With pristine white beaches, clear blue water, and snaking rivers in the Amazon, Brazil is much more than its iconic rainforest. It’s a country with a rich history, varying landscapes, and a mixture of cultures.

Calgary Academy’s International Travel Studies (ITS) club recently journeyed to the country for the first time in its 20-year history. While this year’s trips had several unforgettable moments, the true value of ITS comes from the lessons learned along the way.

From Rio to the Amazon

This year, ITS travelled through Brazil in two groups by plane, boat, and bus, stopping in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and a lodge in the Amazon Rainforest—approximately 170 km from the nearest city, Manaus.

Exploring the coastal region of Brazil featured a deep dive into Brazil’s food culture, architecture, and local history in Rio, such as visiting Sugarloaf Mountain and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Christ the Redeemer. The students also enjoyed a visit to Búzios, a trip highlight for many of the travellers.

In the Amazon near Manaus, students and staff learned about the Indigenous peoples of Brazil, experienced the fauna and flora of the rainforest and completed the main goal of the trip: a multi-day altruistic project to support the local community.

The students assisted in building a community centre for those living along the Amazon River, handing supplies to lodge workers, installing a bug screen for the building’s windows, and painting the structure’s base.

After the project was completed, the local community was invited to the project site to celebrate, spend time with the students, and receive donated goods from ITS, including soccer balls and jerseys, school supplies, and small toys.

For students like Myles H., the highlight of the 12-day trip was seeing the smiling faces of the local children and spending a day playing soccer and volleyball.

“Helping out the children was definitely the best part. Giving them school supplies and spending a day with them was great.” – Myles H.

Resiliency and Identity

While breathtaking views and exotic locations are certainly a selling point of ITS, many students arrive home having learned something new about themselves.

Travel can be smooth sailing or choppy waters—flight delays, poor weather, or illness can happen even when everyone feels prepared. However, embracing the natural nerves and anxiety that come with travel can help students step out of their comfort zones and grow as individuals.

Senior School teacher and one of this year’s trip leads, Roberta Rudin, says that her favourite part of ITS is seeing the students embrace new, sometimes uncomfortable experiences, whatever that may be for them.

“My favourite thing about ITS is seeing students step out of their comfort zones and try many things they believe they can’t or don’t want to do. Whether that be different foods, activities, or altruistic events… While on these trips, students try, and if they are unsuccessful, they try again.”

These experiences can give students a new appreciation for life at home. Myles remembers joining ITS for the first time this school year after being encouraged by his parents. Having never left the continent, he saw the trip as a chance to see a new part of the world with his friends.

Now back in Canada, he looks forward to signing up for next year’s trip, no matter where it takes him.

“I don’t even care where ITS goes or who goes on the trip. I just want to go again because it was a really cool and fun experience.”

Ecuador, Tanzania, and now Brazil—ITS has travelled to over 10 countries across the globe for 20 years. While each year’s trip is different, the students make many memories they can fondly reflect on. Ms. Rudin notes that the bonds students make with each other throughout the trips are exceptional.

“What the community doesn’t see are the strong bonds that the group creates within themselves and the amazing empathy, sharing, support of each other, and personal growth that happens. I am so proud of our group this year because of our bond—it made my job easy and enjoyable.” – Ms. Rudin

With the 2026 destinations for ITS being announced next month, learn more about how ITS helps make a local and global impact.