Students Without Borders Academy (SWBA)

For grade 11 and 12 students.  

SWBA Applications for 2026/27 will open in OCTOBER, with an application deadline of March 10th, 2026.

Students Without Borders Academy (SWBA) works with students interested in an exciting learning adventure. Step out from behind the desk and spend a full semester building deep friendships while connecting with meaningful learning.

SWBA is a full semester experience-based leadership program for grade 11/12 students of BC, hosted at Kalamalka Secondary School, Vernon BC.

Explore this page – then click the links below to apply:

Students Without Borders Academy designed to provide a 21st-century perspective

Education is changing. The world for which we are preparing students today is fundamentally different from the one many of us experienced growing up. Today’s societies are marked by new global economic, cultural, technological, and environmental trends that are part of a rapid and uneven wave of globalization. The Students Without Borders Academy addresses these changes and prepares students for the challenges of change ahead.  

SWBA sees lasting education as a passionate journey towards a purpose-driven life with safer communities and more inclusive societies. We believe in education where success is defined beyond grades and exams, and the unknown and failure are embraced as an integral part of the learning experience. We imagine learning spaces that generate love, justice & equality – the core building blocks of a peaceful and sustainable world.

Check out these VIDEO links:

SWBA Week 1

SWBA in Kuna Yala

Panama Travel

Panama 2023

SWBA on FaceBook

Students will complete all requirements for five courses:

1. Intro to Spanish or Spanish 11

2. Leadership 11 or 12

3.  Social Justice 12 or Social Studies 11

4.  Comparative Cultures 12

5.  English First Peoples Literary Studies 11/12 (Satisfying the new Grad requirements)

THERE ARE NO ONLINE COURSES IN THE PROGRAM.

All courses are completed in the classroom with field study supplements.

The following are some of the typical OUT OF CLASSROOM adventures and highlights of the SWBA semester:

• Initiation/Bootcamp at a nearby camp
• Weekly connection with local community agencies – becoming community builders
• World-renowned guest speakers through UBC and others
• 5-week field study/odyssey to Panama Central America
  • 1-week homestay in a small fishing village
  • Local artisan lessons
  • Sailing  the Pearl Islands on a 90' Ketch
  • Jungle lodge adventure at ITEC Panama
  • surfing in the Pacific / Scuba in the Caribbean
  • Turtle Hatchery Vigil – Green Sea Turtles
  • Coral Reef Ecology with the Smithsonian Institute
  • Coffee/Chocolate/Banana Fair Trade Tours
  • So Much More……

ALSO: SWBA facilitates enjoyable employment (through a local business) for students looking for work to help pay for SWBA fees. bursaries are also available for students who qualify.

COSTS FOR THE ENTIRE SEMESTER: $5,900. (Don't let this keep you from applying)

WHAT RECENT STUDENTS ARE SAYING…

• “We started as strangers and left as a family”
• “Challenging in the classroom and even more challenging in the field”
•  “There is no better way to get ready for our changing world”
• “A whole new way of learning – deep learning”
• “The program was worth every penny – even before the field study in Panama”

WHAT RECENT PARENTS ARE SAYING…

• “My daughter was inspired to make a difference in the very first week”
• “I saw fundamental changes in the way my child looks at the world”
• “We were included in the process and informed all along the way”
• “My son looks forward to going to school like never before”
• “The program is not to be missed – outstanding from start to finish.”

Email Questions to Dave Fehr

WHAT SWBA ALUMNI ARE SAYING…

• SWBA has undoubtedly been the best decision of my life to date. Many people perceive SWBA as 'that program where you go to Panama'... this is true, yet it is so much more than that. Not only did the lessons and hands-on experiences provided by this program both challenge and change me as a person, but I also walked away with an irreplaceable set of experiences and friendships that have each contributed to shaping me into a better leader, critical thinker, communicator, and collaborator. This program has expanded my awareness (both of self and the surrounding world) immensely, and though it has been close to three years since I undertook SWBA as a student, I still reflect on my experiences daily. If you are on the fence about whether or not to apply for SWBA, I highly recommend that you do.
• An incredible program that shaped and inspired me in more ways than I can count. 4 years later, I continue to see how the values and skills I developed in SWBA have guided nearly everything I do. Above all this simple question Fehr often asked has stuck with me: “How shall you so then live?” I continue to ask myself often how what I see, what I know, and what I believe impacts the way I choose to live. Thank you, Mr Fehr!!!
• I can’t recommend SWBA enough, it is an incredibly unique experience & will teach you so many lessons that simply can’t be taught in a typical classroom. SWBA challenges you to grow in leadership, teamwork, and personal development, & helps you to gain a greater perspective of the world around you. You’ll have 23 amazing new friends and make tons & tons of hilarious, transformative, and unforgettable memories. Apply apply apply!!!!
• It's been 6 years since I did this program and I strongly believe that it has had a major influence on who I am today. I am so thankful for it and the impact it's had on my life!

What are people saying?

“I can only say that it truly is life-changing. It helped my daughter grow in many ways and tremendously impacted her learning. Not just about ‘school stuff’ but about life. The world. Herself. Her goals. Her focus. Her patience. Her empathy. Her communication. Her decision making. Her dreams. The skills learnt in SWBA go beyond the classroom, they are with them for life.   I recommend this program 100,000,000 times over.”  - SWBA Parent

"As a Naturalist Guide with more than 20 years of experience leading student groups in the tropics, I can comfortably say that Dave Fehr's Students Without Borders program is the most complete, engaging, and meaningful program for high school students I have ever had the pleasure to work with. Highly recommended!" - Christian Gernez, ISTHMIAN ADVENTURES

"A very awesome program! This is the best group of students that we have ever had at ITEC. I truly wish that every group that comes to ITEC could be as wonderful to work with as SWBA. I would recommend this program to anyone!" - Joe Maher ITEC (Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation).

CORE COMPETENCIES: The Students Without Borders Academy promotes a set of fifteen core competencies that students need to develop for living in sustainable, joyful communities—the ability to:

Head (Cognitive)

• Approach issues and situations from a systems perspective
• Understand fundamental ecological principles
• Think critically, solve problems creatively, and apply knowledge to new situations
• Assess the impacts and ethical effects of human technologies and actions
• Envision the long-term consequences of decisions

Hands (Active)

• Create and use tools, objects, and procedures required by sustainable communities
• Turn convictions into practical and effective action, and apply ecological knowledge.
• Assess and adjust uses of energy and resources

Heart (Emotional)

• Feel concern, empathy, and respect for other people and living things
• See from and appreciate multiple perspectives; work with and value others with different backgrounds, motivations, and intentions
• Commit to equity, justice, inclusivity, and respect for all people

Spirit (Connectional)

• Experience wonder and awe toward nature
• Revere the Earth and all living things
• Feel a strong bond with and deep appreciation of place
• Feel kinship with the natural world and invoke that feeling in others.

Total cost for the semester, including a 5-week field study, may vary slightly based on airfare, the Canadian dollar, fundraising success, and locations of the trip. See the current application for cost details.

We fundraise as a team, for the team, to help finance our projects/field studies. We typically raise between $9,000 – $11,000.

Students are encouraged to discuss the Field Study Fee with their parents and come up with a realistic earning and savings plan before they apply for the program. Once students have been accepted into the program, a deposit of $500.00 will be required. This money will be held by SD22 in trust, on behalf of each student. The remainder of the fees is payable by monthly post-dated checks. Please make cheques out to Kalamalka School and date them for the 1st or 16th of the selected month. We can discuss other payment options upon acceptance.