Click on the photos (right) to scroll through images from our 2019 E-term and Explore Week. See this online booklet, created by Julianne Ross (librarian and E-term co-leader with Anna Haar) describing the jewelry-making term.

Learn to turn: Students learned to use a lathe and other equipment in the school’s shop to create beautiful woodwork for gifts, for their own use and to donate to the school’s annual auction.

Anatomy of cooking and eating: Students used math (budgeting) and science (how does taste work?), reviewed etiquette with former EMS teacher LuAnn Bender, toured Mt. Crawford Creamery, made jam and bread, shared foods they made with Harrisonburg Free Clinic, Bridge of Hope families, and Charlottesville Ronald McDonald House, and were hosted for a meal by the owner of The Melting Pot in Charlottesville.

Taos, New Mexico: Land and water conservation, Taos Initiative for Life Together – TILT, Roots & Wings Family Child Care and Preschool, unplugged solo experience on Flag Mountain, natural hot springs at Questa, Ranchos Church, Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, Earthship Biotecture.

Service, Silence and Solitude at Headwaters (VA) YDI camp: Time for hard physical labor for the camp, building friendships, learning new skills, taking a break from screens and growing in faith.

Imagine escapes: The group visited an escape room in the area and created their own escape room in the school building. A week of group problem solving.

Robotics: Students learned the basics of wiring, building, and programming, tying those skills together to build an Arduino-Bot that they can control through an app on their smartphone. They also visited JMU’s advanced electronics lab to do some hands-on activities with Dr. Giovanetti.

Baseball and Business: Business tours at Martins Food Group in Chambersburg, Pa., Clemens Food Group in Souderton, Pa., and Bird-in-Hand Restaurant and Hotel in Lancaster, Pa. Baseball games in Philly and DC, including the Nationals vs. San Francisco Giants with EMS father, pitcher Erik Kratz. The trip included lodging and interaction at Lancaster Bible College.

Touring Choir: The tour included Mennonite Schools Choir Festival in Lancaster, Pa., and programs at New Holland Mennonite Church, Johnstown Christian School, Stahl Mennonite Church, Scottdale Mennonite Church and Woodcrest Retirement Community with an overnight at Laurelville Christian Retreat Center.

Board games: A week of strategizing, problem solving and fun, including participating in a cooperative escape room in Staunton..

Journaling the Journey: Visiting, reflecting and journaling about Endless Caverns, Raven’s Roost, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Blackfriars Playhouse, volunteering at the Edith Carrier Arboretum at James Madison University.

Nashville, Tenn.: Country Music Hall of Fame, Belmont University, Grand Ole Opry, Village Chapel, Blackbird Studios

Explore Week

8th grade, Philadelphia: art museum, Waterworks tour, penitentiary tour, Phillies game, Old City scavenger hunt, Independence Hall, Constitution Center. Ephrata, Pa., to pack relief kits at the Mennonite Central Committee resource center, farm visit.

7th grade: Harrisonburg’s Jewish synagogue, Laurelville Christian Retreat Center, Pittsburgh sites, Ohiopyle biking and hiking rails to trails

6th grade: Water exploration in lakes, streams, Brydgeworks, Season’s Bounty Farm, Harrisonburg Water Treatment Plant, Riven Rock State Park, Wildewood Park, Switzer Dam, camping