Seeking presence, passion & mastery

Students may bring cell phones for communication purposes during travel. But they will NOT have access to their cell phone during Discover Term programs. Staff will collect all cell phones at the beginning of the term and store them in a secure location until they’re traveling back home.

If an emergency occurs at home, family members can reach out to our staff, who will coordinate communication with their child as needed. And in the unlikely event of an emergency with their child during the program, Discover Term staff will reach out to alert family members.

At Discover Term, our #1 priority is the well-being of our students and staff. Keeping everyone safe, healthy, strong and energized is absolutely essential for our life-changing experiences. To that end, we have many policies in place to support this goal:

• Med forms: As part of our standard pre-program paperwork, families complete a detailed medical questionnaire. These help to ensure we can properly support each student’s physical and emotional well-being throughout the program.
• Supervision: We take great care to ensure students feel both supported and secure. Our staff actively supervise all student activities, and no student or staff member participates in high-risk activities alone.
• Local experts: In addition to our internal training, we work with experienced partners whose deep local knowledge and expertise helps us ensure students’ safety every step of the way.
• Medical services: Local healthcare resources are readily available and accessible from all of our campuses. If a student falls ill or experiences an injury requiring medical attention, a Discover Term team member will inform parents as soon as possible and provide regular updates on the student’s care and recovery progress.

Health and safety at Discover Term go far beyond first aid kits and emergency plans — they’re embedded in the community values we expect our students to uphold as well. By engaging fully, following agreed-upon safety practices and contributing positively to group life, students foster an environment where everyone can thrive.

• Student-supported safety: We spend time reviewing rigorous safety procedures and expectations with our students, teaching them how they can personally help keep themselves and others safe.
• A nurturing community: Students live and learn closely together, and a key part of these experiences is developing a deep sense of responsibility for one another. We teach students what it means to be part of a respectful, accountable community, where looking out for each other is second nature.
• Accountability & consequences: If a student is unable or unwilling to meet the expectations necessary for a safe and healthy community, we address the situation with care, communication and opportunities for reflection. If we determine that a student’s continued participation would compromise the well-being or cohesion of the group, we will notify the student’s parents that they have been dismissed from the program and must return home at the family’s expense.

Ultimately, safety at Discover Term is about more than rules. It’s about creating a culture of trust, care and shared responsibility. We believe these are lessons that last far beyond the programs themselves.

At the heart of our philosophy is the idea that less is more. Less stuff. Less worrying. Less fuss. More enjoyment. More fulfillment. More presence.

To that end, families receive a detailed packing list in advance that’s specific to their child’s program.Everything on the list has been carefully chosen to fit into one duffel bag or suitcase, plus a small carry-on daypack. We’ve tested this ourselves — and it works! So we urge you to resist the temptation to overpack.

Yes! We strongly believe that these unforgettable, life-chancing experiences should be accessible to as many families as possible. Therefore, we do provide financial aid to families in need.

If you require financial assistance to attend one of our programs, you will be required to complete a financial aid application as part of your Discover Term enrollment process. All scholarships are based upon need, and are distributed on a first-come-first-served basis.

Homesickness is a natural and expected part of being away from home — especially in a new and immersive environment like Discover Term. We approach it not as a problem to be fixed, but as a meaningful and often valuable part of a student’s personal growth.

Every child is different, and their experience with homesickness will depend on many factors, including their personality and previous time spent away from home. Our staff is trained to recognize the signs of homesickness and to support students in working through it with care and compassion.

We encourage students to talk openly with staff and peers, and to lean on their community for support. Rather than isolating them or rushing them through their emotions, we work to normalize what they’re feeling and help them build tools to navigate it. This may include writing letters home, spending quiet time with animals, journaling or simply having a staff member sit with them and listen.

We also help students identify patterns in their feelings — for example, to recognize whether certain times of day are harder than others — and gently guide them toward strategies for self-awareness and resilience.

In our experience, the most effective support often comes from acknowledging that it’s okay to feel sad or miss home. In fact, for many students, learning to move through homesickness becomes one of the most transformative and memorable parts of the experience.