More Than a Class Trip
At Brazos Christian, class trips are about so much more than getting away from campus for a few days or a week. Of course, they’re fun, and our students come home with plenty of stories to tell! But there’s a bigger purpose behind them. These trips are another way we help our students learn, grow in their faith, build relationships, serve others, and experience the world around them through a biblical worldview.
One of my favorite things about our Class Trip Program is how the trips grow alongside our students.
Our 7th graders start close to home, exploring Texas and experiencing some of the history they’ve learned about in the classroom. It’s also an important opportunity to spend time together, strengthen friendships, and grow as a class.
In 8th grade, students head to Washington, D.C., where history and government suddenly become much more real. They visit landmarks, museums, memorials, and Arlington National Cemetery, experiencing both the inspiring and difficult parts of our nation’s story through a biblical worldview.
Our 9th graders travel to Kentucky and Ohio. The Ark Encounter and Creation Museum give them opportunities to dig deeper into biblical truth and think about what they believe and why. They also visit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, where they learn more about freedom, courage, and an important part of our nation’s history.
Then comes 10th grade and Colorado! This trip looks a little different. Rafting, climbing, rappelling, hiking, and camping give students plenty of opportunities to get outside their comfort zones, encourage one another, and build confidence. And after days filled with activity, they gather around the campfire for devotional time and a chance to slow down, reflect, and grow together in their faith.
For our 11th graders, the focus begins to turn outward. In Costa Rica, students serve alongside a local ministry through construction projects and children’s ministry. They experience a different culture, serve people outside their own community, and glimpse the ways God is at work around the world.
Finally, our seniors wrap up their Class Trip experience at the Passion Conference, gathering with thousands of other young people for worship, prayer, and spiritual growth as they prepare to leave BCS and step into what comes next.
When you look at all six trips together, they aren’t just six fun destinations on a calendar. They follow a progression: learn, experience, challenge, serve, and grow.
We want our students to come home with great stories, stronger friendships, and memories they’ll talk about for years. But we also hope they come home changed in some small way.
Because ultimately, the destination isn’t the point. It’s the growth that happens along the way.
Wendee Binford
LS/RS Principal