A Theological Institute
for High School Youth
June 21-26, 2026
EXPANDING HORIZONS at Maryville College is an annual, week-long summer camp program for students that have completed 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade who display a promise for leadership and an eagerness to explore theology in a college setting. For more information about the program and to apply, please continue reading below. If you have questions, please consider downloading our information packet!
The theme for EXPANDING HORIZONS 2026 is Stories that Shape the World: Telling Our Stories as a Part of God’s Grand Story. This year’s Expanding Horizons program at Maryville College will look at the ways the Bible tells its story and how learning to listen to and having the courage to tell our own stories can help us see God’s grand story in new ways.
Maryville College is deeply rooted in the Great Smoky Mountains. This year at Expanding Horizons, we will learn about the power of stories to shape our lives and our world. We will see the power of our own stories and the power of the story of Jesus to transform the world through goodness and the endless love of God. Over the course of the week, students strengthen their leadership skills through activities such as our low ropes courses and Mountain Challenge‘s Alpine Tower, while also partaking in small group discussions about faith, leadership, and vocation with current Maryville College students, who serve as mentors. Students also study religion, theology, and biblical studies with college faculty each morning, allowing them a unique opportunity to engage with their faith in a different context; no questions are off-limits in the classroom! In the evenings, students will work with staff and mentors in leading an ecumenical worship service for the group to feed the spirit and reflect on their journeys that week. In every moment, students are living in community on Maryville College’s campus or exploring the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains!
Thanks to the gifts of some very generous donors, the cost of EXPANDING HORIZONS is now only $300! This will cover on-campus housing, all meals, tuition, and supplies for the entire week. A $50 deposit is required after a student is accepted to the program and finishes their registration. The remaining balance is due no later than June 15th. Maryville College sponsors a limited number of competitive scholarships to Expanding Horizons available to students who apply.
