TRAVEL

Journey back to a time of revolution and brotherhood in the heart of the Civil Rights Movement. Follow the path of the marches through Atlanta, Montgomery, and Birmingham as well as the town of Selma, where a peaceful protest erupted into what is now called “Bloody Sunday.” Commemorate the key contributors to civil rights by visiting the Rosa Parks Museum and the National Voting Rights Museum, then visit the home and church of the most famous civil rights activist of them all: the venerated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Come practice your Spanish while exploring the beautiful countries of Argentina and Uruguay. Enjoy the warm sunshine as we navigate the vibrant city streets of Buenos Aires. Learn the art of tango dancing with a private lesson and then enjoy a professional tango show. Take a day to learn the daily life of the gaucho, an Argentinian cowboy, while horseback riding, preparing a meal, and exploring the pristine Argentinian countryside. Then explore El Tigre, a local hotspot, while taking a river cruise and getting to know the way of life for the isleños, the natives who live on the island. And if that’s not enough, experience another country with a day trip to one of Uruguay’s most vibrant cities. 

*Prerequisite: Students must be a current or previous GRCHS Spanish student. 

Are you interested in having an amazing outdoor adventure while learning about sustainable solutions to real world problems? Then join us for an experience at the Island School in the Bahamas! We will learn about marine biology including aquaculture and aquaponics, lionfish research, mangrove ecosystems, fish identification, and much more, all while being fully immersed in the activities available at the Island School.

As a part of the course, we will get our SCUBA certifications, go on several dives, snorkel, bike, and more as we explore the geology, ecology, and marine sciences relevant to Eleuthera. Join us for the adventure of a lifetime!! 

It's back for 2019! PTO III: Pirates of the Caribbean is a non-stop 11-day and 10-night adventure that takes place on or near the high seas. Every day is a new travel adventure. Participants will not know the next day's itinerary until the night before. You will work in teams to win rewards along the way. Be prepared for anything at anytime. The 2019 trip is now open to both guys and gals, so strap up your backpack and let's go! 

Do you want to make a significant impact during Winterim 2019 while building new friendships and serving in a beautiful country? How about getting to know a new culture and practicing your Spanish skills? God has a deep love for His people, and we want to be open to His work in the world. Join us as we explore God’s Kingdom in the Dominican Republic. We will SERVE children in a community school founded by a local mission. We will also build relationships, teach Bible lessons, play, serve food, and work on light construction projects. We will take time to physically and spiritually REST – hiking to waterfalls, enjoying time at the beach, and touring the historic colonial district of the capital city. We will rest from busyness and pay attention to the work God is already doing in our midst. Lastly, we will GROW through daily time in devotions and worship as well as in building community with each other. We desire to take time to listen to God’s voice so that we can live out His calling. 

On this trip, we will tour some of the most significant sites of World War II in France, Belgium, and Germany. We'll visit the D-Day landing beaches of Normandy, many sites throughout the beautiful city of Paris, Battle of the Bulge sites in Belgium, and lastly we'll hop on a train to Berlin to gain a view of the German side of the war, even visiting a concentration camp. While the main focus will be World War II history, we'll also take time to view important sites from the time of the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages, the French Revolution, the Cold War, and in addition we'll have opportunities to experience the wonderful French, German, and Belgian cultures, tasting wonderful food, using public transit, shopping and speaking with natives. 

This trip will explore the literary, religious, sporting, gastronomic, and archaeological history of Greece! We’ll spend four days in Athens visiting sites like the Acropolis and Parthenon and then move on to the city of Corinth (Biblical and Roman history) and Olympia (the site of twelve centuries of the Olympic Games). We'll stay a night and sightsee in Delphi, and then it’s on to the stunning monasteries of Meteora. Perched atop natural pillars, these monasteries are central to the Eastern Orthodox Church and have been in use since the ninth century. Finally, we’ll visit Thessaloniki to view two beautiful cathedrals and check out the port city’s many markets. At every stop, we'll explore Greek cuisine—think bread, olive oil, fresh seafood, roasted meats and vegetables, feta cheese, herbs, and yogurts. And as we travel on a coach bus through the beautiful and diverse landscapes, we’ll learn about Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey and read some famous sections in the place they were written. Join us for literature, history, food, and spiritual development! 

We will be partnering with Paradise Bound Ministries for this 8-day trip. PBM seeks to continue the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ by following His example of ministering to physical needs first, softening hearts and giving us an opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ. We will be spending our days working with indigenous population in remote mountainous villages. Working alongside the staff of PBM, we will host medical clinics and help the Guatemalan people to build 4-5 homes. On the last day we will take a day trip to the cobblestone streets of Antigua where students can barter in the authentic open-air markets. Students will be challenged physically and spiritually during our time abroad. They will be pushed to think deeply about their own relationship with Jesus Christ through daily personal devotional time and group worship. Spanish is helpful but is not required. PBM is a qualified non-profit and all fund-raising is tax deductible. 

