Tornado Term

Teachers: Ralph Potter and Tom Herring

Did you know that the Battle of Missionary Ridge passed right through McCallie's campus? Or that the Battle of Chickamauga was the second bloodiest battle of the Civil War, only behind the Battle of Gettysburg? There is a tremendous amount of Civil War history in and around Chattanooga. We will learn about the battles fought around Chattanooga and tour area battlefields.

Teachers: Erin Tocknell and Adam Tolar

In this T-Term, we work with multiple organizations within a 4 mile radius of campus. These organizations each serve oftentimes-marginalized members of our local community. Each day will be a new experience with new goals and opportunities to learn and serve. For those who have a heart to serve, possess empathy, and a desire to learn more about the Chattanooga right outside our school gates, this is the T-Term for YOU!

Teachers: Neal Dexter and Holly Deeds

Prerequisites: Taken or enrolled in Intro to Physics or an advanced science class and must be able to read at a fairly high level.

The Science in Science Fiction is a course designed for students who love to both read and watch science fiction and are curious about the actual science behind the stories. We will delve into popular science fiction tropes and discuss the validity of the science underlying them. The course will include reading classic science fiction short stories and viewing science fiction movies or television programs. Field trips to science museums will also be part of the course. Enthusiasm for reading and science are a must for this course.

Teachers: Steve Reno, Chris Richardson, and Mike Newman

This course will focus on all levels of baseball. We will discuss how these levels have affected college baseball, and we will visit all levels of college programs.

Teachers: Eric Wolf and Andrew Voss

If you went searching for God, would you know what He looks like? Would you have to go far, or is He nearby? Join us as we search for His fingerprints in our own city. We'll venture to the places where He says He will be, hear from people who have had their own lives changed by Him, and participate in the work He calls us to. Along the way we'll interact with questions like, "How can we discover God's presence every day?", "What type of person does God like to work with?", and even "Does God still perform miracles today?" If any of those questions seem compelling to you, join us for a T-term that will fundamentally alter the lens through which you see your own life.

Teachers: Bailey Adams and Rob Lyons

Prerequisite: $300 cost for overnight travel expenses; ability to ride horses (Financial aid is available)

"Cowboy Camp" is an immersive experience where participants will learn to care for the needs of their horse so their horse can perform the needs of the Cowboy. Cowboys will learn to prepare their horse for the day's events, such as inspect, feed and water, saddle, as well as better understand the human connection with the horse so both the horse and the rider gain confidence in each other. Cowboys will also have the opportunity to experience bull riding, calf roping, barrel racing, bulldogging, and trail riding. All of these activities will be accomplished over a 7 day period including a "crash course" in everything about your horse, one day of Rodeo events, and a 4 day 3 night trip to Alpine boys' camp on Lookout Mountain. Don't leave yourself wishing you "should have been a cowboy".

Teachers: Keith Chapin and Thea Autry

Have you ever wanted to start a business of your own? How would you find the right market, the right product, and make sure you got it up and running? How have other entrepreneurs done it? This T-term will help you on your way to learning about creating a small business as we take a deep dive into the process, challenges, and rewards that come with being an entrepreneur. We will investigate a few sectors of our local economy (restaurants, construction firms, farms, advertising, banking, a hot sauce manufacturer, a drone company, and yes, a paintball establishment). We will interview entrepreneurs, tour their facilities and get advice from some of our community’s successful business starters. We will learn about how to transform an idea into an income, the right steps to take, the challenges, the rules, and the tremendous satisfaction that comes from this work. In the end, we hope to begin the process of planning, pitching and advertising some of our own ideas. Come see what it takes to engage in one of America’s most valued traditions and dreams, starting a small business.

Teachers: Randy Odle and Ross Shumate

Textile Arts is for students wanting a hands-on and interactive introduction to a new art form. No experience is necessary, as you will start from the beginning in learning the forms and functions of textile art. Through computer programs, you will explore the latest technology and design techniques of textile art, and you will develop renderings of your artistic ideas that can be transferred to paper or cloth. You will also design and create your own patchwork blanket using patterns of your choice. That means that in addition to the fun of learning new skills, you will leave with a piece of functional art that will serve as a practical and long-lasting souvenir of T-Term 2024!

