Exploring the Heart of NYC through Laguna's Humanities Research Program

TRIP PHOTOS

In March 2024, 12 Upper School students from Laguna Blanca School's Humanities Research Program (HRP) embarked on a journey to New York City, immersing themselves in its rich tapestry of culture, history, and art. This trip not only provided an opportunity for experiential learning as a component of the Urban Studies program, but it fostered meaningful connections with local New Yorkers as well as Laguna alumni, deepening the students' understanding of the arts and humanities.

During their time in New York, students and Faculty Guides Dr. Ashley Tidey, Katie Pointer, and Dana Caldwell facilitated quintessential NYC experiences. Students enjoyed a scenic Circle Line Harbor Lights Boat Tour, which offered breathtaking views of NYC's skyline and landmarks at night, including magical views of the Statue of Liberty from under the Brooklyn Bridge. The Tony-award-winning Broadway show Hadestown provided a captivating retelling of ancient mythology, and a visit to the 9/11 Museum and Memorial offered moving historical insight and an emotional connection to that monumental event. On their excursion to Chelsea, students admired former Laguna Parent Russell Young’s exhibit at the Taglialatella Art Gallery. A spirited visit to Madison Square Garden for a Knicks game, with celebrity sightings of Chris Rock and Edie Falco, added to the fun. 

Exploring diverse neighborhoods allowed the young travelers to delve deeper into NYC's multifaceted cultural landscape. From a stream-of-consciousness tour of Harlem with their beloved tour guide Neal Shoemaker singing on Malcolm X Boulevard to enjoying Chinatown's restaurant scene, each stop provided cultural immersion and an opportunity to learn. Lucy Wang '24's insights into the Mandarin and Cantonese languages over dim sum added depth to the dishes, and Eleanor Crafton '25’s storytelling at the Stonewall Inn about the Stonewall Riots connected back to her English 9 “Arts of Protest” research project. 

When reflecting on her HRP experience, Evie Comis '26 described the NYC trip as an "escape from school within school," emphasizing the program's student-built and teacher-guided format that fosters connections among peers. Peyton Gimbel '26 highlighted the significance of the DTLA and NYC urban studies units, underscoring how these cities serve as hubs for the humanities. “While walking through NYC museums and streets, taking the subway, and observing the life of all kinds of New Yorkers, there was not a single moment where the humanities was not present,” she said. “In the people we talked to while in Washington Square Park (exercising our well-honed ethnography skills), we found so much of our studies in their stories. When education takes that extra step out into the very real and fast-moving world, that's when a student becomes part of something that has meaning and depth.”

Finally, the group had the privilege of meeting with Laguna alumni Jacqueline Richardson '23, Beau Glazier '20, and Mia Humberd-Hilf '20. Beau, who attends NYU, and Mia, who attends Columbia, were both inspired to pursue their college education in NYC after their own New York Urban Studies trip in 2017 with the program. In addition to tours of both campuses, as well as that of Barnard College, the group even had the chance to engage in a lively roundtable panel discussion in a Columbia classroom with Mia, where students were able to ask any and all questions about college life and future career paths. 

By blending experiential learning with academic inquiry, Laguna empowers students to navigate and understand complex urban landscapes in meaningful ways. Explains HRP Coordinator Ashley Tidey, “The joy of these urban studies trips is truly the joy of community. It’s connection and collaboration – between and among the teachers and the students and the people we meet, and remeet. It’s meeting Neal Shoemaker in Harlem in the morning – `welcome to my Harlem’ is the guiding principle of his tours – and then seeing the new generation of Laguna humanities kids meet Mia in a Columbia classroom in the afternoon. We do these things together, and we get our Laguna worlds a little bit exploded – in the best way.”