Winterim 2023 Trips
Missions Trips
Scotland Missions: Heralds Trust
The story of Scotland as one of the preeminent missionary sending countries is well known across the Christian world. However, the last 50 years have seen Scotland and the UK move closer to becoming a post-Christian Society. Therefore, the opportunity to minister the light of the Gospel has never been more needed than today.
While staying outside of Edinburgh, sometimes with host families, students will have the opportunity to participate in the challenging task of working with a variety of local churches in the central belt of Scotland. It is our hope that the trip will impact your faith and give you a greater experience of personal growth in your walk with God. This trip will be best suited to those who are comfortable sharing their faith in all sorts of circumstances. Opportunities may include working with youth groups, schools, and Para-church support ministries. As part of the trip, there will be an opportunity to visit some key historical sites and points of interest in the heart of Scotland. We then will debrief our trip as we visit some significant sites in London.
Prerequisites: Students must be willing to lead chapels and services, must display an understanding of basic theological principles to help share the Gospel, must be able to articulate their faith in a public setting, must be able to write their testimony in writing, must be comfortable staying in host homes while also demonstrating appropriate manners and behavior, and must be able to walk long distances and on uneven pavement
Trip Leaders: David Tollefsen and Alyssa Strzalka
Support needed per student: $3300-3500
Open to: All Grades
Kids Alive Dominican Republic Missions Trip
- Come experience the amazing culture and beauty of the Dominican Republic by serving in the KidsAlive ministry. We will play sports, participate in Awana activities, complete needed service projects, teach financial literacy with a fun and interactive curriculum to 8-12th graders, work with adult entrepreneurs, and build relationships. Hike to a waterfall and enjoy the surrounding environment.
Trip Leaders: Phil Strzalka
Support needed per student: $2700-2900
Open to: 10, 11, and 12 grade
Nicaragua Missions Trip
Trip Leaders: Stacey Krohn
Support needed per student: $2700-2900
Open to: 10, 11, and 12 grade
Guatemala Missions Trip
Trip Leaders: Val Gregersen
Support needed per student: $2700-2900
Open to: 10, 11, and 12 grade, females only
Adventure Trips
Go West Young Man
Trip Leaders: Chris Felinski and Justin Swider
- The phrase “Go West Young Man” originated from 19th century when the concept of Manifast Destiny was prevalent – the idea that America was destined to someday reach from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. This phrase has also been used to describe an adolescent as they go from boyhood to manhood.
Adventure trips are designed to teach students and skills in a hands-on adventure environment. The very nature of this trip is that we will be spending a lot of times outdoors. There will be both strenuous tasks as well as leisure physical activities. We also have a strong emphasis on what it is like to grow up, and we want to teach the students some basic life skills, such as living with each other, resolving conflict, cooking food, and budgeting. We can’t wait to have you!
Student Cost: $2200-2400
Open to: All Grades, Males Only
Costa Rica Girls: Surf, Science and Service
Trip Leaders: Anna Joy Setran
SURF the waves of COSTA RICA! The boys surf trip in Costa Rica will be an exciting adventure and a unique opportunity to learn the sport of surfing, and at the same time, gain knowledge about marine science. We will specifically target physical oceanography and explore how waves, weather, and currents affect the coastline.
Costa Rica means “Rich Coast” and once you see Playa Grande (“Big Beach”) you will know why. The beach is three miles long and nearly untouched because it is a national park created to protect the endangered leatherback turtles. Students will review the life cycles of sea turtles and the importance of maintaining beach conditions for nesting. Students also will immerse themselves in the culture and Spanish language through three service projects both on the beach and in the community. In addition to surfing, sea turtles, and service, the group will have the opportunity to relax, enjoy dinner at the Rip-Jack Inn, and bond through studying the book of Nehemiah.
This trip will serve as a great platform for our young men to step out of their comfort zone and try some physical activities that will grow them in their courage, self-confidence, and trust in the Lord. They will also learn how to build others up through several service opportunities.Experience Pura Vida (Pure Life) in Costa Rica!
Student Cost: $3500-3700
Open to: All Grades, Females Only
Educational Trips
Exploring Eastern Europe
Come explore the best of England and Scotland! If you are ready for travel to leave you speechless by the awe and wonder of God’s creation, this nine day tour is for you! Though bonded politically by the United Kingdom and geographically by the island of Great Britain, England and Scotland each maintain their own distinct character. In Edinburgh, experience kilts, bagpipes and haggis as you absorb proud Scottish history. At Windsor Castle and Oxford University, the English accent reveals its royal tradition. Take in the bustle of London and the world-class archaeological site of Stonehenge. Students must be comfortable with international travel/flights and walking long distances throughout the day. Come explore the United Kingdom and savor the beauty, culture, and rich history of these remarkable countries!
