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A coed, independent, Episcopal day school in Tampa, Florida, educating students in pre-k through twelfth grade

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Dominican Republic: Health Science Service Trip

Saturday, February 14 to Wednesday, February 18, 2026

 

Berkeley’s Upper Division has partnered with the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to providing education, community development, and health care to the people of the Dominican Republic. This trip seeks to help people in the Dominican Republic by offering eye exams and, if necessary, providing the appropriate corrective lenses to help them see more clearly. You will assist a group of optometrists and ophthalmologists from the Tampa Bay area, working for three extensive days as they see hundreds of patients. Training sessions are required before the trip. The trip will occur from Saturday, February 14 to Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and all Upper Division students are eligible to apply.

 

While this trip runs with the Middle Division Dominican Republic trip, the Upper Division work will differ significantly. The groups will fly down together and stay in the same hotel. Both groups will be working in and around the city of Bonao. The Upper Division group will have a separate chaperone and ground transportation while in the country. Both groups will fly home together. Students will miss one day of school as this trip takes place during a four-day weekend in observance of Presidents’ Day.

 

Cost: $2,250 per person (maximum of 12 participants)

 

Hotel Accomodations:

Hodelpa Garden Court Hotel

1 Santiago De Los Caballeros 51000, Dominican Republic

BPS Crest

Tentative Itinerary:

 

Saturday, February 14:

You will fly down to the Dominican Republic and get settled into your hotel.

 

Sunday, February 15 to Tuesday, February 17:

You will have breakfast at the hotel. You will then be shuttled via a chartered bus from Santiago to your destination near Bonao. Typically, one day will be spent in the clinic of the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation school. The other days are often spent in the villages surrounding the school.

 

Wednesday, February 18:

You will have breakfast at the hotel. You will then be shuttled via a chartered bus to the airport for your flight back to Tampa.

Registration Details

Trips are NOT on a first-come-first-serve basis. If more students are interested in participating than can be accommodated, students will be selected at random. Any student who is not selected will have their deposit refunded.

 

You will register and pay for this trip using Berkeley’s CampBrain system. You will need to register and pay the deposit by Friday, October 31, 2025, to be eligible to participate.

To register and pay the deposit:

 

  1. Go to https://berkeleyprep.campbrainregistration.com/
  2. Log in or create an account.
  3. Select the household member you’re wishing to register for this trip.
  4. Select the trip, select “more details,” and then add trip to cart.
  5. Once you pay and submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email.

Once you have registered and paid your deposit on CampBrain, you will receive a follow-up email requesting any additional information that is needed for the trip.