Intersession | Grade 9-12
Intersession is more than a break from the norm—it’s a chance for students to engage the world through hands-on learning, travel, service, and real-world experience. Whether exploring a new culture, diving into a career field, or serving locally, students grow in both knowledge and character during this signature two-week term.
Intersession is a two-week immersive course that draws students closer to Christ and their CHCA community while bringing classroom learning to life through real-world experiences. Over their four high school Intersession experiences, students grow in all five facets of a CHCA Eagle as they learn, lead, and serve, gaining the faith, skills, and experiences to live out their calling and thrive in college, career, and life.
From serving in Cincinnati schools to surfing the tides in Hawaii, exploring ancient Greece to examining classic films, Intersession courses cover a range of interests and passions, ensuring each experience is as engaging as it is exciting.
This overview provides the information you need to feel confident as you and your student prepare for Intersession.
Portrait of an Eagle
During their Intersession adventure, students encounter experiences that shape and equip them to grow in all facets of CHCA’s Portrait of an Eagle:
Rooted in Christ
Resilient & Adaptable
Effective Communication
Creative & Critical Thinking
Purpose-Driven Problem Solving
Relationship Building & Collaboration
Every course is intentionally designed to help students develop in each of these areas through hands-on, real-world learning.
Deepen students’ relationship with Christ
Students engage in meaningful, real-world learning that both informs and forms them by the gospel. They are equipped to embody God’s love and actively participate in restoring wholeness in the world while developing integrity and purpose.
Extend and apply learning
Intersession courses serve as authentic, project-based extensions of the classroom. They count for academic credit, include clear, identifiable learning outcomes, align with a CHCA content discipline (service immersion courses are the exception) and challenge students to apply, deepen, or explore new concepts connected to regular coursework. Each course includes a proof of learning—a product, presentation, performance, or other assignment that demonstrates what students have learned.
Build community and collaboration
Intersession fosters relationships through shared, collaborative experiences. Small course sizes encourage meaningful connections between peers and faculty. Students work in collaborative groups that promote teamwork and leadership skills, and faculty engage across disciplines to create a more connected school culture.
Course Placement
It is our desire that every student can enjoy the Intersession experiences that speak to their passions the most.
Once Intersession course options open, you will be asked to submit your student’s top four course choices online. As you review options, consider:
Travel and meeting dates
Subject matter and experiences
Availability
Expense
When placing students, our team will consider your student’s top-ranked courses as well as current availability. To ensure the highest number of students are placed into their top course choice, some students may be assigned to courses without other friends or students in their grade. Part of Intersession is meeting new people and encountering new situations—trust that God has plans for your child as they explore their interests and make new friends.
How Placement Works
When placing your student into an Intersession course, our team does consider:
Grade level
Priority is given to seniors, followed by juniors, sophomores, then freshmen.
Previous international Intersession courses
Within a grade level, students who have not traveled internationally in prior years will be given priority for international courses over students who have.
On-time course submissions
On-time submissions are placed before all late submissions, regardless of grade level seniority. While on-time submission does not guarantee placement in a top choice, submitting four distinct options maximizes your student’s chances.
We do not consider:
Previous year’s course requests
Course offerings change significantly each year, and grade-level priority generally makes placement in top choices more likely as students progress through high school.
Service hour/trip needs
Many service opportunities exist outside of Intersession and throughout the school year. Current service hour needs are not considered in placement. Students seeking additional hours may connect with Student Organized Service (SOS) for a list of opportunities.
Once course placements have been made, you will receive an email with your student’s Intersession course and instructions for completing registration through UltraCamp.
Tips for Choosing Your Top 4
Choose four distinct courses.
Requesting the same course more than once—or a course your student has already taken—does not increase the chance of placement. Each Intersession course appears on the transcript and cannot be repeated.Consider your passions.
Whether your student loves food, travel, hands-on work, or creative pursuits, there are multiple courses that can help them grow their gifts outside the classroom.Think about schedules.
Some courses involve travel (locally, nationally, or internationally), and departure/return times may fall outside normal school hours. Keep this in mind so your student doesn’t miss important travel windows.Have fun.
Intersession is a time to explore and grow. Encourage your student to choose courses that spark adventure and challenge them to grow socially and spiritually. Often, the unexpected course becomes the experience they’ll never forget.
Course Grades
Each Intersession course includes opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning in meaningful ways. Whether through a product, presentation, or performance, students are challenged to complete work that reflects the concepts they’ve learned through lived experiences.
Intersession grades:
Are based on engagement, quality of work, and course-specific learning outcomes
Appear on the high school report card and transcript
Count toward graduation requirements
Credit earned:
One Intersession credit is required for graduation
Each of a student’s four Intersession experiences earns 0.25 credit
Changes & Cancellations
Student demand determines our final course offerings. Each year, we anticipate two to three course cancellations.
Cancellation decisions are made during placement so students who request those courses are not disadvantaged in the process.
Once placement emails have been sent, courses will not be canceled.
In the rare event that all four of your student’s course options are either filled by higher-priority students and/or canceled, our Intersession Coordinator will contact you with new options to ensure your student is equally considered within their priority group.
Because we make viability and cancellation decisions based on full participation in one of each student’s top four selections, we cannot make changes once placement emails have been sent and course rosters are finalized.
The only exception is for medical reasons unknown at the time of course selection.
Investment
We are committed to helping every student enjoy their Intersession experience, and our team works diligently to provide course options accessible to all families.
Scholarships
Scholarships are currently available for senior students only.
Information about the scholarship process will be emailed to senior parents.
Awards will be given before course selection so families can plan for their top four course options.
Note: Tuition payments take precedence over Intersession payments. If an account is not current with tuition, automatic Intersession payments made through UltraCamp will be applied to tuition first.
April 10, 2026
Intersession course options available in the Veracross Parent Portal.
April 23, 2026
Deadline for ISP students to submit course choices to Mrs. Juneau. (Host families do not submit online options for ISP students.)
April 28, 2026
Deadline to submit course choices online and be considered on time.
May 15, 2026
Course placement email sent to parents; UltraCamp registration opens.
May 29, 2026
Deadline to complete UltraCamp registration and pay the deposit to keep your student’s place in their assigned course.
June 3, 2026
Waitlist placements begin. Students who have not completed registration/deposit and are assigned to a course with a waitlist may be removed from that course so a waitlisted student can be placed.
June 12, 2026
$50 late registration fee applied to all students who have not completed their online registration.
August 7, 2026
Automatic payment withdrawn for courses $2,000+.
September 4, 2026
Automatic payment withdrawn for courses $200+.
October 9, 2026
Automatic payment withdrawn for courses $50+.
January 4–15, 2027
Intersession 2027
Questions? We've Got Answers!
Contact Audrey Keyes ’95, Admissions Counselor for Grades 7–12, for more information on how you can become a future CHCA grad.