Eagle Week

A Special Upper School Tradition

Every spring, Upper School students participate in Eagle Week, a unique opportunity to serve locally, nationally or internationally to help meet the physical and spiritual needs of communities around the world.

Eagle Week takes place the week before Spring Break and provides meaningful opportunities to experience what living out Christ’s example. Each student will sign up for one of the trips OR a local service ministry. Emails will be sent by grade level on when and how to sign up. Local service trips will be announced at a later date.

International Destinations 2025

Costa Rica

Seniors only; The focus of the trip will be house-building projects, which is a new but highly successful program through Joshua Expeditions. In addition to building homes, seniors can take in the beauty of Costa Rica as they zip-line through the rainforest and relax in the natural springs heated by the Arenal Volcano. They will visit the beach and take a memorable catamaran ride with their classmates. The trip dates are March 1-7, 2025.

Cost: $2,600

Ministry Partner: Joshua Expeditions

Max Number of Students: 60

Lead Chaperone: Thompson

Montreal & Quebec, Canada

Students will travel to Montreal & Quebec City to be immersed in French culture. Working with an English speaking church, the group will serve the area through a variety of activities in Montreal, such as Young Life, and learn about the Christian climate and it’s history in the area. Students will also participate in a French cooking class and take an e-bike tour in Quebec leading to the Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame.

Cost: $3,000

Ministry Partner: Kairos Tours

Max Number of Students: 20

Lead Chaperone: Ford

South Africa

Students will travel to South Africa - a first for FBCA students - where they will serve with a number of ministry organizations. Upon arrival, students will get to see Cape Town. After that, students will serve in the soup kitchen of H.E.L.P. Ministries where they will distribute food to local schools. They will work with the Nonthandu Day Care Center for preschoolers, where they will interact with the children and help with repairs around the facility. Students will serve at the Butterfly House Community Centre where they will help students with homework and assist with local clean-up projects. In addition to serving in these ways, students will have the opportunity for a safari experience on the last day in South Africa.

Cost: $4,200

Ministry Partner: Joshua Expeditions

Max Number of Students: 20

Lead Chaperone: Carter

Ireland

Students traveling to Ireland will focus on community needs within the cities of Belfast and Dublin. Central to this trip are ministry opportunities over several days, emphasis on empathy, examination of the history of mission work in Ireland and spiritual growth of the students on the trip. While there, students also will have the opportunity to see The Irish Emigration Museum, Trinity Hall, Giants Causeway, Dunluce Castle and more.

Cost: $4,085

Ministry Partner: Joshua Expeditions

Max Number of Students: 24

Lead Chaperone: Mau

Italy

Students will travel to Florence and Rome, where they will see numerous sites of historical significance for early Christianity and learn about Christianity during the Renaissance. Some of the sites include the Roman Colosseum, Santa Maria del Fiore and the Pantheon. Students also will have the opportunity to visit the Vatican where they will see the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica. While in the two cities, students will do service work with local ministries coordinated by Joshua Expeditions.

Cost: $4,000

Ministry Partner: Joshua Expeditions

Max Number of Students: 30

Lead Chaperone: Williams

Jamaica: ASL

The FBCA team will return to Jamaica for the 12th year for a trip that focuses on deaf ministry. With an education system that lags behind that of the United States, the Jamaicans are glad for the assistance our students offer. The Deaf school at which our students serve uses both ASL and JSL so that communication can be easier.

Cost: $2,000

Ministry Partner: Praying Pelicans

Max Number of Students: 22

Lead Chaperone: Slate

Romania

High in the mountains of Timisoara/Susani, Romania, students will partner with Adina and Ovidiu Patrick (ministry partners of Grand Parkway Baptist Church) for a global ministry opportunity. Ovidiu is the pastor of Revolution Church in the city of Lugoj; Adina is a social worker who heads up the humanitarian aid portion of their ministry. Together they run the House of Joy, an outreach center for the surrounding rural area, where fewer than 25% of village children attend high school. As students are fully immersed in Romanian culture, they will be using their gifts to prepare and give their testimonies, lead VBS with hundreds of children and initiate conversations with non-English speakers. Six translators will join us as we also visit families in their homes, deliver groceries, attend church in Susani and Lugoj, minister to children in orphanages, and partner with other youth groups. On our cultural day we will visit the majestic Corvin Castle and Deva Citadel.