Teachers: Andrew O'Neill and 

"I’ll tell you, one of the great activities is skateboarding. To learn to do a skateboard trick, how many times do you gotta get something wrong till you get it right? …And you hurt yourself, and you learned to do that trick, now you got a life lesson. Every time I see those skateboard kids, I think ‘those kids will be alright.’" -Jerry Seinfeld. The aim of this Tornado Term is to use skateboarding as a medium through which to explore the relationship between 'thinking and doing' and the value of persistence in the life of a man. Students will engage with a wide array of principles ranging from engineering and math to art and athleticism by building a skateboard from scratch and then learning how to skateboard. Students will have the opportunity to visit local businesses to understand the economics of an entertainment sport, and the go to skateparks with the goal of riding their custom made skateboard by the conclusion of T-Term! Any student is encouraged to join regardless of their experience in skateboarding.

Teachers: Andrew Rominger and Hank Currin

$100 cost for overnight travel expenses (Financial aid is available)

Embark on an unforgettable week-long Indonesian Cultural Experience! Journey to Java provides students the opportunity to dive into the rich tapestry of Indonesia's history, music, food, religion, sports, and language. Each day you will be immersed into a new and exciting element of Indonesian culture. These experiences will include the opportunity to learn a new martial art, carve and play a traditional bamboo instrument, meet local and regional Indonesian college students, learn the basics of a new language, and of course, eat the most delicious Indonesian food at two of Atlanta’s best Indonesian restaurants. Did someone say Atlanta Hawks game?

Teachers: Brent Alverson and Jake Altemus

Ever drum on your desk to create a beat? Or hum a different solo to the song on the radio? How about creating a song? For time immemorial, humans have been creating music to tell stories, convey feelings and emotions, and entertain ourselves and others. Together during T-term, we will look at what it takes to create different types of music, hear from and talk to professional musicians, listen to a variety of musical performances, and create music ourselves. If you are an experienced musician, or simply like music but have never played an instrument, come on out and we will enjoy music together.

Teachers: Sean McCourt and Casey Cook

Prerequisite: $250 for tickets and overnight travel (Financial aid is available)

Mr. McCourt & Mr. Cook will examine America's founding principles of equality and natural rights as well as present the stories of our nation's quest to achieve them. In particular, we will examine and discuss the impact of events like the murder of Emmitt Till, the bombing of the 16th St Baptist Church, and Freedom Summer among others. We will also learn about leaders like Medgar Evers, Martin Luther King, John Lewis, and Rosa Parks who inspired a new generation of Americans to seek change. Students will research in class as well as take several field trips in order to experience where these historical events actually happened. Students will travel to: Jackson (MS), Birmingham (AL), Montgomery ( AL), Atlanta (GA), and Memphis (TN) for the class.

Teachers: Tony Robinson and Ryan Trott

Students will spend half of the day visiting a local business to learn how the business functions. They will see the "behind the scenes" operation of the businesses. Representatives from the companies will give presentations on how they run their business. Students will also have plant tours at manufacturing facilities. The other half of the day, students will participating in various fun sporting activities; both individual and team sports.

Teachers: Michael Lowry and Chip Evans

Prerequisites: Ability to return to campus late from field trips.

How does one make a ukulele? In this course, we will explore the process of making a functional musical instrument. We will become proficient in woodworking, using both traditional methods and high-tech tools to assist in the design process. Other areas of study include understanding the physics of sound, testing the properties of wood, appreciating the art, history, and musicality of the instrument. We will take field trips to a luthier’s workshop as well as view historical instruments. Through a combination of guided inquiry, apprenticeship with a master craftsman and independent research, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the ancient craft of instrument making. Off campus field trips may require us to return to campus later in the day.

