2024 Discover Trip List

Out of State Trips

Trip sign-ups will be open to rising Seniors first, followed by rising Juniors. Rising Sophomores and Freshmen will then be allowed to register. All trips will require a $200 non-refundable and non-transferrable deposit paid when you sign-up.

Italy

This year, we are excited to offer an overseas travel opportunity for rising juniors and seniors! Join Mrs. Anderson, Mr. Davidhizar, and Mrs. Stevenson on a nine day tour of the history, art, and culture of Italy November 1st-9th. After landing in Milan, our group will stop in Verona to see “Juliet’s Balcony” and then continue on to Venice. We will tour the main sights of Venice, including a gondola ride, and then head to the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence. There we will see Michelangelo’s David, Ghiberti’s Doors of Paradise, and Brunelleschi’s famous Dome. We continue our time in Tuscany with a stop in Pisa and Lucca, where we will take a cooking class at a traditional farmhouse. After Tuscany, we will travel to Rome, where we will tour the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, Roman Forum, Colosseum, and ancient Catacombs. From Rome, we will take a day trip to Pompeii to see how ancient Romans lived and the amazing effects of the eruption of Mr. Vesuvius.

This trip is capped at 55 students and parents, and because of the popularity of this trip, we ask that only one parent sign up to go per student until all rising juniors and seniors have had an opportunity to sign up. Parents going on Discover trips should expect to assist the teachers in keeping the students safe and follow PA field trip rules. The cost for this trip will be between $3525 and $3625, depending on the number of travelers, and will include breakfast at the hotel and dinner each day, as well as gratuities and entrances to sites listed on the itinerary. To sign up for this trip, please complete the registration and medical release forms after filling out the FACTS form and submit them to Mrs. Anderson.

Travel Dates: November 1st through November 9th

Cost includes: Most travel, some meals, all accommodations, most attractions and experiences.

• Sponsors: Mrs. Katherine Anderson
• Number of Participants: 55 total participants (Only open to Juniors and Seniors. Only one parent allowed per child)
• Cost: $3525 to $3625 depending on number of paid participants.

Chicago Missions

 Take a trip out of your comfort zone as we fly to the Windy City to serve in an urban setting! This trip will consist of ministry during the day and sightseeing in the evenings. We will be working with Breakthrough Urban Ministry (https://breakthrough.org/) by helping serve food to people dealing with poverty, packing lunches for children, cleaning facilities, working with people involved in their ministry programs, and doing whatever else may be needed. When we aren’t serving we will explore some of what makes Chicago unique including “The Bean,” deep dish pizza, Navy Pier, Moody Bible Institute, the Magnificent Mile, the Hancock tower, and more! 

Travel Dates: November 2nd - November 6th

Cost includes: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner every day, Hotel, Transportation (including subway/bus in Chicago), Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier, Hancock Tower Pass, Architecture/History Boat Tour, Bulls or Blackhawks Game, and more!

• Sponsors: Mr. Bryce Ballard
• Number of Participants: 25 total participants.
• Cost: $1,500-$1600 depending on number of paid participants.

Washington DC

Providence Academy is thrilled to host a trip to our nations capital! The dates are Monday, November 4th through Thursday, November 7th. This is a wonderful trip, and we always have a great time seeing our “National Treasures.” Sights included on the trip are Arlington National Cemetery, Museum of the Bible, National Archives, Holocaust Museum, United States Capitol, United States Supreme Court, Library of Congress, White House, Washington Monument, Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum, Mount Vernon, and the Spy Museum. This year we are using American Christian Tours. As a result. we will have our own tour guide(s) for much of the trip.

Travel Dates: November 4th - November 9th

Cost includes: Transportation, meals, accommodations, and experiences.

• Sponsors: Mrs. Hester
• Number of Participants: 50
• Cost: $950-$1200 depending on number of paid participants.

Sailing to Bahamas

This trip isn't for the faint of heart! Get ready for science and adventure to collide on this amazing exploratory trip as students learn to sail a ship from Nassau to the Bahamas. You'll spend your days learning how to sail, snorkel off the coast of the Bahamas, explore Saddleback Cay, and come face-to-face with marine life. View a sample itinerary here.

Travel Dates: Exact dates TBD-November 2024

Cost includes: Transportation, meals, accommodations, and experiences.

• Sponsors: Mr. Holland
• Number of Participants: 10 students (Male Only)
• Cost: $2,800-$3,500 depending on number of paid participants.

Yosemite

Love adventure, science and the great outdoors? Then this trip is for you! Join Mr. Randy Almanzor and Dr. Moschetti to fly west and camp, hike, fish, etc. Students will camp for 2-3 days. The last night will be in a hotel to clean up for the flight home. This trip will run November 4th through November 8th/9th (dependent on finalized flight information to come). 

Travel Dates: November 4th - November 8th/9th (dependent on finalized flight information to come)

Cost includes: Transportation, meals, accommodations, and experiences.

• Sponsors: Mr. Almanzor and Dr. Moschetti
• Number of Participants: 18 paid participants
• Cost: $1300-$1500 depending on number of paid participants.

2024 Discover Intensives

Students who do not register for a trip will select an Intensive Course, internship, or service.

Intensive selection will open to Seniors and Juniors first and then to Sophomores and Freshmen. An email will be sent to parents when they can register their student. Fees associated with the course are due upon registration, and most courses have limited spots. Participation in Discover is mandatory. For general questions about Discover Intensive courses, internships, or service project opportunities please contact Principal Davidhizar.

Official Intensive offerings will be a available for final selection/sign up in the Fall.

