Summit & Service

Join Us for Summit & Service

Summit & Service offers a dynamic and immersive experience that combines outdoor adventure with meaningful community engagement for rising 8th-12th graders. This 2-week adventure will be a heavy dose of mountain biking, hiking, climbing, rafting and community service with all of the other Discover Term games and traditions wrapped around it! 

Students will spend time mountain biking in the breathtaking San Juan National Forest and Durango area, exploring renowned bike parks, long cross-country trails, and challenging “hike your bike” routes. All students will be physically challenged while enjoying what many consider one of the best areas in the entire country for mountain biking. Participants will be guided by expert instructors sourced from local Durango outfitters, with bikes provided as part of the tuition (students may also bring their own).

In addition to biking, students will dedicate 6 hours per week to community service projects, working with local organizations such as Durango Trails and the Durango Food Bank. 

On non-biking days, students can choose to go hiking or climbing with local experts. A few days will be spent rafting on the Animas River with Durango Whitewater Rafting. 

Summit & Service includes accommodations at the Black Diamond Lodge, a comfortable retreat near Purgatory Resort and just a short drive from the town of Durango. 

Program dates: July 12, 2025 - July 26, 2025

Tuition includes everything except travel to/from Durango, CO and the purchase of a LifeId Band.

July 12-26, 2025

Only 20 spots available

  • Rising 8th to 12th Graders

  • Mountain biking, rafting, hiking and climbing

  • 12 hours Community Service

  • 8 hours Leadership Course

  • 14 Nights at Black Diamond Lodge

Tuition is $6450 per student

Sample Schedule

Summit & Service will be based at the Black Diamond Lodge in Colorado, located just one mile south of Purgatory Resort. This cozy and welcoming lodge is the same venue we use for our Powder Term in the winter, offering a perfect blend of comfort and proximity to outdoor adventures. The lodge is a 3-minute drive from Purgatory Resort and the town of Durango is only about a 25-minute drive away, with local amenities such as the Durango Hot Springs and the Durango Community Recreation Center.

Where is Summit & Service?

We understand that you may have questions about sending your child on this epic adventure. Click the request info button below to be contacted by a team member via email with more information. If you have more immediate questions, please call Jamie at 512-422-2274.

Let’s Talk

Frequently Asked Questions about Summit & Service

  • No, cell phones and other devices are not allowed. The most important thing we do at any of our Discover Term programs is build meaningful relationships. Cell phones, smart phones, tablets, and other electronic devices are a major distraction from doing this.

  • Melissa Ruder is our on-site Director. She has spent the last two decades as a Spanish teacher and coach for all ages in school districts in Tennessee and Wisconsin. Melissa joined the team during last year’s Surf and Service, and has 3 kids of her own who have attended the last 3 Discover Terms in Colorado and Costa Rica. During the school year Melissa serves as the Verona Area School District Employee Wellness Team Leader, in addition to coaching track, cross-country, and triathlon for their middle and high school teams. Melissa has also led student trips in Ecuador in addition to traveling and studying abroad in Spain and Mexico.     

    Mary Clare Matthews and Jamie Matthews will also be joining Melissa and the group for the duration of the program. They will be leveraging their experience from the first 8 Discover Term programs (4 in Durango and 4 in Costa Rica), in addition to their 30+ years combined experience coaching youth and middle school sports. Both also survived the teenage years with their son and 2 daughters with only a few mental and physical scars.

  • We want to help everyone say “Yes!” who is excited about an adventure like this. We strongly believe that these experiences should be accessible to as many families as possible.  

    If you have questions about receiving a scholarship or financial assistance to attend “Summit & Service” please reach out to Jamie Matthews at 512-422-2274.

  • Prior experience is not required for Summit & Service, but the program is physically demanding. To fully enjoy the experience, participants should be in good physical condition. We recommend that students engage in at least 30 minutes of rigorous physical activity each day for a month leading up to the program. The better prepared they are physically, the more fun and rewarding the experience will be.