Cultural Excursions

Required program excursions are designed to compliment the academic work students are engaged with in the borderlands. The Spring 2009 excursions included a trip to Altar, Sonora, several trips to Nogales, Sonora, and a trip to San Diego, California.

The excursions are a very important part of the learning process about life on the Border. The trips are intended to enhance students understanding about the border, and to take advantage of the natural beauty.

The weekend trip to the town of Altar, Sonora is significant as Altar is a very important staging point on the migrant trail.  Migrants from throughout Mexico and Central America come to Altar to connect with a coyote, purchase supplies and prepare for their journey north.  This excursion may include a night in the desert and a night at a migrant shelter in Altar.  The excursion is designed to give students a deeper look at a very important place along the migrant trail. This excursion may also include day-long service projects or opportunities to collaborate with activist groups.

The second required excursion is to a site in the interior of Mexico.  In 2007 and 2008 this trip was to Mexico City.  The goal of the trip to Mexico City is to familiarize students with Mexican history and culture as well as learn about the human rights work carried out by Mexican organizations on a national level.  Students will have some free time during this excursion to “be” tourists in Mexico City. 

The third excursion of the fall semester is to a comparative location on the US-Mexico border. In 2008 this excursion was to El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. The goal of this excursion is to provide students with a window into a different border reality than that which they will live in the southern Arizona borderlands. This trip may include visits with academics, activists, and government officials.  This excursion may also include day-long service projects or opportunities to collaborate with activist groups.

Program staff sometimes arranges optional excursions to important historical/cultural sites and areas of natural beauty. These excursions are optional and students may be asked to pay some of their own expenses.

Students also have the opportunity to attend local events during the fall semester, which include La Fiesta de San Augustin, Norteño Music Festival, Sonoita Labor Day Rodeo, the Mexican Independence Day Celebration, All Souls Procession, Dia de los Muertos, as well as many social and cultural events at the University of Arizona.