For examples of possible opportunities we have offered in the past please see below:

Intro to Private Pilot Basic Ground School Course 

Ground School is the first step in earning your private pilot’s license. Mr. Dan Moore, a flight instructor and certified tester with Dan Moore Aero, LLC in Elizabethton, and also a PA parent, is offering students the opportunity to begin the steps of getting a private pilot’s license. This intensive will be held at school for any student who is interested or curious about becoming a private pilot. Depending on the weather and the size of the class, there may be a trip to the Elizabethton airport for a flight in a private airplane. The cost is for the Ground School manuals which can be used if a student wishes to continue their training. 

Intro to Spanish

Students will learn the basics of conversational Spanish.  They will practice their new listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills through activities and games.  Students will investigate the culture and geography of Spanish-speaking countries in the Western Hemisphere.  On our last day, the class will go to lunch at a local restaurant. 

Outdoor Adventure and Activities  

Do you like to spend time outdoors? Do you like to hike and camp? This fall we will do a backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail (AT) from Carver’s Gap to Highway 19E (said to be one of the most beautiful stretches of the AT). We will spend the night at Mountain Harbour Hostel campsite, hike 15 miles over 2 days on the AT, overnight camp in the mountains, and much more!   

Faith and Fitness

Are you looking for a fun, active intensive that focuses on your health and wellness? If so, this is the place for you!  1 Peter 4:9-11 says: "Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good 'stew'ards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."  This intensive offers a combination of fitness classes, smoothie-making, devotional fellowship, dietary decision-making, and matters of the mind.  We will blend each piece in a “stew” that allows us to lead full, healthy lives for the Lord, joyfully working to be good ‘stew’ards of His gifts and grace. 

Robotics  

During the Robotics Discovery Intensive, students will act as computer scientists, engineers, designers, and creative thinkers—all while having fun exploring and learning about STEM ideas and concepts with VEX Robots. 

Students will work together to build their own “Clawbot”, solve various challenges, and develop and test winning game strategies. These activities are designed to ignite a love of STEM learning through engaging activities that blend creativity and imagination. 

Learning Targets: 

-Build and test a robot collaboratively. 

-Use VEX software to create a code to control the Clawbot successfully. 

-Collaborate to create coding and driver control strategies to score points in activities and win challenges. 

ACT Prep

The ACT Test is the preferred college entrance exam used by universities in Tennessee for admittance, placement, and scholarship awards. Every graduate should want to make the highest score possible on this exam. In light of that, one of the intensives being offered is a preparation class to help students meet that goal. Time will be spent understanding the different types of questions in the different subject areas, learning test-taking skills, and practicing actual exams. The students will take at least 2 practice exams so they can understand the pacing of the test and get a feel for how long the test lasts.

In order to have plenty of practice and instruction, the class will meet Monday-Friday, 1/2 – 1/6, from 8:30 – 12:30.

Basics of Drama: Improvisation Workshop and Behind the Scenes 

Looking for all actors, performers, speakers, or anyone who wants a great Discover week full of fun working on our dramatic skills!  Using improvisation, we will focus on building confidence as a performer or public speaker though improv games and exercises.   You will learn how to think fast on your feet and create stories from out of thin air.  We will be finishing out the week with a short improvisation show.  The skills we practice can be applied as a performer or just simply build more confidence doing class presentations. 

In addition, we will spend some time learning about what goes on behind the scenes during a drama performance including set and lighting design, props and costumes.  We will watch and analyze these subjects in several recordings of live theatre.  I hope to see you there! 

Choosing to Serve  

Each of you has been given a gift to use to serve others.  (1 Peter 4:10)  The goals of Choosing to Serve are to give opportunities for students to use their gifts in their community and to open doors for students to serve others in humility and love. All participants are required to secure their volunteer position with organizations in the Tri-Cities area. You should plan on volunteering for a minimum of four hours per day for 4 days, or 16 hours total, and all work must be concluded by 3:00 PM daily. Students in this program are required to provide their own transportation to and from their volunteer projects. Mr. Almanzor can provide a list of organizations as suggestions, but students must be prepared to make all necessary arrangements for their volunteer time. Mr. Almanzor will have the paperwork to be filled out and returned to him as well as a document to keep track of your hours. 

Diving Deeper with God – Spiritual Disciplines 

We are constantly encouraging our students to go deeper in their relationship with God, but have you even wondered how you are supposed to do that? In this intensive we will explore, discuss, and practice different ways to go deeper in our relationship with God, known as spiritual disciplines. We will talk about and practice disciplines like prayer, worship, Scripture reading, memorization, testimonies, service, gratitude, creativity, confession, and silence. This intensive is designed to be intensely practical. We will discuss theology, but our focus will be on practicing the different disciplines that make up the Christian life which will give you tools that you can use now and throughout your life.   

Internships

Internships will provide an opportunity for students to arrange a three-day program working with a professional in the Tri-Cities area. This program offers students an opportunity to join the workforce for a few days in an attempt to learn more about potential careers. Students may not intern at Providence Academy nor may they work for or with their parents. Participants are responsible for their own transportation and lunch costs.

Students must make all necessary arrangements with the sponsoring host by November 1.

Varsity/JV Basketball 

All High Schoolers who are on the boys or girls basketball teams need to sign up for this intensive, unless you have already committed to a trip. Coach Burns and Coach Pitts have separate itineraries and costs for the boys and girls basketball team intensives. 

Sponsors:  Coach Pitts and Coach Burns
Participants: Basketball team members
Cost: Different per team