FAQs
General Program Information
DiscoveryBound serves Christian Scientists, their families, and friends through fellowship in a dynamic, loving, healing, and inspiring atmosphere. Our programs encourages growth in an understanding of Christian Science and service to the world. DiscoveryBound (DB) is composed of three program areas:
- Outreach comes to you in your community with events for youth, your friends, and families, as well as adults. Activities take place in an inspirational environment where participants can relate to one another through the shared values of Christian Science.
- The National Leadership Council (NLC) offers teen leadership training based on a Biblical model of service to God and mankind. In NLC, teens belong to a community of like-minded thinkers who support global issues.
- Compass offers 10th- to 12th-graders one school year of spiritual exploration through monthly video web chats, two retreats, and great friendships.
For our friends of all faiths
For our friends of all faithsChristian Science is a Bible-based protestant Christian religion, not to be confused with Scientology. It follows Jesus’ example of how to rely on God for health and happiness. Christian Science is all about living love and expressing God’s goodness, including treating other people with unconditional empathy and forgiveness. Christian Scientists pray to God for guidance and healing for a variety of challenges – emotional, financial, physical, etc. – and they find that it works.
A common misunderstanding about Christian Science is that Christian Scientists are not allowed to go to doctors. Actually, the church does not set rules like that, and each person is encouraged to make their own decisions. It is a religion of Biblical examples, critical thinking, and effective prayer.
For children and teens, it may be helpful to go to a Christian Science Sunday School before attending a DiscoveryBound activity to get a better understanding of how we turn to God. Ask someone to take you, or go on your own. You are always welcome at a Christian Science church!
For more information on Christian Science, we encourage you to visit http://christianscience.com/what-is-christian-science.
DiscoveryBound is one of two distinct program areas of the Adventure Unlimited organization. The other program area is the A/U Ranches. While all of the Adventure Unlimited programs operate under the same mission, each program area operates independently of the others. DiscoveryBound has its own staff and holds events around the country and abroad from its offices in the Greenwood Village, CO headquarters, just outside of Denver.
DiscoveryBound’s Code of Conduct can be found here.
Outreach Program Information
DiscoveryBound (DB) Outreach is a program that extends beyond camp and church to provide Christian Scientists and their friends of all faiths with local, regional, and national events where they can see Christian Science in action.
Outreach events are not church. They create an atmosphere of friendship, helpfulness, inclusiveness, and inspiration that gives everyone a chance to feel free to be themselves and to feel close to God. Outreach events typically include an inspirational talk filled with new, helpful ideas, and usually there is a Christian Science practitioner available to offer answers and support when people have questions or challenges. A practitioner is someone who devotes their profession to helping people find solutions to all of life’s challenges through prayer. Above all, Outreach events are all about experiencing God’s love in action!
If you are on medication or would like to bring medicine with you to an event, please call the DiscoveryBound Outreach director. They can walk you through our policies and procedures to make sure you feel comfortable at the event!
The cost of Outreach events varies, depending on the activities involved, but as part of a nonprofit organization, DiscoveryBound works hard to keep programs affordable. We are willing to work with you to make sure money doesn’t stop you from being a part of these fun events.
National Leadership Council Program Information
Teens entering 8th grade who regularly attend a Christian Science Sunday School may apply.
Teens apply in the fall of their 8th-grade year. Classes form in November and stay together for four years. If you miss the registration window, please be in touch with us at [email protected] You may also want to consider registering for the DiscoveryBound Compass program, which is a one-school-year program for students in 10th–12th grade.
We hope teens and mentors stay together through the program. Each year they recommit to the mentor/mentee relationship. From time to time (for example, a teen moves or a mentor’s circumstance changes) a new mentor/mentee relationship needs to be cultivated – it’s all part of the learning!
- Monthly class calls and assignments
- Regular interaction with their NLC mentor
- Annual All Class Retreat
- Summer experiences – orientation, adventure trip, service trip, internship
- Participation in Congressional Award – Bronze Medal minimum
- Submission to the Christian Science Publishing Society
The cost to the family of the program for each participant is approximately $3,400/year. This includes the annual All Class Retreat and summer experiences, as well as estimated travel. Financial aid in the form of scholarships is available.
Code of Conduct
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. – Mark 12:30, 31
DiscoveryBound provides activities that foster spiritual growth and healing in an environment that is loving and inclusive, where Christian Science is lived. This uplifted atmosphere blesses those who are touched by it, and at the same time, this atmosphere is also upheld by those people. We are looking to you, as a participant or volunteer, to contribute to this community-wide goal by working to follow this code of conduct.
- I strive to live in accordance with teachings of Christian Science.
- I strive to support and uphold others in the community in the spirit of the Golden Rule (Matt. 7:12).
- I strive to focus on my relationship with God.
The following types of activities do not provide the healing atmosphere DiscoveryBound is striving to uphold for our programs:
Use or possession of tobacco, vape pens, marijuana, alcohol, and illegal drugs; sharing sexually explicit pictures, materials, and stories, as well as excessive public displays of affection and sexual activity outside of marriage; intimidating, harassing, or fostering an unsafe environment through any physical, sexual, psychological, or verbal harassment or abuse; and discriminating on the basis of gender, race, age, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, political opinion, economic status, social group, or ethnic origin.
Compass Program Information
When you join the Compass program, you are committing to a full school year, so be sure the retreat dates work with your family’s schedule before committing. You will also be expected to attend the web hangouts every month and to put some thought into brief assignments that deepen your look into each monthly theme. Plan to dedicate approximately 2-3 hours per month to your Compass participation.
Retreat locations change each season. The group typically stays together with chaperones in a home or youth hostel. If there is a need to fly to the retreats, the Compass participants will be greeted at the airport and provided with ground transportation.
Registration for Compass is on a first-come, first-served basis, and space is limited. Register online, but first prepare your application responses (the online form will time out after 30 minutes of inactivity, and we wouldn’t want you to have to start over after you pause to gather your thoughts!).
Financial aid is granted on a case-by-case basis, and each family’s situation is taken into account. To apply for aid, begin by registering online for the program. Once you have made that commitment and paid the $300 deposit, look for a link to the financial aid application in the confirmation email and complete the form. Next, you will receive an email with the amount you’ve been granted. All we ask in return is that you keep your grant confidential and that your teen write a thoughtful gratitude letter to DiscoveryBound’s donors at the end of the program.
If the amount of aid you’ve been granted does not meet your needs and you decide to withdraw from the program, you can get a refund of your $300 deposit by contacting the DiscoveryBound office within 48 hours of receiving your financial aid grant. If you have questions about finances prior to committing to the program, please call our office at the number on the bottom of this page.
Compass is a program for teens who have a genuine desire to study and practice Christian Science, and to support this desire, we do require participants to attend Sunday School at least 50% of the time. Participants may be new to Christian Science and may not have a history of attending Sunday School, but we ask for their commitment going forward.
| Similarities | Compass | National Leadership Council |
|---|---|---|
| Fellowship for CS high school teens | One-year commitment | Four-year commitment |
| Adult role models | 10th–12th grade, all grades combined | Same age group |
| In-person and remote interaction | Youth group fellowship | Leadership development |
| Financial aid available | Support | Curriculum |
| Groups | Classes | |
| Guides | Leaders | |
| Approx. 12 teens in each group | Approx. 20 teens in each class | |
| No summer programming | Congressional Award | |
| Mentors | ||
| Substantial summer trips |