World Class Climbing Academy | Program

PROGRAM

2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR

PROGRAM

2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR

2024-2025 Destinations

South Africa / Spain / Turkey / Italy

Fall 2024: South Africa / Spain

August 25, 2024 - December 14, 2024

  • Flag-South-Africa

    Q1 South Africa

  • Spain Flag

    Q2 Spain

Spring 2025: Turkey / Italy

January 19, 2025 - May 10, 2025

  • turkish flag correct proportions vector

    Q3 Turkey

  • 255px-Flag_of_Italy.svg

    Q4 Italy

2025-2026 Destinations

South Africa / Greece / Spain / Australia

Fall 2025: South Africa / Greece

August 24, 2025 - December 13, 2025

  • Flag-South-Africa

    Q1 South Africa

  • greek flag

    Q2 Greece

Spring 2026: Spain / Australia

January 18, 2026 - May 9, 2026

  • Spain Flag

    Q3 Spain

  • Flag-Australia

    Q4 Australia

2024-2025 Schedule

Fall Semester 2024: South Africa / Spain

August 25, 2024 - December 14, 2024

  • August 25

    Students and staff arrive in South Africa

  • August 26

    Student orientation

  • August 27 - October 4

    Quarter 1: South Africa - Rocklands

  • October 5

    Students and staff depart for fall break

  • October 6 - October 26

    Fall break

  • October 27

    Students and staff arrive in Spain

  • October 28 - December 13

    Quarter 2: Spain

  • December 14

    Depart for winter break

Spring Semester 2025: Turkey / Italy

January 19, 2025 - May 10, 2025

  • January 19

    Students and staff arrive in Antalya, Turkey

  • January 20 - March 7

    Quarter 3

  • March 8

    Students and staff depart for spring break

  • March 9 - March 29

    Spring break

  • March 30

    Students and staff arrive in Arco, Italy

  • March 31 - May 9

    Quarter 4

  • May 10

    Graduation

2025-2026 Schedule

Fall Semester 2025: South Africa / Greece

August 24, 2025 - December 13, 2025

  • August 24

    Students and staff arrive in Cape Town, South Africa

  • August 25

    Student orientation

  • August 25 - October 4

    Quarter 1: Rocklands, South Africa

  • October 4

    Students and staff depart for fall break

  • October 5 - October 27

    Fall break

  • October 28

    Students and staff arrive in Athens

  • October 29 - December 12

    Quarter 2: Greece

  • December 13

    Depart for winter break

Spring Semester 2026: Spain / Australia

January 18, 2026 - May 9, 2026

  • January 18

    Students and staff arrive in Barcelona, Spain

  • January 19 - February 27

    Quarter 3

  • February 28

    Students and staff depart for spring break

  • March 1 - March 21

    Spring break

  • March 22

    Students and staff arrive

  • March 30 - May 8

    Quarter 4

  • May 9

    Graduation

Food and Lodging

Food

The World Class team eats a variety of foods-- dependent primarily on the current destination.  While abroad, the program will either cook or eat food prepared for us in restaurants or by hired chefs. We will eat Tajine in Morocco, Paella in Spain, Baklava in Greece-- wherever in the world we are at, eating is an extension of the cultural experience. While in the United States, students and staff rotate between cooking responsibilities using our own cooking equipment. World Class Academy caters to any dietary needs and promotes healthy food choices. We always offer vegetarian options at meals and can cater to vegan and gluten-free diets as well. It is important while training that students eat well-rounded, nutritious meals. Students and staff help with shopping trips, cooking, and clean-up duty when preparing meals for the group. Cooking and eating well are two of the many life lessons that students take home from a semester with World Class Academy.

Lodging

While traveling both internationally and within the United States, the program looks for comfortable accommodations close to climbing. During our time abroad, accommodations usually include cabins, lodges, and hostels. When in the U.S., the program will usually stay at large rental houses, hostels, or campgrounds. Lodging varies depending on where in the world we are.

Our Faculty

World Class Academy relies on dedicated faculty who are professionals in the art of teaching, coaching, and outdoor leadership.

Drew Lefkowith

Head of School
AP Human Geography, Government, and World Literature

BME and BM, emphasis saxophone, from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music
Pursuing Masters of Outdoor Education Leadership from Prescott College

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Lohan Lizin

Head Coach
AP Calculus and Spanish

B.S. in Mathematics — Young Harris College.

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Dana Trumpower

Program Director
Algebra II, Environmental Science, and French Immersion

B.A. in French and Geography, Minor in Environmental Science – UNC-Chapel Hill
Masters in Secondary Education (M.Ed.) – Portland State University

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Marcos Fernandez

Teacher
Media Productions and Pre Calculus

B.S Geology Northland College M.A.T AMNH RGGS

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Rebecca Cairney

Teacher
Biology and History of the Americas

undergraduate degree in International Development from the University of Guelph

B.Ed. from the University of British Columbia

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Miller Scott

Teacher
Economics, Government, and World Literature

BS in Political Science from Texas Tech University

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Sophie Pollack

Teacher
Comparative Literature and Literature of the Americas

B.A. in Humanities

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Carter Percy

Teacher
Algebra II, Physics, and Spanish

BS Plant Biology conc. Plant Ecology – University of Georgia
MA Teaching – Valdosta State University

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Mentor Groups

Mentor Groups

Each student enrolled in World Class Academy will be assigned to a teacher who will act as a mentor during the semester. With their mentors, students are encouraged to reflect regularly on their growth as athletes, students, and human beings. With their mentor group, students collaborate to provide meals for their peers, maintain living areas, and provide general support to each other.

Mentoring and the development of life skills happen on many levels at WCA. Through these processes, students develop an understanding of themselves, their place in the community, and their capacity to continue growing and learning.

Throughout the semester, mentors send weekly updates to individual parents on the progress of their son/daughter in the program. These updates lay the foundation for regular communication between parents, students, staff, and admin. Updates include specific details on progress in academics, athletics, and character building.

Supervision

World Class Academy often feels like a family, and students are with staff 24 hours a day. From morning until night, teachers guide students through daily activities and help them thrive while in the World Class environment. Students and parents should be aware that World Class has a zero-tolerance policy with respect to drug and alcohol use. Any student believed to be using or in possession of prohibited substances will be held to the stipulations of the Honor Contract, which each student signs before being accepted into the program.

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