College La Vida Expeditions
These La Vida Expeditions are specifically designed for Gordon College students. They provide wilderness-based experiences that encourage exploration of one's personal relationship and commitment to Jesus Christ in the context of Christian community.
La Vida Expeditions strive to provide students with meaningful and transformative experiences that assist in the first-year transition to Gordon College.
The program begins on Gordon's Wenham campus and travels to the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York. This six-million-acre preserve—roughly the size of Massachusetts, with sparkling mountain streams, quiet lakes, challenging peaks, and plenty of space for solitude and reflection—creates the perfect environment for growth, adventure, self-discovery, and growing deeper with God.
La Vida Expeditions are within the physical limits of anyone of normal health, and the majority of students come with no prior camping, canoeing, kayaking or backpacking experience. The supportive, small-group environment will encourage you to achieve more than you ever dreamed possible, but will allow you to accept your challenges on a "challenge by choice" basis.
| So What Do La Vida Expeditions Look Like? |
La Vida Expeditions consist of four phases that take place during a 12-day mountaineering, canoeing, or kayaking expedition in the Adirondacks. Patrols are composed of 6–10 participants and two La Vida instructors, or Sherpas. See the images below to read more about each phase.
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Training Phase: Training begins with group initiatives/team-building games and ropes course. Skills & Activities include: minimum-impact (Leave No Trace) camping skills, rock climbing, rappelling and backpacking, canoeing, or kayaking. Participants are trained with the skills that will allow them to become more self-sufficient later in the trip. | |
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Group Expedition: Using skills acquired during the training period, your patrol will execute a short expedition apart from your La Vida instructors. This is typically referred to as finals, and it lasts 1–2 days. The La Vida Sherpas remain in close proximity of your group, but provide enough space to "test" participants on their knowledge of the various wilderness skills taught earlier in the expedition. | |
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Solo: The solo is a two day period free from distractions, worry, and responsibilities—a chance for you to think, pray, fast, read your Bible, write in your journal, and plan future goals without life's usual interruptions. Participants are regularly checked on throughout the course of the solo by the Sherpas. | |
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Celebration & Debriefing: One or two challenges and surprises fill out the final days of your Adirondack Expedition. Time will be given to contemplate and celebrate the events of this powerful experience and how it applies to your life. Groups take advantage of La Vida's 75-acre property located just miles from Lake Placid. |
| Why Should You Go on a La Vida Expedition? |
La Vida Expeditions provide space to practice the spiritual disciplines such as solitude, prayer, reflection, and simplicity. Whether on Solo, a mountain peak, or sitting along a fresh mountain stream, there are ample opportunities to enrich your personal life and set goals for the future.
Leadership opportunities for students occur throughout the La Vida Expeditions.
Facilitation by trained and qualified staff. All instructors, or Sherpas, go through extensive training prior to leading La Vida Expeditions. Training includes workshops focusing on: spiritual formation, personal development, medical skills, minimum-impact camping, group facilitation, emergency procedures, and navigation.
Time to explore one's core beliefs away from everyday distractions and society's influences. La Vida strives to take people away from the hectic nature of today's society and place them into situations where they have the peace to sift through their thoughts on faith and life.
A natural environment where God's Word can be heard, experienced, and integrated into daily life. The Adirondacks serve as the natural backdrop for expeditions and has continued to inspire participants year after year as one of the most beautiful places they have ever been.
Training to live ethically by practicing stewardship and minimum-impact camping. Leaders and participants alike seek to live in the wilderness by means that help sustain the natural environment, rather than destroy it. La Vida employs the principles outlined by Leave No Trace, Inc.
Resource Links:
Adirondack Weather
Check out the weather at La Vida's base camp in NY!
Adirondack Mountain Club
A non-profit membership organization that protects wild lands and
waters through a balanced approach of conservation and advocacy,
environmental education, and responsible recreation.
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is dedicated to promoting
and inspiring responsible outdoor recreation through education,
research and partnerships.
Wilderness Education Association
La Vida is an affiliate of the Wilderness Education Association (WEA)
that educates people in the development of leadership skills and an
ethic of care towards the environment.
Wilderness Medical Associates
The WMA has provided La Vida with practical, expert training in wilderness and rescue medicine since 1999.