Contrary to what you may be thinking, your child does not need to be homeschooled in order to attend one of our Academic Term programs. In fact, over 70% of our students come from traditional public, charter or private schools.

We believe these programs are chances for young people to transform and reach new potential. Helping your child’s school understand the purpose of the program and why your child wants to attend will frame it as an amazing opportunity to support.

Each school handles this differently. Some require formal approval from an administrator or principal, while others simply ask families to coordinate with teachers or academic counselors. Most students will need approval from the school if the intent is for them to return to that school in the same grade and with the same status as when they left.

Each school handles this differently. Some schools and district policies require a formal request and documentation to be completed for the planned absence. Occasionally, it may be easier for the school and family to unenroll the student for five weeks and reenroll the student upon their return to simplify attendance records. In these cases, the students still set academic goals to work towards during the program.

Our admissions team supports families in any scenario with a process and resources that make this easy:

• Set up a meeting with your child’s academic counselor or administrator using template language we’ll provide.
• Present Discover Term to your child’s school using our Academic program documentation.
• Align on academic expectations with our pre-term academic goal-setting framework, which enables students, parents and teachers to collaboratively define what areas of focus and coursework a student will work on during the program.
• Provide examples of the Student Transcript and Student Portfolio of work students will receive at the end of the program.

A member of the Discover Term team is also happy to connect with and talk to your school administrators with you if helpful.

No, it’s extremely rare for families to be denied permission to attend.

School administrators and teachers are primarily concerned with making sure that the student will continue their coursework while away, and that they’ll be ready to transition back into the classroom upon their return. Our pre-term goal-setting process, during which students and teachers collaborate on coursework expectations, along with the academic resources, transcripts and portfolios of work that we provide, typically relieve these concerns.

The bottom line: If you want your child to attend, you can most likely get it done. Reach out to our team directly or begin the enrollment process to access resources you can share with your child’s school.

We’ve had families find our program, meet with their school administrators and be enrolled within one week. The best way to get approval quickly is by scheduling a meeting with your school administrator, where you’ll discuss your child’s desire to attend and share documentation about the program from our team. If required, a Discover Term education team member can speak with your school administrator to clarify any questions they have about our program.

Before attending, every student completes a structured Academic Goal Setting process with support from their parents. This ensures each student arrives with a clear plan for success with a narrow focus on 2–3 subjects (most often math and science, sometimes English, plus history or a foreign language).

Because time is limited (roughly one hour of study hall most days), it’s important for parents and schools to align expectations on which aspects of hometown school coursework should be prioritized and which academic areas do not have expectations. Narrowing the focus allows students an opportunity to accelerate their progress, with many previous students returning to their hometown school ahead in their math or science coursework.

Of course, this is not always the case. Many factors contribute to a student’s academic performance, including what subjects they focus on, how aggressively they decide to pursue their goals, and how intentionally they use their time during the program’s academic study halls.

Parents play a key role in supporting students and in aligning their pre-term academic goals in partnership with the school so that expectations are clear before the program begins.

No, Discover Term does not offer direct academic credit as our programs are not officially accredited by any organization. Some schools, however, will accept Discover Term coursework for school credit if presented with our program documentation, such as example student transcripts and portfolios. If course credit is needed, we recommend requesting credit approval from your school before attending and providing this documentation for support as part of the request.

We create spaces where students can be present, engaged and immersed in learning and growth — without the constant pull of outside distractions. In that spirit, direct communication between students and families is intentionally limited, with students having the opportunity to call home twice during our 5-week programs.

We understand that being away from your child for an extended period can be difficult, and we deeply empathize with the desire for updates. While our team focuses on supporting students from day to day rather than managing ongoing communication, we are committed to keeping you meaningfully connected to the experience.

Throughout the term, our team will send you email updates, including photos and highlights of the group’s activities, such as outings, educational opportunities, local adventures, reflections and more. Additionally, each family will receive a midterm and end-of-term update specifically about their student.

We also see this experience as a meaningful time of growth not only for students, but for families as well. Discover Term invites everyone involved to slow down, disconnect and reflect — and we hope that this time apart helps strengthen your relationship in ways that go beyond constant contact.

Discover Term focuses on three primary areas of mastery: self mastery, physical mastery and academic mastery.

We help youth practice paving their own path to mastery by:

• Instilling habits that promote physical and mental health
• Nurturing self-direction, time-management, project execution and leadership skills
• Leveraging adaptive learning platforms, physical training and cross-discipline projects

We’ve developed our own curriculum that incorporates a blend of Socratic coaching, guided experiences, project-based learning, and adaptive digital coursework. We incorporate core skill tools like Khan Academy, Lexia and No Red Ink, along with our own cross-discipline project learning experiences.

