Thunder Vision Frequently Asked Questions

What is Thunder Vision?

Thunder Vision is a complimentary college and career readiness field trip program specific for 7th and 8th-grade students. The program aligns with AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) curriculum while teaching students that they have a Purpose, a Choice, and it Takes Hard Work to reach their future goals.

Can I bring my 6th grade classes?

Thunder Vision’s curriculum is age and grade-appropriate for 7th and 8th-grade students. We look forward to meeting your students when they are in 7th or 8th grade.

How many students can attend?

A minimum of 20 and maximum of 300 students per group may attend, and we can accommodate 1 group per session. Our virtual Thunder Vision visits can accommodate up to 1000 students. If your in-person group has fewer than 20 or more than 300 students, please email us at [email protected].

We homeschool our kids. How do we get to visit?

We host 1 home school day per school year in April for families like yours. Please check our calendar for Home School Days. If you’d prefer to come during a regular Thunder Vision day, please email us at [email protected], and we can work with you to find a date/time that works.  

What will our schedule look like?

Thunder Vision has an AM and a PM session. When you arrive at GCU’s campus, you will be welcomed by our staff of college student workers. There will be a quick bathroom break upon arrival. 

What are our lunch options?

Schools should plan to bring a sack lunch or snacks for their students and chaperones. We do not provide drinks so please encourage students and chaperones to bring water bottles. We have a beautiful courtyard for picnics and playing afterward. Campus eateries can have up to a 40 minute wait for service so it is not possible to fit in a visit to them during your Thunder Vision experience. Please check with your school cafeteria to see if they can provide coolers and sack lunches or students can bring from home.

What if our group arrives late?

Thunder Vision runs on a tight schedule due to facility demands and the schedules of our student staff. If your group will be more than 15 minutes late, your campus tour may be canceled. If your group is more than 30 minutes late, your Thunder Vision field trip may have to be canceled. Please be sure to keep in touch with our team if there are any issues. 

What is your cancellation policy?

Check with your site supervisors before scheduling your visit to ensure no conflicts with testing, school holidays, bus schedule issues or other campus events.

In the event of a cancellation with fewer than three weeks notice, your school will incur a fee equal to 50% the value of the event, $175.
For cancellations within two weeks of the scheduled event, your school will incur a fee of 75% of the value of the event, $262.
Cancellations within one week of the scheduled event will result in a charge of 100% of the value of the event, $350.

We cannot guarantee availability to reschedule your visit as Thunder Vision fills quickly each semester. 

Will our school be the only school attending Thunder Vision?

It is possible that we will be hosting more than one school during your Thunder Vision visit. It is important that you ensure your group has the required chaperone-to-student ratio (1:10) so your group stays together and is supervised.

What is Thunder Vision’s required chaperone to student ratio?

We require 1 chaperone for every 10 students. If your school arrives without the required chaperone-to-student ratio, your group may not have its campus tour. Chaperones and teachers will be required to wear a chaperone badge for easy visibility for our student staff members which will be collected prior to departure. This ratio prevents misbehavior and ensures all of your students are representing themselves and your school in the best way possible. Students should be pre-assigned to chaperones prior to arrival at GCU’s campus. 

How does Thunder Vision define “chaperone”?

A chaperone is an adult at least 18 years of age who is willing to take charge and actively supervise a group of 7th & 8th grade students to ensure their safety and help create a positive experience on GCU’s campus. We love parents, step parents, guardians, adult age siblings, grandparents, other teachers and staff, etc, however, younger siblings should not attend. Please check your school or district guidelines for additional support. 

What if some of our students misbehave during Thunder Vision?

We expect that by following the 1:10 chaperone-to-student ratio, the chance for misbehavior is minimal. Our student staff is NOT responsible for student behaviors nor will they control your group.  That said, if chaperones are unable to actively supervise their pre-assigned student group, our student workers may ask the offending student(s) to sit out for the remainder of the program with an adult from your group. 

What should we wear?

Your group will be walking on the campus tour so comfortable walking shoes are essential. Please be mindful of the weather and dress appropriately as your group will be both indoors and outdoors while visiting GCU.

What if it rains? 

Thunder Vision happens rain or shine. The campus tour will be virtual, and we will host your lunch period indoors. 

Can our students bring electronic devices?

Absolutely! However, it will be up to chaperones and teachers to remind students of your school/district device expectations. 

I have a student with special needs. Can they still come?

Of course! We love ALL students and want to make their visit to GCU’s campus meaningful. If you notify us ahead of time, we will be sure to make their visit special. 

I have a student on crutches. How can they participate in the tour?

Please email us at [email protected] at least 48 hours in advance so we can attempt to reserve a golf cart or some other mode of transportation to ensure every student in your group is able to participate and have a wonderful time. 

Do you have any curriculum I can use to prepare my students for the visit?

Yes, we sure do! Please check out our asynchronous platform for complimentary resources and information! 

GCU is a Christian School. Do we need to be Christian to attend? 

No. We welcome all groups to our campus. 

Does GCU provide transportation?

All participating schools will need to manage their own transportation to our campus. 

We don’t have buses at our school–can we drive our own cars?

We PREFER schools arrive by bus, but we understand that’s not always possible. Please let us know the number of cars, the names of the drivers, and the models of the cars coming via email upon confirmation of your visit at [email protected]. 

My preferred date isn’t available. What do I do now?

Thunder Vision does offer Virtual visits for schools as well. We can accommodate up to 1000 students at once via Zoom and Mentimeter for an interactive experience that takes about 75 minutes of time. Please check out our calendar to book at Virtual Thunder Vision.