The final Interterm of the 2023-2024 school year is nearly upon us and for many, this is their last chance to experience this Bethany exclusive event. We all want this Interterm to be a memorable one, so I decided to interview each Interterm leader to see what exactly they’re envisioning for their classes they’ve spent so much time planning.
Question 1: Why did you choose to lead this interterm?
Benji Hurst (Movies & Models 2: POTC Edition): “I wanted to offer students a relaxed setting to share in one of my favorite movie franchises and allow a creative outlet for our model design and production.”
Amy Thut (Maple Madness): “I love being outdoors. During this time of the year, I especially love all the activities that go into maple sugaring. I used to work at the Yoder Sugarbush years ago when I was an Intern with Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center. I enjoyed tromping around in the woods gathering sap, chopping wood with an axe, and hanging out with others around the warm wood-fired evaporator in the sugar house.”
Brent Reinhardt (Chicago Amazing Race): “I’ve always loved the Amazing Race reality show and I like to provide fun and adventurous interterms that students will remember and I will enjoy participating as well.”
Edgar Silva (Kickin ́ it: Martial Arts 101): “In my last interterm I had some students who told me they would love to learn something related to self defense. That is the main reason I chose to lead a martial arts class.”
Michael Walker (Being Well): “I feel that general wellness is very important for all of us, young and old, so the hope is to work together to find some real-life strategies to apply to life to help just a little bit more.”
Josh Weaver (Local Service and Cycling): “I wanted to do Cycling and Service both because I enjoy biking and want other Bethany students to have access to bikes. Local service with Chain Reaction seemed a good way to achieve this.”
Calvin Swartzendruber (Bruin a Cup of Joe): “I observed enough students walking around with coffee drinks in the morning to realize that there are some serious coffee lovers here. So why not do an interterm related to coffee? Besides, why wouldn’t somebody want to do an interterm where you relax and drink coffee.”
Jonathan Reuel (Sneaker Culture): “I have been interested in sneakers for several years now since a neighbor asked me to customize a pair of Vans. When I started working at Bethany I became curious about what sneakers students were wearing and why. I think it’s a window into who people are and I find that fascinating.”
Question 2: Is this a new experience for you to lead?
Benji Hurst: “This is the second in a series of 2D movies and 3D models. In the fall of 2022, I lead a Star Wars and 3D models interterm.”
Amy Thut: “This will be my first time leading an Interterm about Maple Sugaring.”
Brent Reinhardt: “Yes this is the first time for this interterm.”
Edgar Silva: “Martial arts is definitely new to me. I am finding it very meaningful to choose something that will make me step out of my comfort zone.”
Michael Walker: I’ve led this interterm before, and this has been a focus in my life lately, but I am still learning new things about wellness.
Josh Weaver: “This is a new combination but I have led Cycling and Local Service as separate experiences. This is the first combination.”
Calvin Swartzendruber: “New this year…it’s the third time this year, so the third time is a lot easier than the first.”
Jonathan Reuel: “Yes. I haven’t led a sneaker-focused interterm before. I expect to learn a lot.”
Question 3: What are your previous interterm experiences?
Benji Hurst: “My past Interterm experiences have included: Movies and Models, Cartoon Animation, Imagineering-Design Technology at Walt Disney World in Florida, Learning Guitar, Learning Ukulele, and Robotic Photography and Light Design with Spheros.”
Amy Thut: “Backpacking in Illinois, learning about coal mining in Kentucky, working on local farms, local service, biking/ boating/ hiking, and spending time with the Jesus People in Chicago.”
Brent Reinhardt: “I’ve led over 25 years worth of interterms. There are too many to mention but especially memorable interterms have been civil rights in the South, Major League baseball games, and attending March Madness games.”
Edgar Silva: “Futbol (the real one :)) and dancing.”
Michael Walker: “This year I helped with a local service interterm and international cuisine interterm.”
Josh Weaver: “This year was Winter Sports and Local Service. In other years I have led a wide range of things including Cycling, Civil Rights, and Perspective on Creation.”
Calvin Swartzendruber: “I have typically done a 2-year rotation of something aviation related (Private Pilot Ground School, Things That Fly, Model Rockets, etc.) and Forensic Science. One year I led a Habitat for Humanity group that helped build a house”
Jonathan Reuel: “As a high school student I did a cycling interterm, a music interterm and a service interterm. All were meaningful, and both the music and service interterms impacted me in ways that I carried with me long after high school. As a Bethany employee this is the second interterm I’ve led. The first was focused on songwriting.”
Question 4: What do you find most exciting about the topic of the intertem?
Benji Hurst: “I really enjoy seeing students find inspiration from the films we watch to create something new and totally their own.”
Amy Thut: “I really enjoy the group bonding and learning that happens through immersive experiences off-campus.”
Brent Reinhardt: “I never do a topic I’m not familiar with. Really, the school just pays me to do things I enjoy and take kids along with me.”
Edgar Silva: “I like the opportunity to learn a new skill and, again, step out of one’s comfort zone. Soccer is my passion and I love the idea of leading classes about that.”
Michael Walker: “It’s a chance to talk about different aspects of life with students and get to know them in a different setting. Also, if each student can take something away that will help them, I’ll consider it a success. I’m also excited for many of them to try kombucha for the first time.”
Josh Weaver: “I enjoy contributing to the community and doing service that is meaningful.”
Calvin Swartzendruber: “Making connections with business and other resources in the community. They are so willing to help out with our efforts.”
Jonathan Reuel: “Sneakers connect with key aspects of life at this moment in history. They are part sports, music, fashion, group identity, personal expression, cultural change, human rights and the environment. Looking at sneakers can give us glimpses of the good and the bad of our culture.”
Question 5: What are you most anticipating about the interterm?
Benji Hurst: “I am anticipating a fun time of good conversation, creative energy, and life lessons learned from Captain Jack Sparrow.”
Amy Thut: “Spending time with the students in my group and being outdoors.”
Brent Reinhardt: “I want to see if it works out the way I have planned it to work. If it doesn’t it will still be fun and I will know better what to do next time.”
Edgar Silva: “I like the idea of getting to know some students who have never taken a class with me. I am also excited about the self defense combos we will learn.”
Michael Walker: “I’m bringing in a guest speaker from Goshen College, Brianne Brenneman, and I can’t wait to see what knowledge she will be sharing with the group.”
Josh Weaver: “I am looking forward to fixing up bikes for a few members of our community.”
Calvin Swartzendruber: “Drinking good coffee. The highlight is visiting the Starbuck Reserve in Chicago, the world’s largest Starbucks store.”
Jonathan Reuel: “Learning from what students already know, seeing what new ideas connect, and being surprised by what is created!”