Outside of self-driven academic courses, research for Discover Term projects or scheduled calls home, our students are completely unplugged. Any other use of personal electronic devices is prohibited throughout the program.

This unique experience is designed to offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step away from the distractions of digital life. No social media. No infinite scrolling. No constant digital overload. The goal is to create intentional moments that encourage students to be fully present — physically, mentally and emotionally.

Discover Term is different from typical schooling in our approach to education, prioritization of rigorous physical activity, dorm-style living and Socratic learning style.

We believe each child is capable of being their own best teacher — and we’re here to give them the environment, resources and experiences they need to stretch their limits and explore their capabilities.

It’s not about “teaching kids” so much as providing adventures, challenges, interactions and environments that enable them to develop their own learnings, which is exactly what they’ll be expected to do as they enter the world of adulthood.

No, Discover Term does not do any academic testing. We use dynamic and adaptive intake assessments to tailor learning programs that place students at the edge of their learning comfort zone in each of the adaptive learning platforms we use.

No, Discover Term does not assign homework. Individual students set self-paced academic goals that they are accountable for, and there are deliverables and milestones within projects that must be completed in order to move forward. The intent is for all work to be completed during the structured academic blocks each day.

No, Discover Term is not accredited. Some schools, however, will accept Discover Term coursework for school credit if presented with our course descriptions and Program Guide. If course credit is needed, we recommend requesting credit approval from your school before attending.

We’ve developed our own curriculum that incorporates a blend of Socratic coaching, guided experiences, project-based learning, and adaptive digital coursework. We incorporate core skill tools like Khan Academy, Lexia and No Red Ink, along with our own cross-discipline project learning experiences.

Students have daily Academic Study Hall time built into their schedules to continue any self-paced Academic Goals they set for the duration of the term. Some students choose foreign language as one of their areas of focus and bring coursework from their hometown school or use online adaptive language learning platforms. We do not offer our own foreign language curriculum, although our Surf Term program includes basic Spanish lessons as part of the experience.

Discover Term does not provide consistent or unplanned access to teachers, tutors, therapists etc. during our programs. If necessary, some arrangements can be made ahead of time to support unique needs as long as there is no conflict with the experience of other students or staff schedules.

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.

No, Summer Service students are completely unplugged! All cell phones and other personal electronic devices are prohibited for the duration of the program.

This unique experience is designed to offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step away from the distractions of digital life. No social media. No infinite scrolling. No constant digital overload. The goal is to create intentional moments that encourage students to be fully present — physically, mentally and emotionally.

Full tuition is due upon a student’s acceptance to Discover Term in order to reserve their spot in the program. 50% of this tuition is non-refundable. The other 50% is refundable up to 60 days prior to the start of the program. No amount of the student’s tuition is refundable if the first day of the enrolled program is within 60 days.

We encourage families to purchase travel insurance to cover any emergency travel or loss of funds due to injury.

Discover Term is unable to serve young people with significant physical or mental health needs, including the inability to walk, feed themselves, communicate their needs, engage independently in regular daily activities or generally function independently.

Discover Term does serve young people with some learning differences, which may include dyslexia or mild Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

Yes, every Discover Term student has their own individual bed to sleep in.

Discover Term students have their own beds in separate bunk rooms from staff. No Discover Term team members share sleeping areas with students. Students and team members do share common living areas, including kitchen, community rooms, patios, lounges, game rooms, etc.

Outside of self-driven academic courses, research for Discover Term projects or scheduled calls home, our students are completely unplugged. Any other use of personal electronic devices is prohibited throughout the program.

This unique experience is designed to offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step away from the distractions of digital life. No social media. No infinite scrolling. No constant digital overload. The goal is to create intentional moments that encourage students to be fully present — physically, mentally and emotionally.

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.

No, students are always surfing with an instructor or with a surf buddy. Each morning, students will have coached surfing sessions with small groups of 2-3 students per instructor. In the afternoon, students are paired with a buddy of similar surfing ability, with Surf Term counselors also present in the surf zone. Additionally, we are typically surfing 150 yards from the lifeguard stand on Baker’s beach.

Drinking water in Costa Rica is safe to drink straight out of the faucet and will be the primary source of our hydration during Surf Term. Students will be encouraged to keep their water bottle with them at all times.

We completely understand that allowing your child to travel internationally without you can feel like a big decision — especially if this is the first time they’ve traveled abroad. Rest assured, student safety is our #1 priority.

