BIBLICAL AND APOLOGETICS IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
OPEN ENROLLMENT
Is your student ready for a life-changing experience? This summer, MAVEN is hosting our “open enrollment” Immersive Experiences for students across the U.S. We’ll lead your student through pre-trip training, where they’ll grow deeper in their knowledge of God’s Word and the Gospel, and then the MAVEN team will guide them on a week-long Biblical Immersive Experience in Utah, engaging lovingly with the LDS community, or a week-long Apologetics Immersive Experience in Boulder, engaging thoughtfully with non-believers.
This Immersive experience is for students entering the 9th grade through college.
APOLOGETICS: July 12-18, 2026
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Immersive Experience Training Package including required videos and reading
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Trained MAVEN Field Guides to lead your student(s) through the experience
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Adult MAVEN chaperones to help lead the group
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Meals for the entire trip
BIBLICAL: July 26-August 1, 2026
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Immersive Experience Training Package including required videos and reading
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Trained MAVEN Field Guides to lead your student(s) through the experience
-
Adult MAVEN chaperones to help lead the group
-
Meals for the entire trip
Ryan Pauly
Director of Immersive Experiences
Ryan has been working with middle school and high school students for over a decade as a missionary in the Dominican Republic, a high school Bible teacher, and a speaker. He attended his first Immersive Experience in 2016, was hired as a MAVEN Field Guide in 2017 and in 2023, took over as the Director of Immersive Experiences.
Ryan holds a B.A. in theology and youth leadership from Vanguard University, an M.A. in Christian apologetics from Talbot School of Theology and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in cultural engagement at Talbot. Ryan and his wife Emily have two sons, Lennox and Maverick, and live in Southern California. He enjoys watching hockey, roasting coffee, and playing with his boys.
Glenn Pinson
Assistant Director Of Immersive Experiences
Glenn Pinson is MAVEN’s Assistant Director of Immersive Experience. He was a paramedic and fire captain with the Beverly Hills Fire Department for almost 30 years and currently serves as director of operations for the Peak Rescue Institute. He has worked with youth, teaching worldview and apologetics for more than 20 years. Glenn and his wife Edith live in Orange County, California.
Alexis Zanias
Field Guide
Lexi, as she is fondly known as, has been a MAVEN Field Guide for six years. She received a bachelor’s degree in biology/secondary education from Grove City College and a master’s degree in environmental science education from Montreat College in NC. For 15 years she was a high school science and Bible/apologetics teacher in Asheville, NC. She worked with Summit Ministries for 9 summers helping lead student conferences in TN, CA, PA and GA. She loves spending time with Jesus, good discussions, Ultimate Frisbee, Lady Grey Tea and digging into good books.
Curtis & Maggie Hendrick
Field Guides
Curtis and Maggie have been married for 14 years and live in Southern California with their 4 young children. Curtis works in Healthcare IT and uses his technological talents to help maintain MAVEN’s website. Maggie received her Masters degree in Christian Apologetics and Evangelism and writes for Women In Apologetics (WIA). Curtis and Maggie currently serve as weekly Bible study leaders at their home church, the Village Church, in Irvine, California.
The Hendricks have served as volunteer staff members with MAVEN for the past 4 years. Maggie handles the itinerary planning for MAVEN’s Biblical Immersive Experiences and they both have helped lead and chaperone MAVEN’s trips. In fact, Maggie attended an Immersive Experience 18 years ago as a teenager and knows first hand how life-changing these trips are.
- Trip costs: $949 per student
- Transportation to the Salt Lake City/Boulder airport or MAVEN ministry house in in Saratoga Springs, Utah
- All items on the “What to Bring” list provided by MAVEN
- Completion of all pre-trip training
This Immersive experience is for students entering the 9th grade through college.
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You have two options to get your student to Salt Lake City: air or ground. If you choose to fly, you should plan to arrive by 2 pm on July 26th and depart no earlier than 1 pm noon on August 1st. The MAVEN team will be at the airport to pick up and drop off students. The first departing airport drop will be at 11 am, and the last airport drop will be at 4 pm on the 1st. If you choose to drive your student, you may drop them off at our host home south of Salt Lake City by 2 pm on July 26th and pick them up by 1 pm on August 1st.
For Boulder, you should plan to arrive at the airport by 2 pm on July 12th and depart no earlier than 1 pm noon on July 18th. The MAVEN team will be at the airport to pick up and drop off students. The first departing airport drop will be at 11 am, and the last airport drop will be at 4 pm on the 18th.
No, unfortunately, parents or guardians are not allowed to join the trip with their students. The purpose of the trip is to provide a unique and independent experience for the students to grow deeper in their knowledge of God’s Word and the Gospel, and to serve and engage with the LDS people in Utah and Non Christians in Boulder.
No, the trip is being led by the MAVEN team who have years of experience in leading successful trips for students. They have all the necessary qualifications and experience to provide the best possible experience for your student.
Phones will be collected at the beginning of the trip by the MAVEN staff and will stay turned OFF during the majority of the trip. There will be designated times to call parents. We know from years past that cell phones can be a HUGE distraction from God’s work on this trip. MAVEN staff will provide you with contact information if there is an urgent need to reach your student.
He or she will not have a phone generally available, but we will have an emergency contact and will contact you with any issues. We will have a short period designated to contact parents.
We understand that emergencies can happen, and we will be available by phone throughout the trip to address any urgent needs. You will be provided with the contact details for the MAVEN team, and they will be able to assist you in getting in touch with your student.
No, unfortunately, the trip is designed to be a week-long experience, and students are required to attend for the full duration of the trip. This is to ensure that they have enough time to fully engage and benefit from the activities and interactions with people.
For additional questions and to speak with a MAVEN staffer, please email us at ryan@maventruth.com. Thanks!
