TRAVEL

Largely untouched by man and frozen for half the year, Alaska is truly one of the last remaining frontiers. Join us as we travel to the northernmost state to visit the famous Denali National Park, home of the highest mountain in North America. After camping and exploring the tundra surrounding Denali, we will travel south to Seward where we will sea kayak around glaciers and sleep in tents on the shores of Aialik and Resurrection Bay. Come experience nature and wildlife up close and personal. Caribou, bears, orcas, dolphins, seals and many others all call Alaska home.  (Note: Because Alaska is cold and dark in January, the travel portion of this expedition will take place in early June while the Winterim term will be dedicated to preparing for this trip.)

Join us as we trek through the hearty and surprising environment that makes up the desert Southwest landscape. Passing through sandstone canyons, over rocky mountains, and winding through oasis-like drainages, you will see this landscape as few have ever seen it!

Do you want to live the island life? Join us for a fun-filled, jam-packed, amazing adventure to the Bahamas. Scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, cliff jumping, and so much more awaits you at The Island School in Rock Sound, Eleuthera.  At the Island School, we will live on a sustainable campus all while studying marine ecology, environmental sustainability, and explore the beautiful deep ocean. You will see ocean life like you have never seen before!  Scuba Certification Training (included in price) will be scheduled for late summer/fall.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime tour to China, where we will experience firsthand one of the great, ancient civilizations of the world. From the ancient buildings of Beijing to the artistic wonder of Xi’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 and see the life-size Terracotta soldiers in Xi’ian. We will also visit the Olympic buildings of the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube and so much more. Ever traveled overnight in a super-fast train?  Here’s your opportunity. This trip is perfect for anyone interested in history, the arts, Mandarin, or if you describe yourself as a culture-buff, and it will provide you with so much to see and do that you would otherwise never experience.

This tour is an amazing mix of ecosystem exploration and cultural experiences! We will explore ecosystems with towering volcanoes, steaming hot springs, huge waterfalls, cloud forests, a butterfly sanctuary, national parks, rainforests, canopy adventures, and more! In addition, we will experience the cultural aspects of Costa Rica with visits to a coffee plantation, a local orphanage, a nature reserve, and a folklore evening. Where else can you experience a cloud forest with howler monkeys and tropical birds while on horseback, get the thrill of whitewater rafting, zip line through a cloud forest, and so much more? Join us for the adventure of a lifetime!

Do you want to make a significant impact during Winterim2020 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. 

A once-in-a-lifetime experience, Ecuador has a biodiversity and geography that is unique to the world.  Though not as well known as other South American countries such as Brazil and Argentina, Ecuador offers the opportunity to see cloud forests, the Andes mountains, the Amazon rainforest, hot springs and several active volcanoes.  Our plans include a fifteen-mile whitewater rafting excursion down the Napo River in the heart of the Amazon, volunteering at the Amazon Animal Rescue Center, exploring Quito, along with many hiking adventures. Be ready for exercise, adventure, and the opportunity to see unique flora and fauna found nowhere else on earth.  Along the way, we will be introduced to various cultural aspects of Ecuador, including a visit with the Kichwa, an indigenous tribe of the Ecuadorian Amazon that is working hard to protect the rainforest from misuse and destruction. 

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. 

This tour will visit three countries in Western Europe and explore many of the important historical and cultural sites in France, Belgium and Germany.  We will begin in France at the D-Day beaches of Normandy and visit important sites and towns along the coast. We will also travel to the magical Mont St. Michel, a medieval city that becomes an island at high tide.  We will go to Paris and visit the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Latin Quarter and Notre Dame Cathedral. From there we will travel to Belgium and visit some of the Battle of the Bulge sites around Bastogne. Finally, we will head to Cologne Germany for a short visit before taking a fast train to Berlin where we will visit many incredible sites including the Berlin Wall and a German concentration camp.  The trip will expose students to Western history, art, culture and language and bring alive many incredible experiences with foreign people, food and ideas!