Surf & Service takes place in Nosara, Costa Rica — a small, welcoming town that our founders have personally known and loved for years. They’ve not only brought students here through Discover Term but have also traveled to Nosara with their own families and young children.

In addition, we’ve built strong, trusting relationships with local partners who help us provide a safe, supportive and enriching environment for our students.

If you have specific concerns, we're always happy to connect and talk them through with you.

Discover Term is unable to serve young people with significant physical or mental health needs, including the inability to walk, feed themselves, communicate their needs, engage independently in regular daily activities or generally function independently.

Discover Term does serve young people with some learning differences, which may include dyslexia or mild Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

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.

We create spaces where students can be present, engaged and immersed in learning and growth — without the constant pull of outside distractions. In that spirit, direct communication between students and families is intentionally limited, with students having the opportunity to call home twice during our 5-week programs.

We understand that being away from your child for an extended period can be difficult, and we deeply empathize with the desire for updates. While our team focuses on supporting students from day to day rather than managing ongoing communication, we are committed to keeping you meaningfully connected to the experience.

Throughout the term, our team will send you email updates, including photos and highlights of the group’s activities, such as outings, educational opportunities, local adventures, reflections and more. Additionally, each family will receive a midterm and end-of-term update specifically about their student.

We also see this experience as a meaningful time of growth not only for students, but for families as well. Discover Term invites everyone involved to slow down, disconnect and reflect — and we hope that this time apart helps strengthen your relationship in ways that go beyond constant contact.

We create spaces where students can be present, engaged and immersed in personal growth — without the constant pull of outside distractions. In that spirit, direct communication between students and families is intentionally limited.

We understand that being away from your child for an extended period can be difficult, and we deeply empathize with the desire for updates. While our team focuses on supporting students from day to day rather than managing ongoing communication, we are committed to keeping you meaningfully connected to the experience.

Throughout the term, our team will send you email updates, including photos and highlights of the group’s activities, such as outings, educational opportunities, local adventures, reflections and more.

We also see this experience as a meaningful time of growth not only for students, but for families as well. Discover Term invites everyone involved to slow down, disconnect and reflect — and we hope that this time apart helps strengthen your relationship in ways that go beyond constant contact.

Discover Term is the right fit for parents who believe their child is ready for the adventure of a lifetime — ready for challenge, ambiguity, deep self-discovery, and a community that promotes and expects self-driven learning.

Discover Term is right for children who are ready to commit to an adventure where they’ll be pushed beyond their typical mental and physical limits in an environment that’s centered around fast-paced learning, physical adventure and engaging community.

Individuals who thrive at Discover Term are those who have a ‘let’s do it’ mentality — those who want to explore, learn, push themselves and spend time reflecting on what they’ve learned and how they can apply it to their life.

Students are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. We may reach capacity before the enrollment deadline, so be sure to enroll early.

Yes, every Discover Term student has their own individual bed to sleep in.

Discover Term students have their own beds in separate bunk rooms from staff. No Discover Term team members share sleeping areas with students. Students and team members do share common living areas, including kitchen, community rooms, patios, lounges, game rooms, etc.

Discover Term is unable to serve young people with significant physical or mental health needs, including the inability to walk, feed themselves, communicate their needs, engage independently in regular daily activities or generally function independently.

Discover Term does serve young people with some learning differences, which may include dyslexia or mild Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

Each Discover Term program has an on-site chef who prepares all of the food. Meals vary by week and include hot and cold lunches, hot dinners, snacks, and an occasional dessert.

Discover Term chefs prepare a variety of items based upon the meal and location. Typically, each meal consists of one or two starch items, one meat protein, a vegetarian option, vegetable sides, salad, and an occasional dessert.

Yes, Discover Term has served both vegetarians and vegans, although their options may be more limited at each meal.

Discover Term has served students with food allergies, and it depends upon the specific food allergies and their severity. If your child has food allergies please reach out to our team directly to discuss their specific needs.

Our five-week Academic Term Adventures cost $12,950, and our two-week Summer Service Adventures cost $6,450. These prices include everything except the student’s flight to either Liberia for Surf Term/Surf & Service or Durango La Plata Airport for Powder Term/Summit & Service. Students who attend Powder Term must also purchase their own lift ticket for Purgatory Resort.

Tuition does not include:

• Your child’s travel to and from the program: Parents are responsible for purchasing flight tickets and covering any additional travel expenses. Instructions for booking travel will be provided at least four months before the term begins.


• A LifeID and personal gear: Required gear varies by program and can be found in the program-specific packing lists. Please note that Discover Term does not supply the items listed.


