We Are NATSAP: Article Submitted by Members

For decades, two core initiatives at Valley View School have been international travel and community service. Generations of students have explored the world as part of their Valley View experience and most accumulate impressive community service hours during their time at the school. In recent years, staff have worked to integrate these two pursuits, ensuring that each international trip includes a meaningful service project in the host country.

Last year, the Valley View contingent traveled to Peru. Alongside sightseeing, hiking, and cultural immersion, students participated in a major community service initiative, painting a school in a remote mountain village. Our students also contributed by planting 50 trees across the campus and delivering suitcases filled with school supplies for the children and teachers. Reflecting on the experience, Rhonda Albert, a Valley View clinician who accompanied the trip, shared, “Traveling to Peru with students was unforgettable. Immersing ourselves in their culture, giving back through community service at the local school, and watching our students bond with local children over a shared love of soccer was truly inspiring."

In March 2025, the tradition continues with a trip to Argentina. Extensive preparation ensures that these trips are both smooth and memorable. The itinerary includes a tour of Buenos Aires, visits to Mount Torre’s Valley, the Fitz Roy River, Laguna Capri, Lake Argentino, and an exhilarating glacier hiking experience. A key component of the trip is a community service project organized in collaboration with the La Jagunita Urban Nature Reserve.

Jim Haupt, Clinical Coordinator at Valley View School, is once again leading the trip. Reflecting on his experience, he stated, “I have been fortunate to take 13 international trips with Valley View students. Exposing them to diverse cultures fosters an appreciation for their own opportunities and cultivates compassion for the people we meet along the way.”

Through initiatives like these, Valley View School continues to provide students with transformative experiences that build character, broaden perspectives, and instill a lifelong commitment to service.