In June 2025, 15 Nobles employees embarked on a 10-day Experiential and Community Engaged Learning (EXCEL) trip to eastern France. Designed exclusively for faculty and staff, the program centered on communal living and learning in Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste, a rural village in the Pyrenees Mountains.
The property features a state-of-the-art pottery studio, art gallery, 12 self-contained apartments, and an outdoor garden. Could a program like this deepen collegial connections and support Nobles’ mission to foster human connection and lifelong discovery?
For Assistant Head of School Steve Ginsberg, the answer came during a three-hour hike in the Pyrenees. As the group walked, science teacher Deb Harrington identified indigenous species, while others reflected on the historic paths Spanish civilians used to flee during the Spanish Civil War. The experience proved energizing and deeply connective.
“Being in the Pyrenees was probably the most powerful professional experience I’ve had,” Ginsberg says. Participants selected focus areas for individual growth, including art, writing, mindfulness/yoga, and cultural or historical exploration. Faculty members led workshops grounded in their expertise.Â
English teacher Gia Batty, who led a journaling workshop, describes the interdisciplinary nature of the trip as especially impactful. “Being a student with my colleagues as my teachers—and learning alongside adults I love, admire, respect, and maybe didn’t know all that well—was amazing.”
She also emphasized the power of stepping away from campus. “Deep thinking in this day and age is an act of resistance,” she says. “Getting people to slow down and look closely is part of what we want to do.”
Director of EXCEL Laura Neubauer says the trip reflects Nobles’ commitment to faculty and staff well-being—an emphasis highlighted in the school’s new strategic plan, which prioritizes “inspiring and transformative professional and personal growth opportunities.”
“This trip demonstrates that the school values experiential learning across the board—for students and adults,” Neubauer says.
She also highlighted the significance of Prats’ geographic and cultural setting. “Prats is a beautiful manifestation of crossroads between different cultures and peoples over time,” she notes. “It’s such an interesting place to study, because even in nearby towns you can literally see the layers of history in the architecture. It’s an important reminder that we are all connected.”
