Discover Your True Potential
One life-changing adventure at a time
The best way to grow
Discover Term’s fully immersive, non-traditional learning programs empower 6th-9th graders to stretch their limits in every way imaginable.
For five weeks, students trade standard schooling for accelerated academics, smartphones for expert-led outdoor athletics, and everyday pressures for unforgettable adventures in some of the most beautiful settings on the planet.
Phone-Free Philosophy
Between old-school classrooms, new-school screen addictions, and the constant pressure of social media, teens today have little opportunity to stretch their limits. They need more space to explore who they really are, what they really care about, and what they’re really capable of.
That's why Discover Term students are completely unplugged except during self-driven academic courses. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live free from the burden of infinite scrolling.
Our Programs
Powder Term
The San Juan mountains just outside Durango, Colorado provide the ideal environment for teens to live, learn, and ski.
Students hit the slopes on a rigorous schedule with world-class instructors — and learn about everything from avalanche safety to the tourism-driven economics and politics of the area via project-based learning.
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Surf Term
In the village of Nosara on the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, Surf Term students learn not only how to surf, but how to embrace Pura Vida — pure & simple living.
They learn about location-specific ecology, biology, and current events as well, guided by the region’s pristine landscape and rich history.
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3 Pillars of Mastery
Discover Term instills foundational principles that empower teens to fulfill their potential in three critical areas — not only during our programs, but for the rest of their lives.
Physical Mastery
A healthy mind and body elevate each other—and we believe the two are equally important. Our rigorous athletic programs get teens off the couch and into the great outdoors for an invigorating and unforgettable experience.
Best of all, participants get a chance to explore and expand their physical and mental limits as they experience the deep fulfillment that comes from pursuing mastery of a single skill.
Academic Mastery
Every student is capable of academic excellence if given the right mix of challenge and agency to suit their individual needs. We embrace hybrid courses that combine the latest self-paced, adaptive learning platforms and Socratic, discussion-style education.
We also create authentic, place-based learning experiences that allow students to see the value of their skills and knowledge in action. It all comes together in a program focused on six key courses developed by expert educators:
Intensive core Math via Khan Academy
Intensive core English via NoRedInk and Lexia
Hands-on, project-based Science & Social Studies
A 22-session group Leadership Course
Foreign language coursework brought from home, completed with on-site tutors
Self Mastery
On-campus, communal-style living fosters independence and self-reliance while empowering participants to forge deep friendships that last a lifetime.
There’s no better (or faster) way for teens to learn how to respectfully communicate, collaborate, and advocate for their own needs and preferences than this dynamic group setting.
The Dads Behind Discover Term
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Jamie Matthews
Jamie and his wife of over 20 years, Mary Clare, have three awesome kids, two of whom attended a study abroad program called “The Winter Term” in Switzerland. This program—and the life-changing experiences it imparted—became the inspiration for Discover Term.
Jamie has a long history of creating organizations dedicated to helping kids thrive. He co-founded Explore Austin, a six-year mentoring and outdoor leadership program for 6th-12th graders, as well as The Pond Hockey Club, which employs USA Hockey’s American Development Model for kids ages 5-15.
Jamie also taught at the Acton School of Business from 2005 to 2020 and is a volunteer Pilot for Angel Flight South Central and Pilots N Paws.
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Garrett Weber-Gale
Garrett is a dedicated husband and father of two utterly delightful children. He’s spent much of his life as an elite, competitive swimmer, earning two Olympic Gold medals, four world records, eight American records, and an ESPY award for Best Moment in 2008.
Garrett has spoken about physical fitness and nutrition at The White House and TEDxYouth, and he’s helped thousands of kids at swim clinics across the country learn how to develop the habits and mindset needed to realize their dreams.
Garrett started his first business at the age of 12 and is a former CEO of the Acton School of Business—rated #1 Best Administered MBA Program and #1 Most Competitive MBA in the USA by Princeton Review.
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Justin Moss
Justin and his wife feel lucky to have three energetic kids. As our Director of Education, he believes learning should be hyper-contextual, application-based, and fun!
Justin led teams in creating, editing, and publishing over 10,000 pages of unique, project-based school curriculum while leading learning design initiatives for Acton Academy (an international network of K-12 schools). He led learning and technology platform design teams at Prenda (Microschool platform). Justin was a founding member of Hallcraft School Studio which works to launch new innovative schools.
Prior to work in education Justin led change management initiatives focused on customer experience and design at Fortune 500 companies.
Questions?
We understand that you may have questions about sending your child on these epic adventures. Let’s discuss them together.
Our Purpose
We believe greatness lies within every human being. Discover Term empowers teens at critical growth stages to awaken their senses, activate their untapped potential, and ignite their passion for life, learning, & adventure.