Come with us as we explore the Hawaiian Islands! Hawaii is more than a vacation destination. It's a vibrant and beautiful, ecologically-unique part of the US. We'll study marine biology and conservation at the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, learn about sustainability at several farms, explore volcanic hotspots & tropical rainforests, and discover Hawaii's rich history. We'll hike, beach, snorkel, island hop, and stargaze.

The Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf is a ministry that brings the gospel of Jesus Christ to the deaf community of Jamaica.  Through this ministry, the organization teaches deaf people a language, provides a basic education, and promotes outreach, community, worship, and continuing education...and they could use our help!  So, if you feel called to work with this community, and if you can handle 80 degree weather in January, this might be the trip for you! WE will work in the Deaf Village, get to know the residents there and at the local school for the deaf, visit YS Falls, eat fantastic local food, and spend a couple of days relaxing in Montego Bay.  Join us for what will be an incredible 10 days in Jamaica! (And no sign language skills needed!)

New York City is one of the most iconic destinations for photography in the world! Think Times Square, Central Park, 5th Avenue, Brooklyn Bridge and so much more.… Students will be immersed in the bustle of the city, tour iconic locales, eat amazing food, and learn to shoot like a PRO. Every student will have the chance to be both photographer and model. Photographer Carrie Anne will also be arranging shoots with actual NYC models for on-location photo sessions! Prior to the trip, students will plan dream boards, color schemes, textures, wardrobe, hair and make-up— all the things that make for a perfect photo shoot. 12th grade students will come home with professional senior portraits taken IN THE BIG CITY by your peers and by Carrie Anne. Upon returning to GR you’ll build a portfolio of your best images (with you as photographer) and you’ll receive the best images of you. 

There are only two types of people in this world: those who like food, and those who don't. If you are in the first group, then this is the Winterim trip for you. Food Frenzy San Francisco, led by Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Kwastaniet, is a food-lover's dream, featuring 8 days in sunny San Francisco, California exploring the wonderful world of everything edible. Our trip will hit foodie hot spots like the world-famous Museum of Icecream, the Ghiradelli Chocolate Factory, and the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. We'll feast on a wide range of foods, from vegan dishes to fresh seafood, take professional cooking lessons from a real chef, shop SF's farmers markets, tour urban farms in Berkeley, and volunteer in soup kitchens -- when we're not exploring San Francisco highlights like the Golden Gate Bridge and Chinatown. All experience levels are welcome on this trip, but keep in mind that all students will have to cook during the tour, so being willing to roll up your sleeves and try new things is a must!

Singapore, which roughly translates to “Lion City,” is a tropical city-state located off the coast of Malaysia. It boasts a wide array of ethnic groups including Malay, Indian, and Chinese along with religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam; all diverse groups dwell in unity making Singapore the 8th most peaceful country in the world. Once we reach the island we will begin our rich cross-cultural experience with a visit to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown then to Sri Veeramakaliamman Hindu temple in Little India. We will explore the country’s natural beauty touring the orchids at the botanical garden and hiking through the rainforest of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve where monkeys can be seen in the trees. Other activities include a day excursion to Sentosa Island, a tour of the supertrees of Gardens by the Bay, and ending each day eating Singaporean street cuisine under the warmth of the evening sun.

Come with us on an amazing trip to Lesotho and South Africa to practice a part of missionary work that is sometimes overlooked, people-oriented care and Christian love that is necessary for all of God’s work we are called to do. We will be emphasizing relational growth between our students and the staff and children of the Beautiful Gate as well as the mothers who are cared for by their missions work as well. We will also be worshiping and spending time with our brothers and sisters in Christ at Christian Revival Church. Throughout this trip, we hope to experience God's creation by going on an African Safari and meeting people who live with so little but still have an indescribable joy, well as learn about this history about this country and continent that has made it one of the most dynamic and interesting histories on earth.