In May 2011, 12 teams of Lauder students recently participated in a new course in Central America called “Culture Quest.” This student-led, 10-day, self-guided cultural immersion experience consisted of 4-person teams who “raced” from Tikal, Guatemala, to Panama City, Panama, using only public transportation. Along with required readings and lectures on the region’s history and current events, course participants had to compete in a scavenger-hunt style contest by collecting points for activities such as interviewing local government officials, attending a local wedding, visiting a land-fill, learning a local musical instrument or advising small local businesses. The Lauder students’ journey through this region presented a unique way to experience multiple foreign cultures in a short period of time while allowing them to refine their leadership and team-building skills.
The Joseph H. Lauder Institute
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