San Antonio Academy
2026 End-of-Year Culminating Experiences
2026 End-of-Year Culminating Experiences
Posted May 29, 2026
As the school year came to a close, San Antonio Academy held its annual series of End-of-Year Culminating Experiences for each grade. These carefully planned excursions reflect the school's core mission to provide an exceptional education intentionally crafted for boys. Each trip focuses on the unique learning styles of young men while fostering the school's core values of scholarship, leadership, integrity, and brotherhood.
End-of-Year Culminating Experiences are partially underwritten by The Academy Fund. Academy Fund donations make a significant difference at SAA by providing valuable resources and opportunities that turn the expected into the exceptional. Parents can learn more about this vital support by visiting www.sa-academy.org/academyfund.
Read on to learn about each grade's end-of-year experience.
Pre-Kindergarten
Prekindergarten students explored the LEGOLAND Discovery Center San Antonio, where they navigated 10 themed play zones, the local MINILAND exhibit, themed rides, and a 4D cinema. The boys also visited SEA LIFE San Antonio to explore an aquatic world filled with marine animals from local and international waters. This joint excursion combined early education with lessons in ocean conservation.
Kindergarten
The kindergarten boys traveled to Devine Acres Farm for a day that balanced structured learning with outdoor recreation. Students participated in educational sessions focused on seasonal agriculture. Afterward, the boys enjoyed open playtime across the expansive farm grounds, creating shared memories with their peers.
First Grade
First graders spent an active day at Rancho Cortez, experiencing an outdoor itinerary that reinforced school values. The students rode horses, learned basic horsemanship skills, and observed the local ranch environment and animals. Team challenges and cooperative tasks on the grounds helped the boys develop leadership and brotherwood.
Second Grade
Second-grade boys focused on environmental science during a trip to the Meadows Center at Spring Lake, where they examined the lake's highly biodiverse ecosystem. The specialized program taught students the importance of environmental stewardship and habitat protection.
Third Grade
Third graders traveled underground to explore the geological wonders of Longhorn Cavern. Guided by park rangers, the boys investigated karst landscapes, observed unique rock textures, and studied speleothems. The subterranean adventure allowed students to connect classroom earth-science concepts with real physical evidence while building teamwork.
Fourth Grade
The 4th-grade class visited the Science Mill in Johnson City to experience an interactive, technology-based learning environment. Students engaged with cutting-edge exhibits and educational games designed to expand their appreciation for science in everyday life. The trip aimed to ignite curiosity and inspire future academic tracks in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Fifth Grade
Fifth graders traveled to Fredericksburg to tour the National Museum of the Pacific War, located at the boyhood home of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. The boys explored the six-acre historical site, including the Admiral Nimitz Museum inside the old Nimitz Hotel. The exhibits detailed the admiral's naval career as commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet during World War II.
Sixth Grade
Sixth-grade students traveled to Corpus Christi for a two-night overnight stay aboard the USS Lexington, a historic World War II aircraft carrier. The boys explored 11 levels of the massive vessel, which was famously nicknamed the "Blue Ghost." They learned about the immense coordination required to run the ship and listened to accounts of historical kamikaze and torpedo attacks.
Seventh Grade
Seventh graders participated in a multi-day wilderness trip through the rugged desert and river landscapes of Big Bend. Through guided exploration, service learning, and outdoor challenges, the boys deepened their knowledge of ecology and geology. The demanding environment required the boys to practice personal responsibility, ethical decision-making, and teamwork.
Eighth Grade
Eighth graders spent one of their final weeks at The Academy on a comprehensive five-day Grand Classroom journey through the American Southwest. The extensive itinerary featured a community service project in Phoenix, hiking the South Kaibab Trail at the Grand Canyon, and a scenic float trip down the Colorado River. The young men also studied the unique hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, hiked in Zion National Park, and explored the Coral Pink Sand Dunes, all while furthering the lifelong bonds of brotherhood.
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