Suggested Components of a Site Visit
Here are some suggested components of a visit that can enhance the educational value of the experience. Be sure to coordinate with your contact at the site when planning your trip about your goals and expectations so that you are respectful of their community, practice, and space.
Welcome by Leader in the Community. A helpful way to begin a visit is with a welcoming address from a leader or member of the religious community. This individual should be able to welcome the group to the space, share a brief introduction to the history of the space, offer relevant facts about the community, and point to some key values of the particular religious community. Be sure that your host (or the proper faculty/staff member) outlines any special considerations to take into account while touring the space (maintaining silence, removal of shoes, etc.)
Tour of the Space. As the group prepares to tour the space, ask participants to consider the following questions as they proceed:
- What symbols or images do I see?
- What sounds or scents do I notice?
- What stands out to me?
- What aspects seem familiar?
- Unfamiliar?
- What activities are happening in this space?
Group Observation. As you conclude the visit, gather the group together in an appropriate area within the space or a separate meeting room. Review the questions you asked them to consider going into the tour. What did people notice as they were touring the space? What expectations did they have going into the tour and how did those expectations actually coincide with what they saw?
Interfaith Literacy and Shared Values. Ask your host from the community to share a personal overview of their religious tradition with the group and take questions from the students about what they have seen. You may want to ask them to focus on specific areas of focus, such as:
- What are the basic tenets of your religious tradition?
- What are the holy days associated with your religious tradition?
- What are the sacred texts in your religious tradition?
- Is prayer or meditation a part of your tradition?
- If so, could you share a common prayer or meditation from your tradition?
- What does your tradition teach about serving others?
- How does your community serve others?
- Could you please share a personal story about what values motivate you as a follower of this tradition?
Reflection. Either with the host or just as a group, ask the students to get into small groups of 4-5 and answer the following reflection questions:
- What did you learn about this particular religious community or tradition?
- What did you see or hear that was similar to your own tradition? What was different?
- What does this tradition teach about service to others and how does this particular community act that out? How is this similar to your tradition? How is it different?