Immersion Trips

1/21/21 UPDATE: We will NOT be offering any Courts for Kids trips during Summer 2021; however, we hope to partner with them again in Summer 2022. We do plan on offering a Virtual Border Immersion with KBI and a Virtual El Salvador Immersion with CRISPAZ. We will not know about L'Arche Tahoma Hope until later this spring.  

Service immersion trips involve traveling within the United States as well as internationally and are led by Jesuit faculty as well as agency leaders from partner organizations. All Jesuit immersion trips focus on: Social Justice, Spirituality, Solidarity/Community, Simple Lifestyle, and Service.

Border Immersion in Nogales, Mexico & Arizona (Kino Border Initiative)

***VIRTUAL IMMERSION IN 2021***

  • Contact: Ms. Andrea Casey
  • Phone: 503-291-5496
  • Email: acasey@jesuitportland.org 
  • Dates: June 20-26, 2021 
  • Mandatory prep meeting dates: TBA
  • Additional Requirements: Volunteering for 3 evenings in Spring Term Hurtado Center, dates TBD (weekday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 pm) and committing to follow-up advocacy/action after the immersion.
  • KBI website: https://www.kinoborderinitiative.org/

The Border Immersion is designed to provide an opportunity for students to learn about the issue of immigration and the culture of rural communities near Nogales, AZ and Nogales, Mexico. The emphasis is on building bridges of friendship and cross-cultural understanding with the places where we work. Students work with staff and community volunteers. The KINO Border Initiative, a ministry of the US West Province of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits) will be our host. Students stay on the US side of the border but cross daily into Nogales, Mexico. As part of preparation for the immersion students will be expected to serve at Jesuit’s Hurtado Center for three evenings prior to departure (weekday evenings at Jesuit from 7:00 to 9:00 pm).

Applications are available outside the Arrupe Center in mid-February.

Courts for Kids

  • Contact: Ms. Selene Nesland
  • Phone: 360-499-2185
  • Email: selene@courtsforkids.org
  • Dates: Summer 2022 (No JHS trips during Summer 2021)
  • Mandatory prep meeting dates: TBA
  • Mailing Address: PO Box 873786, Vancouver, WA 98687
  • Website: http://courtsforkids.org/

Courts for Kids’ mission is “to foster love, compassion, service, and an expanding worldview by taking groups to economically disadvantaged areas, partnering with local organizations and community members to build courts which will provide kids with the opportunity to play sports.” Please note mandatory prep meeting dates. If a student is unable to make the preparation meetings, then that student is not eligible to participate in the program.

Applications are available outside the Arrupe Center in mid-February.

El Salvador "E-mersion" (CRISPAZ)

  • Contact: Ms. Andrea Casey
  • Phone: 503-291-5469
  • Email: acasey@jesuitportland.org
  • Dates: TBA
  • Website: https://www.crispaz.org/

CRISPAZ is a faith-based organization dedicated to building bridges of solidarity between the Church of the poor and marginalized communities in El Salvador and communities in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and other countries through mutual accompaniment. CRISPAZ is politically non-partisan, committed to non-violence, and supportive of the faith journeys of one another. The goals of this virtual immersion program are for the student to:  

  • Draw closer to the people of El Salvador.
  • Come to view oneself as a global citizen.
  • Make social justice an integral part of one’s outlook on life.
  • Develop a basic understanding of the relationship between El Salvador and the student's home community.
  • Find concrete ways to be in solidarity with marginalized people in El Salvador & home communities.

Portland Plunge (JOIN: Connecting the street to a home)

The Plunge is a week-long service learning experience facilitated by JOIN that is designed to provide high school students exposure to issues such as homelessness, poverty, barriers preventing people from getting the support they need, and cultural differences. During the week, you will have volunteer experiences working in agencies such as St. Francis Dining Hall, Blanchet House, and many others. Student will stay in a facility in Southeast Portland with 25 other youth and an adult staff. The emphasis of this community will be reflection, discussion, simple living, service, and recreation. A qualified staff will assure a safe and meaningful experience.

Applications are available outside the Arrupe Center in March or April.

Tacoma Immersion (L’Arche Tahoma Hope)

  • Contact: Ms. Andrea Casey
  • Phone: 503-291-5496
  • Email: acasey@jesuitportland.org
  • Dates: TBA (NOTE: AT THIS POINT, WE ARE UNSURE IF WE WILL BE ABLE TO OFFER THIS IMMERSION DURING SUMMER 2021)
  • Student Prep Meetings: TBA
    • Parent & Student Meeting: TBA (student + one parent/guardian must attend) 
    • Student Prep Meeting #2: TBA
    • Student Prep Meeting #3: TBA
  • Organization website: http://www.larchethc.org/

This Northwest based immersion allows students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the day to day life of the L'Arche Tacoma community. L'Arche has communities all over the world where people with and without intellectual disabilities live together as a family. Founded in 1964, L'Arche communities bear witness to the reality that persons with intellectual disabilities possess inherent qualities of welcome, wonderment, spirituality, and friendship. L’Arche makes explicit the dignity of every human being by building inclusive communities of faith and friendship where people with and without intellectual disabilities share life together. The Jesuit group stays at the L'Arche Tacoma Welcome Center, just a short walk from their community farm.

Applications are available outside the Arrupe Center in mid-February.