 3 - January 6
Cost: TBD
Media and Communication
Exploration of Game Shows - This session will allow students to cultivate their knowledge in a number of academic subject areas. The students will do this through playing, hosting, and creating various game shows. The participants will exercise their creative skills by developing their own original show from scratch. Students will also explore behind the scenes facets of television production. By the end of the week, each student will have honed multiple life skills including public speaking, problem solving, and the ability to work as part of a team.
Program Dates: January 3 - January 6
Cost: Free
Ghostly American Literature & Haunted Western New York - Students will study the writings of American horror writers and visit local sources of famous ghost stories, including possibly Rolling Hills Asylum, Iron Island Museum, the Lancaster Opera House, Buffalo Central Terminal, Old Fort Niagara, and the Riviera Theater. Other activities include local escape rooms, examination of the elements of horror literature, guest lectures, film, and students authoring their own ghost stories.
Program Dates: January 3 - January 6
Cost: TBD
Sciences
Ecoadventure Baja California Sur - Participation in this Ecoadventure Winter Experience at Nardin Academy will expose students to a variety of new experiences on many planes. Students will learn and grow as they interact daily with the residents of Baja, immersing themselves in the richness of a different culture, while daring to explore a very different and diverse ecosystem. Working side-by-side, our students will practice newly-acquired skills, prepare communal meals, learn to live with minimal conveniences and comforts of modern life, including tent camping, sunshowers, compost toilets, and to place their trust in others. Students will not only cultivate, but also steward their connectedness.
Program Dates: January 2 - January 8
Cost: $2400
Chaperone: Ms. Kelly
Please click Here to submit your deposit/payment >>>
The Sky’s [not] the Limit - Astronomy is a trip on a time machine with keys to ancient myths, life on earth, and space exploration! Join us to use models, experiments, and crafts to discover your place in space. Then, we will travel back down to earth to explore what drives the weather around the globe and right in our neighborhood through experiments (have you ever made a cloud in a bottle?), drawing (on weather maps!), and games (forecast contest, anyone?). During this experience students will be the forecasters doling out the good, the bad, and the ugly [information on] weather.
Program Dates: January 3 - January 6
Cost: TBD
Service
Something Old, Something New - Off-campus, students will work closely with Journey’s End Refugee Services to learn about the resettlement process and what life is like for refugees. Our on and off-campus focus will be to refurbish and repurpose furniture to help create a home for refugees. We hope to organize the Nardin community in a “Home Again” project to set up a household for a family in need (timing dependent).
Program Dates: January 3 - January 6
Cost: Free