Teachers: Cleve Latham and Connor Ilchert

Prerequisite: Physically able to participate in yoga exercises

A warrior is not someone who just goes to war and kills people. A warrior is one who exhibits integrity in his actions and control over his life. A warrior’s training is designed to enable him to overcome fear in the face of danger. By channeling strength and self-mastery, a warrior can turn inward and face the things his psyche is afraid to deal with. Yoga prepares the body for meditation using physical strength, and then meditation promotes mental depth. This course will teach how to provoke and reflect upon connections between the mind and the body. Both the mind and the body will get a workout each day. The group will visit yoga studios downtown for the experience of “hot yoga” and hiking trails in the mountains for intense natural meditation. Special sessions will include acupuncture with meditation, body movement, and hot yoga.

Teachers: Josh Deitrick and Bryon McCague

Prerequisites: $200 (Financial aid is available)

Exploring monastic life, prayer, and solitude at the Little Portion Hermitage in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. Students will spend a couple of days unplugging on campus with studies of Monasticism along with the benefits of prayer and contemplation. The majority of T-Term will be a trip to a Monastery in Arkansas where we will spend mornings in silence, prayer, and reflection. Afternoons will be spent serving and working with the monks. Evenings will be times of fellowship and debriefing with the group.
“Lord my heart is not proud, nor are my eyes fixed on things beyond me, In the quiet I have stilled my soul, like a child at rest on its mother's knee, I have stilled my soul within me.” -John M. Talbot

Teachers: Sam Currin and Brian Maskarinec

The Olympics: the apex of athletic achievement; a historic gathering of countries in the name of epic competition; a unifying event that takes years to plan and weeks to conclude.
WE WILL DO THIS IN 10 DAYS!!! This T-Term will feature a variety of Olympic and Non-Olympic events, athletic and non-athletic, and we will compete as separate organized "countries" in our own McCallie-Style Olympic Games. We will swim the 50 Free, but also play Scrabble; we will play table tennis, and also paintball; we will run the 800, but also play trivia.
Participants must be willing to be active for multiple hours on a daily basis; must be prepared to engage in activities that may not fall into their "strengths"; and must be, first and foremost, willing to be part of a group that is unified under an imaginary flag.

Teachers: Caleb Bagby and Russell Buck

Have you ever wanted to build an arcade machine? Have you ever wanted time to explore the development of the video game industry from pinball machines to modern game consoles? Virtual Reality? During this t-term we’ll be building Multi-game Arcade Machines in small groups, designing games, and exploring the video game industry from the beginning of its inception to the current status as it stands today. To be clear, when we aren’t building arcade machines, we will be playing video games. 

Teachers: Jesse Teague and Luis Rodriguez

Prerequisite: $350 and weekend participation (Financial aid is available)

We will travel as a group to a remote destination, cook our own food, camp, and take part in various outdoor activities. Each student will get the opportunity to put their leadership skills to work by co-leading and managing the group while also participating in the day's adventures. We will experience the beauty of nature, the challenge of living in the wild, see wildlife, and the fun of playing in the mountains. Since we will be traveling, this course does require weekend participation and a slight cost. Please check your availability before signing up. All necessary gear can be borrowed from the Outdoor Program.

Teachers: Duke Richey and Chip Arnold

Prerequisites: $250 for tickets (Financial aid is available). Ability to play an instrument is a plus, but not required.

Do you love blues-driven Southern rock n’ roll-- everything from Muddy Waters and Elvis to Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Allman Brothers, REM and Jason Isbell?

Do you want to explore why so much great music has emerged from the South? Do you want to learn, or improve your own ability to play some of the Southern Rock standards on guitar?

If you answered yes to these questions, this course is for you. We will explore the roots and sounds of Southern Rock, and we will learn about the dynamic music recording industry in the region by visiting (depending on the year) Athens, GA, Macon, GA, Memphis, Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and/or Nashville, setting foot in various storied venues in each place. We will explore several aspects of the music “business” from the agents who represent artists to the club owners who book them for shows.

We will visit shrines and venues ranging from Beale Street and Graceland to the Country Music Hall of Fame, FAME Studios, Capricorn Studios, and a sundry of other legendary music venues around the South. Along the journey, we will explore our own musical talents, with the goal that everyone in the class participates in a composition (original song) via a group jam that includes various instruments.

