IMPACT EXCHANGE 2024 Pathways

Pick Your Pathway and Join Us April 19th-21st!

Aloha mai kākou! Le Jardin Academy is thrilled to be the host of the inaugural International School Theatre Association (ISTA) ensemble experience in Hawaii, which will run concurrently with our annual Common Ground Summit (CGS). These two extraordinary events amplify student voices, encourage intercultural exchange, and inform templates of lasting impact. Against the backdrop of the stunning Kawainui Marsh, a RAMSAR wetland of international importance just 500 feet from Le Jardin’s campus, we will delve into the transformative power of storytelling, collaborative learning, shared work and joyful play in order to cultivate the skill of “tuning into community” for positive change.

Please join us this April 19-21st in an unparalleled opportunity to learn and grow through theater arts or environmental stewardship, under the guidance of experts in the field and in collaboration with like-minded young people. The ISTA experience and Common Ground Summit in Hawai‘i promises to be immersive and transformative, where the universal languages of theater and stewardship converge with the unique spirit of the islands.

Learn more about each pathway and register at the links below.

THE COMMON GROUND SUMMIT

The Common Ground Summit was launched in 2018 when students on the LJA Wild Kids Stewardship Council were selected to host the first ever IUCN Youth Summit in conjunction with the Global Issues Network (GIN), welcoming over 250 participants from 11 different countries to campus. The focus for the first summit was on water, a shared and precious resource. Inspired by this opportunity to lead the changemaking charge, students have continued to organize an annual Common Ground Summit, firmly rooted in the belief that despite barriers born of economic, cultural, religious, language and other social differences, we have a common ground that can unite us: our planet. The Wild Kids Stewardship Council utilizes shared work, play and learning as an opportunity to form relationships and develop lifelong allies in creating a more peaceful and sustainable world for us all.

Students who opt for the Common Ground Summit pathway for engagement will get to camp on campus, work with local farmers, engage in workshops related to sustainable agriculture, hang out around the campfire, and play an epic game of nighttime capture the flag.

THe ISTA ENSEMBLE EXPERIENCE

The ISTA ensemble experience offers a unique fusion of theater skills and place-based storytelling centered around Kawainui and the ancestors, both human and non-human, who have cared for this community. Participants will embark on a journey to explore the mo’olelo of Hauwahine, the revered guardian of Kawainui, and the profound mana’o she shared with the people of Ko’olaupoko. As we gather on this cultural and ecological tapestry, attendees will have the privilege of immersing themselves in the rich traditions of Hawai‘i, experiencing oli (Hawaiian chant) and listening to kūpuna narrate the captivating story of Hauwahine.

Beyond the artistic exploration, all participants will actively engage in restoration work, connecting with the ʻāina (land) and embodying the festival's theme of “tuning into community.” In Hawaii, community refers to both humans and non-humans, and hana pono (good work) is what holds a community together.

The ISTA pathway for engagement is open to all students; no background in theater is required. Visiting artist, Malina Patel and local artist, Anne Yoshida facilitate the ensemble work with the additional support of Le Jardin’s drama teachers, R. Kevin Doyle and Walt Gaines, as well as LJA’s Dean of Experiential Education in the Primary, Josh Masagatani.