Palmer Trinity School has made a commitment to experiential education, domestic and global travel - including language, culture, service and adventure travel. Palmer Trinity School has taken the urgent responsibility to prepare students for their life and work as citizens-and leaders- in a global world. Global Education, therefore, is not an option. The School has certain starting advantages:
- We are situated in multicultural Miami, and that is reflected in our student body – many of them bilingual and trilingual, and in our faculty.
- We are a founding member of the Institute for Global Learning, a national institution of independent schools that have leading global programs. In the spring of 2015, PTS hosted the IGL International Conference with 200 participating schools from around the world.
2025-2026 Travel Experiences
The following is a list of travel experiences available to students during the 2025-2026 school year. Any proposed Travel Experience may be canceled or postponed or changed for reasons of safety of our students and faculty.
Winter Break 2026
| Dates | February 13 - February 21 |
|---|---|
| Grades | Grades 9-12 |
| Travel Leader | Susy Chu |
Spring Break 2026
| Dates | March 22 - March 28 |
|---|---|
| Grades | Grades 6-8 |
| Travel Leader | Natalia Zurcher |
| Dates | March 21 - March 28 |
|---|---|
| Grades | Grades 9-12 |
| Travel Leader | Leo Llinas |
| Dates | March 21 - March 28 |
|---|---|
| Grades | Grades 9-12 |
| Travel Leader | Laura Massa |
Summer 2026
| Dates | June 8 - June 17 |
|---|---|
| Grades | Grades 8-9 |
| Travel Leader | Catherine Hammons |
Duke of Edinburgh Award
Every year, the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) inspires hundreds of thousands of young people from all backgrounds to explore who they are, build confidence, and develop the skills they need to navigate life successfully. DofE empowers them to believe in themselves, encouraging them to take on personal challenges, pursue their passions, and uncover talents they never knew they had. The DofE is delivered through schools, colleges, community organizations, hospitals, prisons, and more—both across the UK and internationally.
The DofE is open to all young people aged 14–24. Participants create their own programme, selecting activities and a cause to volunteer for. The Award is offered at three levels—Bronze, Silver, and Gold—each increasing in challenge and duration. The levels differ primarily in the minimum time required to complete the programme, the degree of difficulty, and the minimum starting age. A DofE programme consists of four main sections: Volunteering, Physical, Skills, and Expedition. At the Gold level, participants also take part in a Residential section.
PTS Study Away Programs
Palmer Trinity offers students the opportunity to study abroad in Sydney, Australia and Madrid, Spain. In 2007 our first exchange began with Abbotsleigh School and in 2023 we added St. Catherine's School to our exchange network. In 2019, our Spanish partner moved to Colegio Liceo Sorolla in Madrid.
The curriculum of these three schools matches well with our academic program. United States colleges and universities have looked favorably upon our students who have studied abroad. The experience has been life-changing for many of our students. It has produced life-long friendships and a greater global perspective on many issues. Students selected for the programs are away the second semester of Year 9 and 10. The programs are competitive.
Round Square Exchange
Through our partnership with Round Square, Palmer Trinity is able to offer multiple exchanges with our Round Square Schools. These programs are six weeks long. They are reciprocal so families must be able to host in order to be able to participate.
Learn more about Partner Schools
- The only cost of the Study Away Porgram is the airline ticket to Spain, or Australia. Students will live with a family chosen by the international school. The schools have an intense interview process to make sure the families are acceptable. The family will have children of the same age attending the international school your child will attend. By paying Palmer Trinity’s tuition, you have paid the tuition at the school in Australia, or Spain, so there are no extra tuition costs. Of course, incidentals must be paid by PTS parents such as normal spending money for weekends.
- Palmer Trinity also has relationships with The Alzar School in Idaho and Chile, and CITYTerm in New York City. These programs are for sophomores and juniors. Both programs have their own application process, and their own tuition and fees scales, and are not covered by the Palmer Trinity School tuition. However, each school does offer financial assistance. Please visit these schools' websites and contact them during the student's freshman year for admission during the second semester of sophomore year.
Nestled along the scenic Lahn River in the historic university town of Marburg, Steinmühle School is an idyllically situated, state-of-the-art boarding school with a prestigious and highly sought-after private academic program. Its expansive campus features residential houses, athletic facilities, rowing and riding programs, tennis courts, and a wide range of recreational spaces.
Steinmühle is known for its holistic approach to education, creating an environment where students are encouraged to become independent, responsible, and fulfilled individuals. The school emphasizes emotional and intellectual growth while fostering meaningful connections with others and the natural world. An exchange to Steinmühle offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves in German culture while learning in a dynamic international setting.
Recognized as “Boarding School of the Year” by the prestigious Times Educational Supplement, Felsted School is one of England’s premier independent schools. Located on a picturesque 90-acre campus in North Essex, just one hour from London and Cambridge, Felsted combines centuries of tradition with modern innovation.
With a history spanning more than 460 years, Felsted offers small class sizes, individualized attention, and a vibrant boarding experience. Students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning, discover new interests, and pursue their passions in a supportive and inspiring environment. Through this exchange, Palmer Trinity students can experience British school life while exploring the rich history and culture of England.
Felsted also offers an outstanding summer program for students ages 11–17, with options for two- or four-week sessions. This is a wonderful opportunity for students seeking a shorter international experience while building global connections, independence, and confidence in a world-class setting.
Located on 22 hectares of beautiful grounds in the western suburbs of Perth, Scotch College is one of Australia’s leading independent boys’ schools. Known for its strong sense of community and tradition, Scotch offers students a broad and balanced educational experience.
The school is committed to nurturing each boy’s unique talents and interests while promoting excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, and character development. Education at Scotch extends beyond the classroom, focusing equally on intellectual, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual growth. This exchange provides a remarkable opportunity for students to experience Australian culture and life in one of the world’s most vibrant cities.
The official mission of the school is: to educate and facilitate the leadership development of high school students. That mission statement might be summed up as “The Alzar School is trying to mold the next generation of leaders, the people that will go out there and make significant change in the world.”
The Alzar School is helping to fill the leadership void. The world needs more leaders to tackle the social and environmental issues. Many students think that the point of an education is to prepare them for a job, to make a living, or for more education (college, med school, etc). We believe that students can be expected to do more, that education is meant to prepare you to make the world a better place. We know that our students will be well-prepared for university challenges and that they will be able to make a living in a career of their choice. They will be able to achieve these things and have the leadership skills to direct their energy and talents toward improving their local communities and confronting the global issues that they are passionate about.
The Island School in Eleuthera, Bahamas offers a transformative educational summer journey. Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from around the world may apply. With the campus and surrounding ocean as laboratories, the School partners with a world-class science research facility. The Island School Summer Term is a 30-day intensive program from June 28th to July 28th that focuses on questioning what it means to live well in a place. Through a rigorous course of study that includes field work in local ecosystems, explorations of local settlements and the socioeconomic impacts of development, and dynamic involvement in the systems and resources upon which we rely, Summer Term students grapple with how communities – whether on an island in The Bahamas or in a town in the States – can live most sustainably.
