“I like to think of it as an extension of our campus.” That’s how director of experiential learning Max Belz describes the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, a world-class museum only three miles south of the Providence campus.

On Saturday, students visited the Huntington to kick off this year’s Avodah program, Providence’s hallmark experience-based class. Students explored the Japanese and Chinese gardens, and also strolled through the American and European galleries, in part to complete an art analysis assignment. The museum also featured an exhibit to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta.

Providence humanities professor Dr. Ryan McIlhenny joined the group for the morning to share historical context and guide the students through the exhibits.

Designed to help students engage with the cultural world of Los Angeles through music, architecture, history, and science and tech, the Avodah program consists of day trips around LA, bookended by classroom discussions. Read more about the Avodah program here.