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Summer Service & Immersion

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Summer Service & Immersion

St. Ignatius of Loyola encouraged all people of faith to "go forth and set the world on fire". Loyola Academy's Summer Service & Immersion program provides students an opportunity to go out into the world and share their gifts with others.

Working with various communities throughout the United States, these five to seven day trips allow students to encounter new perspectives, work for justice and grow in an awareness of what they have to offer others and how to share it generously.

Students participating in these trips will serve in a variety of ways, from home repair and community gardening to visiting the elderly and teaching children. They will build community with their peers and members of the local community throughout the week. They will live simply, being present and focusing on people rather than material things. Through all of this, they will reflect through prayer and conversation on the ways the experience intersects with their faith.

If you have any questions,

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Mr. John Miller 15

Campus Minister

(847) 920-2534

Information and Dates

List of 6 frequently asked questions.

Q. Who is eligible?

All trips are open to junior students going into senior year.

All students must be in good standing with the Principal's Office and Business Office in order to go on a trip.
Q. When and how do I apply?

Registration for the 2024 Summer Service program will open on Monday, December 9, 2024, and remain open until Wednesday, January 29, 2025. At the end of the registration period, all students will be considered and placed at once without priority.

Students must bring a $100 deposit check made payable to Loyola Academy to the Campus Ministry office by January 29, 2025. Applications are not complete and students will not receive a placement until the deposit has been received.

Selection of students for the Kino trip happens outside of the normal admissions process and is based on a written application and interview. If you are interested in applying for the Kino trip, please talk to Mr. Miller in Campus Ministry.
Q. Am I guaranteed a spot?

No, students are not guaranteed a spot on a trip. Every effort will be made to place a student on one of their trip preferences. In order to ensure a chance for everyone to participate however, students may not receive their first choice.

If a student is not placed, he or she will be put on a waiting list and notified if a spot becomes available.
Q. How much does it cost?

The cost is still to be determined and in review. Students can apply for financial assistance as needed. Estimates for each trip are included on this page.
Q. What can I expect to do?

It depends on the trip! Activities on various trips include completing light home repair projects, playing with kids, sharing and preparing meals, and engaging in learning experiences around social justice issues, as well as many other activities. A more detailed description of each trip can be found elsewhere on this page.

Our trips are centered around the values of community, simplicity, prayer, and service.
Q. What else do I need to know?

All students who are placed on a trip must participate in a mandatory call-in meeting on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, to receive more information and next steps. In addition, all students and parents must attend a mandatory information night on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at Loyola Academy. Packing lists and departure and arrival information will be shared at this time along with other valuable information about each student's specific trip.

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2024 Trip Information

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Appalachian Folklife (Overnight)

W1: TBD
W2: TBD

Volunteers will participate in community development projects including helping residents with simple home maintenance and repairs. Students can expect meaningful interactions with the people of West Virginia and nighttime activities that include cultural and educational activities relating to Appalachia.

For more information, please visit Appalachian South Folklife Center website.

Estimated Trip Cost: $TBD

Location: Pipestem, WV
Beacon Place (Not Overnight)

W1: TBD
W2: TBD

Volunteers at Beacon Place will be spending time on site working in a summer tutoring program each morning and summer lunch program in the afternoon. Each summer, children can come to Beacon Place to enjoy a nutritious meal on site, and then stay for an afternoon of traditional ‘day camp’ activities including games, crafts, sports, computers, music, and more. Fresh air and outdoor exercise are an important part of a healthy life for kids and Beacon Place provides a safe place to play and just be a kid.

Estimated Trip Cost: $TBD

Location: Waukegan, IL
Daystar Center (Overnight)

Date TBD

Daystar Community Programs, a partner of Catholic Charities, provides services to residents of Southern Illinois including light home repair and maintenance. Students will also have the opportunity to assist at the Daystar Center food pantry and thrift store. Cairo offers an opportunity for students to reflect on rural communities and the effects of economic change.

For additional information, please visit Daystar Community Programs web page.

Estimated Trip Cost: $TBD

Location: Cairo, IL
Habitat for Humanity (Overnight)

W1: TBD
W2: TBD
W3: TBD

Located among the beautiful bluffs along the Mississippi River, Winona’s Habitat for Humanity offers students a chance to literally build community in a new environment. Habitat provides simple, affordable homes to families in Winona and Fillmore counties. Volunteers will work primarily with the “A Brush With Kindness” program doing painting, landscaping and other simple maintenance improvements. Students will also have the opportunity to explore the local cultural heritage and have fellowship with persons with disabilities and elders.

For additional information, please visit the Habitat for Humanity website or volunteer page.

Estimated Trip Cost: $TBD

Location: Winona, MN
Kino Border Initiative (Overnight)

Date TBD

This trip requires a separate written application and interview. Applications are available here or in the Campus Ministry Office, room 90.

Students will spend the week at the Arizona/Mexico border with the Kino Border Initiative, an organization that offers participants an opportunity to see the reality of migration from multiple perspectives. Trips often include a visit to the women’s shelter, service in the comedor (soup kitchen), Mass and conversation with ranchers in rural Arizona, and a visit to a Tucson immigration court. Students will reflect on the complexity of immigration policy and the essential human dignity of migrants.

For additional information, please visit the Kino Border Initiative website.

Estimated Trip Cost: $TBD

Location: Nogales, AZ
L'Arche Clinton (Overnight)

W1: TBD
W2: TBD

L'Arche Communities are places where people with and without developmental disabilities share life together in communities of faith. L'Arche Clinton in Eastern Iowa will welcome students to their community to serve, share, pray, and celebrate. Students will have the opportunity to build relationships, engage in community activities with residents, provide home maintenance, and reflect on the joys and importance of an inclusive community.

For more information, please visit the L'Arche Clinton website.

Estimated Trip Cost: $TBD

Location: Clinton, IA
Milwaukee Urban Plunge/Casa Romero (Overnight)

W1: TBD
W2: TBD
W3: TBD

Motivated by the integration of faith and justice, the programs and retreats at Casa Romero offer formation and renewal to youth and adults, strengthen families, and build community in the Ignatian tradition.

Casa Romero’s urban plunge experience gives volunteers the opportunity to work on various community service projects and build relationships with the local community. In particular, this week will focus on immigration issues and provide an opportunity for education, reflection, and dialogue.

For more information, visit the Casa Romero Renewal Center website.

Estimated Trip Cost: $TBD

Location: Milwaukee, WI
St. Francis Mission (Overnight)

Date TBD

For this immersion trip, Loyola Academy partners with the Jesuit St. Francis Mission on the Rosebud Reservation. Participants on this trip will assist in running the “Body, Mind, and Soul” camp, a weeklong religious education summer program for children ages 6-14. This program will include Catholic Vacation Bible School curriculum, Lakota teachings and stories, and Mass. Participants will also have the opportunity to serve in the community and assist in mental health awareness programs.

For additional information, please visit St. Francis Mission website.

Estimated Trip Cost: $TBD

Location: Saint Francis, SD
Tau House/Cincinnati Urban Plunge (Overnight)

Date TBD

For this trip, Loyola Academy partners with Franciscans for the Poor in Cincinnati to provide participants with a broad experience of urban life there. Students will serve at various agencies including soup kitchens and elder programs and provide light home repair. Evening reflections will encourage students to make connections to their own urban experience and expand their perspective on its challenges.

Estimated Trip Cost: $TBD

Location: Cincinnati OH