Trip Leaders: Leah Rinker and Leah Dunlap
Student Cost: $4150-4250
Open to: All Grades
Washington D.C.
This is a 1 week class and 1 week trip collaboration. Students will learn on campus from a WA teacher the first week and then travel to DC the second week to discover and explore many of the interesting and significant sites. This counts towards government class credit.
Trip Leaders: Evan Jasper
Student Cost: $2000
Open to: All Grades
Israel Tour
Trip Leaders: Stacey Krohn
Support needed per student: $2700-2900
Open to: 10, 11, and 12 grade
Greece
- Greek Immersion! If you love food and you love ancient cultures, Greece is for you. We will travel to Athens, Corinth, and Delphi experiencing ; Paul’s Missionary Journeys, art, architectures, & amazing Greek food. We will take a one day cruise through the islands and even ride donkeys! This trio is for all grades and both genders. The cost is around 4800.00 per student for an 11 day trip. You will walk through the cities of Greece and experience a culture of fun, food, and, and lots of fried cheese!!
Trip Leaders: Jim Holtrop
Support needed per student: $4800-4900
Open to: 10, 11, and 12 grade
Science in Puerto Rico
- Students will hike in a tropical rainforest, kayak, zipline and snorkel as we explore various natural wonders of the island of Puerto Rico. We will also do a service project while we are there. Students should be able to hike distances, swim, and willing to learn how to snorkel and zipline.
Trip Leaders: Kiernan Mack
Support needed per student: $2700-2900
Open to: 10, 11, and 12 grade
Leadership Development
Men and Women's Varsity Basketball Trip
WA Boys Varsity basketball heads to Nashville for a week of competitive hoops, college visits, service projects, and leadership development. Not only will we get to practice and play against some of the city’s top high school competition, but we will also be able to meet and interact with local college coaches and players at both the D1 and D2 levels. Our team will experience the fun the city of Nashville has to offer while also finding ways to serve the local community.
Trip Leaders: Coach Fritz, Coach Smith, Coach Carwell, and Coach Davona
Support needed per student: $1800-2000
Open to: Males and Females
Stories of Vietnam: A Documentary Trip
Ravaged by global politics, continuous warfare, and internal unrest throughout the past century, Vietnam defied the odds and transitioned into one of the fastest growing economies of the 21st century, recently surpassing Finland, Denmark, Hong Kong, and New Zealand in nominal GDP. From manufacturing and processing, to fintech and entertainment, Vietnam is drawing massive amounts of Direct Foreign Investment from multinationals such as Microsoft, Intel, and Samsung. We are thrilled to be a part of this story as Wheaton Academy expands its presence in Vietnam’s international education sector through our International Program.
This trip is a special collaboration project with the International Program, for the purpose of building bridges with WA’s growing family network in Vietnam. We will be hosted by WA families in Hanoi, who will take us on a journey to experience firsthand the history, economics, and value systems that influence modern society in Vietnam. Following our stay in Hanoi, we will take public transportation through the countryside of Northern Vietnam, traveling to the mountain villages and rice terraces of Sapa, where we will experience a very different perspective with the ethnic minorities and farming communities of this iconic travel destination.
We will record conversations, experiences, and reflections from this trip, diving deeply into the concept of “Opportunity”, and what it means for us as 21st century Christians in the United States. Our experiences will be compiled into a short documentary that will be released for the WA community in the following Spring semester.
Activities & Themes will include:
- Meet and dialogue with students at the international school and at the orphanage [Does socioeconomic background impact outlook on life and the future?]
- Exploring old vs new Hanoi [Colonialism, politics, and the new economy]
- Visit “Hanoi Hilton” POW camp [How historical narratives shape perspective]
- Visit local temple [Tradition, spirituality, and the role it plays in value systems]
- Experience Vietnamese food culture [Does culture influence our relationship with food?]
- Homestay experience with WA families in Hanoi [Culture and family life]
- Excursion to Sapa [The impact of globalization on tourism and wealth distribution]
This trip will be limited to a selective team of students as each person will be expected to play a highly proactive role in the relational aspects and documentation of this experience.
Qualifications:
- Attentive to surroundings; strong interpersonal skills; perceptive
- Strong interest in learning about other cultures
- Comfortable with being in front of the camera
- Experience with videography, editing, and social media preferred
Trip Leaders: James Brannon and Rochelle Yang
Student Cost: $3500-3700
Open to: All Grades