Explorations
Academy students are required to earn 14 "trip equivalents" over two years that then generate one-half unit of local credit for the Explorations course. Trips will be on Saturdays, on holidays, after school, over weekends, and during breaks, and will focus on developing self-reliance, responsibility, and a greater understanding of career opportunities and of the importance of science and technology in our world.
There are four kinds of Explorations - Academy Sponsored, Academy-Approved Independent, Student-Proposed Independent and Job Shadowing. Each Exploration requires timely submission of required components to be eligible for credit.
The Academy sponsors a number of traditional Explorations each year, including a Winter Break Trip to the Keystone Science School in Colorado, the annual SciTech Exposition at Montgomery College, and the Lake Conroe Trash Bash. Added to this are special offerings that depend on faculty and parents to arrange and sponsor. Examples include trips to the ExxonMobil Visualization Lab, to the Huntsman Chemical Plant, to the Lexicon Genetics lab, Moody Gardens overnight, and a Spring Break Trip to the Grand Canyon.
Independent Explorations and Job Shadowing are initiated by the student and the credit requirements are tailored to the opportunity, whether it be the Nature Lecture Series, a trip to Sea World in San Antonio, or a visit to the Smithsonian.
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