Teachers: Josh Coleman and James Harr

Prerequisites: Compassion for those less fortunate than yourself and creativity!

Who are the needy in the Chattanooga community? How can we help this need? We will seek to answer these questions as we visit area non-profits such as the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, Chatt Foundation (formerly, the Chattanooga Community Kitchen), and the Mustard Tree Farm. In addition to learning about each of these outreach organizations, we will offer "hands on" support by giving back through our time and energies. We will also travel to Knoxville, where we will visit similar offerings in that community. This is sure to be a life altering experience, as we show compassion for those less fortunate than ourselves.

Teachers: Ashley Posey

Are you ready to catch a killer?

Think CSI, NCIS, even mix in a little Matlock. If you have ever wondered, “Is that really how that works” or “Does it really happen that way”, here is your chance to find out. Join this T-Term to learn all the ins and outs of what a career as a forensic scientist really entails. From touring the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, to meeting with forensic anthropologists, to examining the stages of decomposition while excavating a recently deceased/buried pig, this T-Term will be packed with science based techniques to give you a first hand look to see if you have what it takes to catch a killer.  Note: This T-term selection IS NOT for the faint of heart. There will be smelly, bloody and grotesque situations. This is not for those with a squeamish personality.

Teachers: Jim Suddath and Brett Speakman

Never learned how to shoot the 3 or make a bounce pass? Do you look at a set of golf clubs with fear? Have you ever kicked a field goal? Are you just not very athletic, but want to develop some basic skills in three popular sports? Well, this is the T-Term for you! Your days will be spent in the classroom, on the field, on the court, and in the golf center studying and practicing the fundamentals of these sports in order to one day confidently coach your stud son or daughter in intramurals.

Teachers: Ricky Thomas and Ryan Alston

Prerequisite: $250 for tickets and overnight travel (Financial aid is available)

This T-Term, Mr. Thomas and Mr. Alston will lead a group of McCallie men on a southern road trip. We will walk in the footsteps of individuals that influenced America and sparked change. We will visit museums and prominent sites in New Orleans, LA, Montgomery, AL, and Atlanta, GA. All should come with a thirst for discovery and an appetite for food and fun. Each student will reflect on their fun-filled experience as they walk in the footsteps of Giants.

Teachers: Trey Tucker, Dave Sewell, and David Eastman

Adventures like Krav Maga self-defense, horseback riding, handgun safety, and tire changing are the training grounds to equip your hearts to become wise, tough, resilient men who sacrifice themselves to care for those around you. Additionally, we will develop emotional intelligence and tackle questions such as:
- “Who am I?”
- “How do I figure out my purpose?”
- “What does it take to be in a healthy relationship?”
- “How should I deal with my emotions?”
There is so much demanded of young men today, and you will leave this experience feeling more prepared to meet those demands and excel in the roles of manhood.

Teachers: Jessica Dobrin

This course will do a deep dive into all things Candy. We will be making it, eating it, and learning its history. Plans may include a visit to a real chocolate factory (Oompa Loompas not included) or other candy-related field trips as well. Each day will focus on a particular theme and we will be making several batches of candy around that theme. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, this class is for you!

Teachers: Cary Hubbard and Devin Cassell

Prerequisite: Must be 16+ years of age as of January 1st, 2024.

This course will cover the basics of self defense and self preservation in a variety of situations from learning how to survive in a wilderness setting, how to treat an injured individual, learning the basics of situational awareness, and an introduction to firearms safety. In addition, we'll spend time learning to defend ourselves using hand-to-hand techniques and what to do when the situation hits the ground.
This course will involve firearms training from trained professionals and thus will include the handling and firing of firearms. 

Teachers: Joel Coffman and Stuart King

Knives, Glass, and Clay is a crash course in being a maker. Students in this course will have the chance to visit several of Chattanooga's local makerspaces and learn from folks who make cool things on a daily basis. KGC students will also have the opportunity to dive into these spaces and make something of their own. These products include but are not limited to: a custom knife, a glass ornament, a ceramic dish, and a hand-knitted hat. This course is designed to encourage the boys to dip their closed-toe shoes (required) into several different maker-centric trades to gauge their own interest as well as expose them to the many makers in the Chattanooga area.

