Discovery

Discovery 2023: June 6-25

“The care of the Earth is our most ancient responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster its renewal is our only hope.”

-- Wendell Berry, author, activist and past Discovery host in Carrollton, Kentucky

What is a Discovery trip?

Finding Hope in People and Places.

That is a cornerstone of the EMS Discovery program, which offers students the opportunity to participate in a month-long, cross-country group learning experience to dig deep into issues related to people, land and water resources. Students who have completed 10th, 11th or 12th grade apply to join approximately 25 other students and a team of leaders for this life-shaping experience which usually lasts much of the month of June.

Read about the Discovery '19 trip:

Read an article by Kerinna Good '19 on experiential learning and Discovery '17 here.

History of Discovery

Nearly 300 students and accompanying adults have taken part in an EMS Discovery trip.

In 1998, Myron Blosser ’79, long-time EMHS biology teacher, led the first cross-country immersion experience for juniors and seniors, called Coast-to-Coast.

Five years later, after joining the staff at EMS, he and Elwood Yoder lead a trip called Lewis and Clark. This biennial trip was later called Discovery.

Mr. Blosser led trips until 2013 with various faculty and staff joining to provide support. Science teacher Lee Good, joined the trips in 2011 and 2013 and then took leadership of trips in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

The every-other-year pattern was interrupted by Covid in 2021, and resumed in June of 2023. EMS Experiential Learning staff person Julianne Ross is co-leading the trip with Jennifer Young,  with input from Lee Good.