A Taste of Texas: Culture, Music, and History from San Antonio to Austin

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Yeehaw! Get ready to channel your inner cowboy or cowgirl and experience the heart and heritage of the Wild West! In this 4-day Culture Class, based in San Antonio, with a special day trip to Austin, the vibrant capital of Texas. You’ll dive deep into the stories, traditions, and values that shaped the state from cowboy heritage and ranching to live music, art, and state pride.

You’ll explore how cowboy culture shaped the identity of the American West and how it continues to influence Texas today. Learn about the history of ranching, rodeos, and western hospitality while discovering the state’s unique blend of cultures, from Native American and Mexican heritage to Southern and country traditions.

This class isn’t about sitting still — it’s a hands-on cultural adventure! You’ll visit historic landmarks, experience the excitement of a rodeo, visit a local gun range to learn from experts about firearm safety, and the role of gun culture in Texas heritage, sample authentic Texan cuisine, and even learn a few moves on the dance floor. Whether it’s touring The Alamo, strolling along San Antonio’s River Walk, or enjoying live country music in Austin, you’ll gain a true appreciation for the Texas spirit of independence, community, and fun.

Some of our many activities will include:

Touring the famous River Walk in San Antonio and going on a River Cruise
Visiting The Alamo and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Experiencing a real rodeo at Tejas Rodeo Company
Spending half a day at a local Cowboy Ranch, horseback riding, learning how to lasso and more
Visiting The Texas Ranger Museum and The Buckhorn Saloon & Museum
Learning the Texas Two-Step and Line Dance
Browsing the Western wear shops along South Congress Avenue in Austin
Visiting the State Capitol and Bullock Museum in Austin
Exploring food and music venues along famous South Congress Avenue in Austin

Step out of your comfort zone and into the boots of a cowboy for four days!
This class is a unique way to experience Texas culture, history and photography in a hands-on way.

**Make sure you bring comfortable shoes (there will be plenty of walking), weather appropriate clothes, water and of course camera/phone!

Your post-assignments will consist of editing your pictures from the trip to Texas as well as assignments demonstrating your knowledge of The Lone Star State and all the places you visited.

PRICE INCLUDES

Tuition fees.
3 x nights of shared room accommodations at Springhill Suites in Downtown San Antonio, or similar. You will sleep in own bed in a shared room, with 1-2 other au pairs.
3 continental breakfasts.
1 cowboy dinner at a dude ranch
Local transportation costs to and from all activities
All activities including entrance fees to museums and parks.

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

Airfare to/from San Antonio.
Transportation to/from airport.
Lunches or Dinners.
Registration fees (platform and processing fees)

ASSIGNMENTS AND COMPLETION CERTIFICATE

In addition to the in-person meetings, this class will include pre-assignments and post-assignments as part of the 72-hour class.

You will be invited to join Google Classroom about a month before class starts, which is the platform we use for the course. Check your spam folder, as invitations to join Google Classroom sometimes end up there. Please make sure you register for the course with a valid email address, since this is where you will receive the invitation and later, your certificate. Your email has to be Google compatible, so it’s best to use gmail, outlook, hotmail or yahoo. If you do not receive a notification to join Google Classroom, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to contact us.

Pre-assignments will be posted on Google Classroom 3 weeks before class starts. Make sure you join Google Classroom early and complete the assignments BEFORE coming to class. It will take you approximately 18 hours to complete

Follow-up assignments will be posted on Google Classroom on the weekend of class, and also consist of 18 hours. You must complete them in order to receive your course completion certificate. Course completion certificates will be emailed to you, a few days after the class has officially ended. You will have 4 weeks to complete the assignments. If you need your certificate earlier, please indicate it during the registration process and upload proof. The earliest you can receive your certificate is ONE WEEK after in-person portion of class has concluded

Schedule:

DAY 1: 10:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M.
DAY 2: 8:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M.
DAY 3: 9:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.
DAY 4: 8:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance IS MANDATORY all days during the class in Texas. If you are late or leave early, your will risk not receiving your certificate. Please note, that this is a long weekend intensive class and the days are long. Bring comfortable shoes, appropriate clothing, water & snacks. We expect you to come to class rested and ready to participate, learn and have fun!

*** Detailed agenda, schedule and information will be shared soon Google Classroom 2 weeks prior to class start date. All registered students will connect via WhatsApp, giving an opportunity to get to know each other before the trip and make plans to share a taxi from the airport.

$1095 + registration fees | IN-PERSON | 72 Hours (equivalent to 6 credits)

Contact Information

Office of Continuing Education
161 Newkirk Street, Room E504
Jersey City, NJ 07306
(201) 360-4224
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