Teachers: Will Givens and Kathaleen Hughes

In the words of Chef Gusteau, "Anyone can cook." But there’s more to the making of a meal than merely making food. At a time when food is fast and the words insta and snap describe the medium of social interaction, how might we cultivate gatherings that are slow, filling and nourishing? In this course, we’ll learn to master the egg (Big Green, scrambled, and fried). We’ll knead flour into pasta, bread and homemade pizza. We’ll roll sushi and churn ice cream made from scratch. We’ll cultivate the habits of listening well, practice the skills of entering into hard conversations, and even dabble in the art of telling a great story. If this whets your appetite, come to the table!

Teachers: Sal Musumeci and John Green

Prerequisite: Juniors only

The age-old debate of "funniest person alive," is a constant dialogue in Mr. Green's and Dr. Musumeci's coaching conversations. While last year the two centered their attention on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," this year they want to explore the many manifestations of "Saturday Night Live" since its creation in the mid 1970s. In light of the current sociological debates that ask "what makes someone or something funny," and "can you really say that out loud or on television," we will spend some time exploring comedy and humor, and their importance in our culture. So if you are interested in a combination of serious thinking, laughing, and breaking bread together...this T-Term is the destination for you.

Teachers: Tyler Newman and Jersey Demarco

This T-Term will focus on developing archery, hunting, and fieldcraft skills. There will also be some hiking with fieldcraft and/or scouting incorporated. In this class, you will learn how to shoot compound bows proficiently, things to consider for hunting, how to scout for deer and how to track them, survival skills such as building shelters, different ways to start campfires, different knots and their use cases, etc. Unless we are off campus, we will use the mornings to watch informative videos on technique/skills, discuss hunting, the history of bows and how to tune them, and fieldcraft skills. In the afternoons we will practice the skills we have learned, whether that be archery, hunting, or fieldcraft skills. Note: About half of the afternoons will be used to practice archery and the others will be used for fieldcraft/scouting/hiking.

Teachers: Hank Hopping and Dan Wadley

We’ll spend 3 hours a day prepping, baking, and eating bread (and a few things that go well on good bread, like quality butter, jams, and jellies, and some other stuff too). We’ll research bread (less in an academic way and more in a “what do we need to know to get good at making bread” way). We’ll explore family and favorite recipes from class members, and we’ll look at the best bread choices that can be made start to finish in less than three hours. If we have time, we might even make Mr. Hopping’s homemade pizza, which starts with a simple but delicious dough. Late in the course we'll sample some breads from local bakeries to compare our work to that of the professionals. By the end, we'll embrace the reality that “Bread is life!”

Teachers: Correna Andrews and Nelson Eiselstein
Prerequisites: Parental permission to study various aspects associated with gambling

Come along to witness the adventures into the world of gambling. In this T-Term, we will explore the math, statistics, and science behind the numbers. Will you win? We will try our hands at the most common games: blackjack, craps, poker, and roulette (playing with tokens of course). Most casinos offer promotions such as free bets to try and get you to play with them rather than their competitors. Is it really risk free? Are gambling houses rigged? We will also discover the psychological dangers that lurk in this compelling world.

Teacher: Chris Carpenter

Sports is big business. It can also teach us about the basics of economics and personal finance. Why are savvy investors purchasing sports franchises? How does NIL work? Why are corporations sponsoring teams and stadiums? Where does all the money going to professional athletes come from? How do millionaire athletes go bankrupt? We will explore these and other questions in a fun, academic-in-nature T-Term course.

Teachers: Tim Chakwin

Becoming a True Athlete is an introductory course that empowers individuals to unlock their full potential in their athletic pursuits, while fostering a deeper sense of purpose and well-being. Designed by a collection of Olympians/Paralympians, coaches, sport psychologists and mindfulness teachers, the course explores Five Pillars of a True Athlete: Performance, Community Responsibility, Nature & Connectedness, Identity & Values, and Mindfulness. Becoming a True Athlete is designed for students involved in sport at all levels and/or interests in sports psychology.