NEIA recently welcomed a group of visiting students from Wahaha Schools in Hangzhou, China, as part of the WINGS exchange program. Over the course of two weeks, these students immersed themselves in life at NEIA and beyond, building friendships, engaging in hands-on learning, and participating in meaningful cultural exchange.
During their first week on campus, the Wahaha students joined NEIA’s 7th Grade Science and 8th Grade Humanities classes, dove into hands-on workshops in printmaking, storytelling, virtual reality, and statistics, and began work on their final project presentations. A particularly exciting moment was the kickoff of the Future Cities Project, where the visiting students met their NEIA partners for the first time. Together, they began collaborating on imaginative ideas to design the cities of tomorrow.
Learning extended far beyond the classroom walls. The group explored Green Hill Park Farm, browsed local vendors at the Worcester Public Market, and proudly supported NEIA’s 8th graders presenting at the New England Regional Science Fair. Their week culminated in a visit to the MIT Museum, where they delved into the complexities and possibilities of artificial intelligence—a visit that expanded on a recent workshop led by NEIA’s Director of Innovation, Greg Mertz. They also toured Harvard University, gaining inspiration from its innovation and history.
“We engaged in a variety of real-world experiences with the students in Boston, including a visit to the MIT Museum’s AI exhibit and a historical tour of Harvard. Throughout these experiences, they continuously connected what they saw and learned to their project on sustainability—drawing thoughtful comparisons between Boston and Hangzhou in the context of designing a future city. These immersive experiences helped them meaningfully link the history and culture of both cities, which played a pivotal role in shaping their final designs,” says Melissa Remley, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations.
The second week balanced cultural exploration with creativity and collaboration. The group enjoyed weekend outings to Southwick’s Zoo and a round of mini-golf, and later joined NEIA’s 8th graders on a walk along Boston’s iconic Freedom Trail, including a visit to the State House and lunch at Quincy Market. In between adventures, they visited NEIA’s Mandarin classes to engage in language learning with NEIA students, strengthening bonds and shared understanding.
With John Turner, NEIA’s Designer in Residence, students participated in a dynamic brainstorming session focused on imagining Hangzhou at its best 100 years into the future. They began by generating ideas about what the city could look like on its most ideal day, then identified all the potential stakeholders involved in that future vision, followed by the key problems that future citizens might face. For each category, students brainstormed around 50 ideas. Afterward, they broke into smaller groups to narrow down and prioritize the most important stakeholders, the most pressing problems, and the most inspiring visions for Hangzhou’s future. “The WINGS students brought incredible energy and imagination to the session,” said John Turner. “Their ability to think boldly about the future of Hangzhou—while also considering real-world challenges and diverse perspectives—was truly inspiring. It’s clear they’re not just dreaming about the future; they’re ready to shape it.”
In preparation for their final presentations, students created city artifacts that capture elements of the present they hope future generations will remember. Applying skills from NEIA’s Materials and Methods Instructor Nick Tamas’s prototyping workshop, they built detailed models in The Hive, merging artistic expression with design thinking. Students from Wahaha and NEIA who participated in the Future City program collaborated to present their carefully imagined visions of future cities to the whole school—one for Hangzhou and one for Boston. Marcus Chin ’29, a NEIA student who participated in the WINGS Future City Programming, ended the presentation by saying “We had so much fun with the WINGS students and we learned so much about Boston, Hangzhou, and sustainability through this program. We made a lot of memories and we are so glad they came.”
Their stay at NEIA ended with a final dinner at NEIA and a late night flight back home. “There is so much to see and do for the visiting group that the time flies, and there is still so much they don’t get to experience,” said Kaitlin Malixi, Director of Library & Learning Commons; WINGS Program Coordinator. “But it is a good sampling of the school and the local sites of Massachusetts, and a nice cultural exchange for the WINGS students and our NEIA students. I’m looking forward to having our students experience Hangzhou next year.”
The WINGS program continues to be a bridge—connecting cultures, fostering collaboration, and creating global connections. As our visiting students prepare to return home, we will miss them dearly.
