Learning Beyond the Classroom

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“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.”

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

Experiences shape us. They stretch our abilities, broaden our perspective, push us beyond our comfort zones, and strengthen our resolve.

At Worldview Institute, we believe learning should be more than sitting in a classroom. It should challenge students to think deeply, work with their hands, engage with their community, and discover who God has created them to be.

Over the past three weeks, our students have been immersed in new experiences. From cracking open classic literature and exploring their identity in Christ to picking up a nail gun for the first time, the first few weeks of WVI have been anything but boring!

During orientation week, students gathered at Refreshing Mountain Camp for a series of team-building activities designed to demonstrate the importance of trust, communication, and resilience. Little did we know how quickly we would put those lessons into practice!

Students also participated in a county-wide scavenger hunt, giving them the opportunity to explore our community and learn more about the businesses and organizations partnering with WVI.

In late August, we welcomed Travis Schmalhofer from Fairview Home Services for a Construction 101 workshop.

During this day-long experience, students learned how to measure, cut, frame, and finish a temporary wall. They were excited to learn new skills and challenge themselves—and, perhaps most importantly, they discovered the joy of working with their hands.

What surprised many of them was how much fun learning could be. They experienced the relaxed atmosphere of working alongside one another, discovered that they were capable of more than they thought, and walked away with new skills and a greater appreciation for the trades.

It was a productive, hands-on day filled with learning, fellowship, and plenty of laughter.

Last week, after spending time in the classroom studying the ancients, developing computer skills, examining the work God does through justification and sanctification, and learning how to navigate change, we headed out onto the open water with Hope Voyages.

Located in Maryland, Hope Voyages is a sailing ministry dedicated to training young adults to sail for the glory of God.

It was a beautiful day on the water. The weather was perfect, and we even had enough wind to turn off the engine and actually sail for a while!

Students hoisted sails, took turns at the helm, learned to use the navigation system, and practiced the various knots needed to safely operate a sailboat.

Our instructors, Kayla and Lydia, guided the students with patience and enthusiasm while reminding them of an important truth:

There is always something new to learn when you sail.

And isn't that true of life?

At WVI, we don't want students simply to accumulate information.

We want them to experience, engage, struggle, create, serve, lead, and grow.

We want them to discover that learning happens in a classroom, but it also happens on a job site, on a sailboat, around a table with a mentor, and in the middle of a challenge that initially feels uncomfortable.

We are excited to launch into yet another workshop at the end of this week as we continue stretching the dimensions of our minds—and, more importantly, building the experiences that will help shape our students into purposeful young adults who are ready to step confidently into God's calling for their lives.

If you would like to learn more about the Worldview Institute, the classes that we run, the workshops that we offer to the community this fall, or the transformational educational experience that we are looking to provide for the young adults in our community, we would love to share this information with you.

Please consider joining us for our next Open House on Saturday, October 3rd at 55 New Street in Ephrata.

Sign up here: https://www.worldviewinstitute.net/wvi_open-house