• Ski lift pass: For skiing or snowboarding terms, a lift pass is not included in tuition and must be purchased separately.

Full tuition is due upon a student’s acceptance to Discover Term in order to reserve their spot in the program. 50% of this tuition is non-refundable. The other 50% is refundable up to 60 days prior to the start of the program. No amount of the student’s tuition is refundable if the first day of the enrolled program is within 60 days.

We encourage families to purchase travel insurance to cover any emergency travel or loss of funds due to injury.

Yes, The Discover Term Foundation does provide financial assistance to families who are unable to fully fund tuition. Awards are not guaranteed, and are based on family income, total assets and funds available.

The Discover Term Foundation provides scholarships to families who are inspired by our mission, deeply want their child to experience one of our adventures, but don’t have the full financial resources to send their child to one of our programs. Families who are in need of financial support from The Discover Term Foundation will complete a scholarship application on a different website called Clarity. The Discover Term Foundation uses the Clarity Application to determine a family’s level of financial need based on the information that families share in the application which includes assets, income, expenses, and debts.

The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The Clarity Application is mobile-friendly so you can complete it from anywhere. You are able to save your progress and return at any time. At the end of the application, there is a $60 fee to submit. If you believe this fee would cause undue hardship for your family or prevent you from applying, please contact our team at admissions@discoverterm.com.

Under "Select Schools," click "+ Add a School" and type in "Discover Term" so that your scholarship application will be sent to us.

If you need support during the process of completing your Clarity application, there is in-app support available through the “Get Help” button in the bottom left of the screen, as well as email and phone support at support@clarityapp.com and 206-210-3752, in both English and Spanish. You can also change the Clarity website into Spanish by clicking on the drop-down menu above the "Get Help" button.

Click here to get started with your Clarity application.

Yes. Families are responsible for booking their child's flights/travel to and from our various campuses. Travel costs are not included in tuition.

Families have two options for both arrival to and departure from our campuses:

1. Option 1: Parent drop-off and pick-up
Parents may choose to personally travel with their child to campus, drop them off directly at the Discover Term campus at the start of the term and return at the end of the term to pick them up from campus.

2. Option 2: Child flies unaccompanied on a preselected flight
Students can fly unaccompanied on a preselected flight. They will be met at the airport by a Discover Term team member who will facilitate transportation to our campus. For the return flight, a Discover Term team will also facilitate transportation back to the preselected airport.

Discover Term will specify 1–3 preselected flight options for both arrival and departure, typically via Dallas-Fort Worth. Families are responsible for booking the exact itinerary provided and ensuring their child arrives at the airport on time for departure.

These are NOT chaperoned flights. Students will be flying independently, although there may be other Discover Term participants on the same flight. Upon arrival at the destination airport, a designated Discover Term team member will meet your child and transport them to campus. At the end of the program, a team member will shuttle students back to the airport for the preselected return flights.

Please note: We are only able to coordinate airport pickup and drop-off for students flying on one of the preselected flights.

Both United Airlines and American Airlines offer or require an Unaccompanied Minor service, depending on your child’s age. If utilizing this service, families must follow the airline’s protocol, including listing the designated Discover Term team member for pick up on all necessary forms. You will receive this person's name and information before departure.

Preselected flight itinerary details — including flight numbers, departure cities and times — will be posted on the Parent Dashboard no later than four months prior to the start of the program, so families have ample time to book and prepare.

Students do not need to have any prior experience, but they will need to be physically fit enough to spend a few hours each day surfing (or learning to do so). We recommend students spend at least 30 minutes per day in rigorous activity for a month leading up to our surf programs. Activities could include surfing, skiing, basketball, soccer, swimming, running, etc. Additionally, students should be able to swim 200 yards without stopping before the start of the program.

To ensure they’re challenged appropriately and set up for success, students are grouped by similar ability level and previous experience. Our goal is to create an environment where each student feels both supported and stretched in their learning.

We regularly reassess and reshuffle groups based on how students are progressing, what they’re interested in focusing on and how they’re engaging with the activity. This flexible approach allows us to meet students where they are and help them continue to grow at their own pace.

No, Discover Term will provide access to an appropriately sized surfboard. If your child would prefer to bring their own surfboard, they are welcome to do so. Surf program participants must come with their own swim gear and ocean apparel, as detailed in the student packing list.

The beach break in Nosara is ideal for both beginner and advanced surfers, as there is an inside and an outside break:

• The inside break is where beginners learn on softer and slower waves.
• The outside break is for more advanced surfers, and we find that all students make it to the outside break by the end of the term.