Cost: $2,600

Ministry Partner: Grand Parkway Baptist Church/Self-Planned

Max Number of Students: 22

Lead Chaperone: Sanders

Domestic Destinations 2025

Alaska

Students will travel to Alaska to be there at the time of the famous Iditarod Race. They will work alongside volunteers to get ready for the race, watch the beginning of the race, and do some post-race work, too. After the Iditarod Race, students will have the opportunity to serve the homeless, work with kids at the Boys and Girls Club and local city parks, serve senior adults, painting and helping at the homeless shelter. In addition to service work, students will have the opportunity to see some of Alaska’s beautiful wilderness and landscapes. The trip is limited to 12 students, juniors and seniors only.

Cost: $2,000

Ministry Partner: Grace Works Alaska

Max Number of Students: 12

Lead Chaperone: Curnutte

Arkansas

Students will combine service and adventure together as they serve communities in Northwest Arkansas, explore the Ozark Mountains, and ride the world famous Bentonville mountain bike trail system. Part of the trip will be spent serving with the Bentonville Church of Christ food pantry, with former FBCA teacher Mrs. Beth Coalson, assisting low income families. The other part of the trip will be spent sprucing up the Green Valley Bible Camp as they prepare for the first campers of the season. The afternoons will be filled with adrenaline pumping ebike rides throughout the area with a local guide. All skill levels are welcome, however, experience with mountain biking is a plus. This trip is limited to boys only.

Cost: $1,500

Ministry Partner: Self-planned

Max Number of Students: 10

Lead Chaperone: Lee

Austin

Any students interested in advocacy and government should enjoy this trip to our state capital from March 1-5. We will tour our State Capitol in Austin, visit UT's Law School and attend a class. The team will volunteer with a variety of advocacy programs such as Legal Aid, Child Advocates, Center for Child Protection or Dress for Success. We will also get to experience the beauty of Austin at Zilker Park and Barton Springs Pool after we share meaningful worship together on Sunday. Upon the conclusion of this trip, those who qualify for the state debate tournament will travel to their competition.

Cost: $750 (plus meals)

Ministry Partner: Self-Planned

Max Number of Students: 20

Lead Chaperone: Walker

Oklahoma City

Students will travel by bus to Oklahoma City, where they will partner with the Care & Connections Ministry of Henderson Hills Baptist Church. The trip will focus primarily on ministering to and serving others directly so that, through face-to-face interactions with others, students will develop empathy, share kindness and know what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus. In the evenings, students will enjoy an OKC Thunder game, explore revitalized OKC and engage with the youth ministry at HHBC.

Cost: $950

Ministry Partner: Self-Planned

Max Number of Students: 30

Lead Chaperone: Barber

Orlando

Partnering with local ministries in Orlando, coordinated by Joshua Expeditions, students will spend the week working at a food pantry, feeding the homeless and doing light construction and beautification work. Students also will have the opportunity to go to Universal Studios for one day and visit Disney Springs.

Cost: $2,000

Ministry Partner: Joshua Expeditions

Max Number of Students: 30

Lead Chaperone: Schelhouse

New York City

Partnering with a local arts ministry organization, students will spend the week getting exposed to and serving the greater NYC arts community through a variety of hands-on projects, including arts-based workshops for high-need communities and neighborhood beautification efforts. Students will perform service work during the day, explore Broadway shows and art/theater museums in the evenings, and participate in evening devotions to reflect on the performing arts from a biblical perspective. Interested students should see Mrs. Patterson for more details.

Cost: $2,000

Ministry Partner: Self-Planned

Max Number of Students: 20

Lead Chaperone: Patterson

Eagle Week

International Destinations 2025

Costa Rica

Montreal & Quebec, Canada

South Africa

Ireland

Italy

Jamaica: ASL

Romania

Domestic Destinations 2025

Alaska

Arkansas

Austin

Oklahoma City

Orlando

New York City

San Antonio

Dallas