The island of Iceland presents an otherworldly terrain where active volcanoes and towering glaciers coexist. We land in the capital Reykjavik where we will embark on the famous Golden Circle excursion where we will visit Þingvellir National Park and view the Great Geysir, Gullfoss waterfall, and Strokkur hot springs. Afterwards, there will be a day of relaxation in the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa located in a lava field, which was named “one of the wonders of the world” by National Geographic. This trip includes adventurous activities in Akureyri such as dog sledding and snowmobiling in the tundra and hiking in the cool blue glaciers where Vikings once ventured. We will learn about geological systems and Icelandic folklore literature, and at the close of every day, watch the array of blue, green, and purple of the Northern Lights in “The Land of Fire and Ice.” 

Experience culture, history and the arts in two of the most exciting cities in the world with this transatlantic tour of New York and London. We’ll visit famous New York attractions-the Empire State Building, Times Square, 9-11 Memorial, the Statue of Liberty, and attend a Broadway workshop and two Broadway performances. Then, we’ll cross the pond to London. There we will visit Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus and attend an interactive workshop at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. We will also see two West End theatre performances. This is a perfect trip for anyone who has an interest in and appreciation for the arts - no prior theater experience needed. 

This trip was announced in 2017, and is full!

We will travel to Rehoboth, New Mexico, which is both a small town and a Christian School that has a long history serving the Navajo Nation. We will serve as aides in the school, serve the community by helping to maintain their buildings and land, and explore the history, culture, and geography of the Navajo Nation and New Mexico. 

Explore God’s World. Explore God’s Kingdom. Discover God’s Call. Come and explore the rich culture and land of Rwanda. We will have our eyes opened to the beauty and brokenness of life in East Africa. Among other things, we will experience the beauty of Rwanda by exploring its capital city of Kigali, kayaking among the islands of Lake Kivu, walking among the tops of an African rainforest, and going on safari in Rwanda's only "Big Five" park. We will discover the brokenness of the tragic genocide of 1994 and hear stories of the beautiful work of forgiveness and reconciliation. We will leave with our eyes opened and our hearts expanded to the great beauty of God's world and kingdom. Through it all, we will be attentive to how God might be calling each of us to live amidst of the beauty and brokenness all around us. 

Have you even thought about exploring a land that has forested mountains and thick jungles, white sand beaches with towering limestone cliffs, and bright green rice paddies that extend for miles? What about learning about and personally participating in an elephant conservation project? If that sounds amazing, then join us on a Thailand Conservation Expedition! We will partner with the organization Bring the Elephant Home and learn about wild elephant conservation, the farmer/elephant conflict in the area, what action is being done to help, and how we can contribute! We will spend time in Sai Yok National Park, where we will camp on a houseboat, swim in the river and sleep underneath the stars. We will make our way to an elephant sanctuary where we will meet the elephant herd, feed them delicious treats, and bathe with them in the river. We’ll spend time walking with our new elephant friends in the forest, preparing their food, taking care of them, and helping with an ongoing reforestation project.
Sawatdee ka!

Experience one of the four great ancient civilizations of the world. China, one of the cradles of human civilization, offers countless opportunities to experience a rich and exciting culture. From the ancient buildings of Beijing to the artistic wonder of X'ian and finally the modern, bustling city of Shanghai, our visit will provide an overview of China's history and culture. Walk through China’s vast Tiananmen Square, view the Forbidden Palace, see pandas in the Beijing zoo, travel to the Great Wall of China, see the life-size Terra Cotta soldiers in Xi’an, and share dinner with a local family in Shanghai. In addition to all of the history that will surround us, we will attend numerous artistic and theatrical performances and enjoy some of the world's best food. This trip is perfect for anyone who is interested in history, the arts, or Mandarin, but no prior experience is needed.

Explore four of the greatest cities in Europe in three countries all in one trip! If you've ever been interested in traveling to Europe or possibly taking a future semester abroad in college, but you aren’t quite sure where you want to go, then this trip is for you. Take the fastest route between London, Paris, Florence, and Rome by Eurostar Chunnel crossing, coach bus, and a short flight to Italy. See the regal architecture of the Houses of Parliament and Tower Bridge, enjoy a show in London's famed West End theatre district, marvel at the wonders of Paris’ famed Louvre museum, tour the palace of Versailles, enjoy a traditional pizza dinner surrounded by all the history and art of Florence, behold Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, and so much more. Whether you are a lover of the arts, history, or culture or just want to sample what Europe has to offer, this trip has it all.