No student is ever forced to surf the outside break, and all spend time throughout the program learning about the water, the waves and their capability to improve their skills.

No, students are always surfing with an instructor or with a surf buddy. Each morning, students will have coached surfing sessions with small groups of 2-3 students per instructor. In the afternoon, students are paired with a buddy of similar surfing ability, with counselors also present in the surf zone. Additionally, we are typically surfing 150 yards from the lifeguard stand on Baker’s beach.

Yes! Powder Term students are welcome to either ski or snowboard, as long as they pick one single discipline to focus on throughout the program.

Students do not need to have any prior experience, but they will need to be physically fit enough to spend a few hours each day skiing/snowboarding (or learning to do so). We recommend students spend at least 30 minutes per day in rigorous activity for a month leading up to Powder Term. Activities could include skiing, basketball, soccer, swimming, running, etc.

To ensure they’re challenged appropriately and set up for success, students are grouped by similar ability level and previous experience. Our goal is to create an environment where each student feels both supported and stretched in their learning.

We regularly reassess and reshuffle groups based on how students are progressing, what they’re interested in focusing on and how they’re engaging with the activity. This flexible approach allows us to meet students where they are and help them continue to grow at their own pace.

No, Discover Term provides either skis and poles or a snowboard for all participants. Students are welcome to bring their own ski and snowboard gear if they prefer. All students must bring their own winter clothing and personal gear (such as helmets and goggles), as outlined in the student packing list.

Students do not need to have any prior experience, but Summit & Service is physically demanding. We recommend students spend at least 30 minutes per day in rigorous activity for a month leading up to Summit & Service. Activities could include skiing, basketball, soccer, swimming, running, etc. The better prepared they are physically, the more fun and rewarding the experience will be.

No, Discover Term provides high-quality mountain bikes through a top-tier fleet, with features such as dual suspension, electronic shifting, dropper posts and other advanced components. These mountain bikes are excellent for all planned activities.

While students can bring their own bike if they feel strongly about it, we may not always be able to transport personal bikes to our various activity locations. For that reason, we strongly recommend using the bikes we provide. All participants are still required to bring their own helmet and personal gear, as outlined in the student packing list.

To ensure they’re challenged appropriately and set up for success, students are grouped by similar ability level and previous experience. Our goal is to create an environment where each student feels both supported and stretched in their learning.

We regularly reassess and reshuffle groups based on how students are progressing, what they’re interested in focusing on and how they’re engaging with the activity. This flexible approach allows us to meet students where they are and help them continue to grow at their own pace.

At Discover Term, our goal is to create a community where students feel safe, respected and supported, both by staff and by each other. That starts with hiring passionate, trustworthy adults and giving them the tools to help students navigate shared living spaces, outdoor adventures and the emotional dynamics that come with close community life.

To ensure staff are prepared to foster this kind of environment, we take several key steps:

1. Background checks for all campus staff
Every staff member staying on campus completes and passes a criminal background check before arriving.

2. Training in youth protection & prevention
All staff complete a professional training course through Darkness to Light, focused on recognizing, preventing and responding to inappropriate or harmful behaviors. This is similar to SafeSport training used in youth athletics.

3. Pre-term onboarding & scenario-based training
In the days leading up to each term, staff participate in in-depth training that covers:

• Emergency procedures
• Youth protection in both on- and off-campus environments
• How to proactively identify and address early signs of conflict, exclusion or boundary-crossing between students

4. Structured campus policies that promote safety
We set clear expectations for how all community members — students and staff — should share space and interact. These include:

• Gender-specific boundaries for living spaces (e.g., boys are not allowed in girls’ bunk areas, and vice versa)
• Group-based travel to off-campus locations (e.g., a student traveling to a clinic is always accompanied by at least two people — either two adults or one adult and another student)
• All interactions between staff and students must be interruptible and observable, meaning no closed-door conversations

5. The Social Contract: A shared commitment
Students and staff co-create a Social Contract that outlines expectations for kindness, accountability and shared responsibility. Throughout the program, students are encouraged to speak up if they see or experience behavior that doesn't align with the contract — whether it’s obvious or more subtle.

Our team is trained not only to set and maintain boundaries but also to actively support a culture where students feel empowered to take care of themselves and each other.

Each Discover Term program is led by a full-time, on-site team that includes a Program Director, experienced Guides/Counselors and a dedicated chef. This core team is supported by our Founders and off-site operations team, who remain actively involved and often rotate through attending terms.

All staff members have strong backgrounds in working with teenagers, particularly in settings like schools, camps and outdoor education programs. Their experience and passion help create a safe, engaging and supportive environment for every student.