La Vida News
Catch up with recent news from the La Vida Center for Outdoor Education and Leadership! Find about new initiatives, program updates, staff highlights, and more.
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La Vida Service Project
October 16, 2011
This past weekend over Gordon's quad break, 32 students, staff and alumni representing The La Vida Center for Outdoor Education and Leadership ventured to the Adirondack Mountains in New York to partner with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to participate in five different service projects throughout the Adirondack Park. Many of those who attended the weekend had just completed their La Vida requirement this past summer, while others have worked for La Vida over the past few years. La Vida's relationship with the DEC has been growing increasingly stronger and stronger every summer as more and more Gordon students give back to the Park when participating in service projects during their La Vida trips. Projects ranged from planting 1,000 tree saplings along the Ausable River and surrounding Lake Champlain watershed tributaries as part of the Trees for Tribs program, to clearing and rebuilding a few of the many trails destroyed during Hurricane Irene last month.
Youth Ministry Symposium—Faith in the College Transition
October 28, 2010
At last week's Youth Ministry Symposium, Cheryl A. Crawford from Azusa Pacific University addressed the question, “will your kids have faith after high school?” The goal was to understand the college transition process and how youth ministries can be more supportive. Freshman year of college is often a time of loneliness that leads students to doubt God and search for identity in a number of places, including those that involve destructive decisions. The encouragement from church, family, and familiar community is no longer present. As a result, involvement in ministry within the first two weeks of college is vital to a student’s spiritual life. This fact only reinforces the value of the La Vida experience. Giving students an intentional opportunity to connect deeply with God before college lowers the chance that they may “sideline their faith… so that they can do the college thing”. Cheryl encouraged youth leaders to connect with students in high school, candidly discuss issues they will face in college, and provide them with support that will last.
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La Vida 40th Anniversary Homecoming Celebration
October 9, 2010
The homecoming celebration was a wonderful time of fellowship and reflection on God's faithfulness to the La VIda program over the past 40 years! Highlights included a talk by Jim Keilsmier where he discussed how La Vida got it's start and why it is still such a needed experience for today's youth; a presentation by Diana Ventura, reflecting on the impact La Vida had on her life as one who deals with the physical limitation of cerebral palsy; multiple testimoies from students who have been applying the lessons they learned on La Vida to their daily lives; and an important announcement by the Provost, Mark Sargent, endorsing plans to build a much sought after indoor activities area for La Vida, which will allow us to offer more trainings, facilitate activities during inclement weather, and outfit expeditions for our spring Adirondack groups. For more updates and photos of the exciting things happening with La Vida, check out our facebook page by clicking on this link: http://www.facebook.com/GordonCollegeLaVida
La Vida Basecamp Celebration
August 25, 2010
Over 150 people gathered this past week at the La Vida basecamp to celebrate. College expeditions groups celebrated the completion of the 12-day trip and Gordon and La Vida alumni celebrated 40 years of God's faithfulness in the wilderness to the La Vida Program. Go to La Vida's Facebook page to see more pictures!
La Vida Adventure Camp Ends a Great Summer!
August 25, 2010
La Vida Adventure Camp just finished its 14th summer of day camp programs for 11-15 year-olds. It was a great sunny summer of outdoor activities and growth for campers and leaders alike. Campers grew in numbers again, ending the summer with 564 camper spaces filled. It was the largest group of Junior Counselors as well with 17 high school students volunteering their time to serve kids. The 24 Adventure Camp staff enjoyed getting to know middle school kids, teaching them and living in an intentional community on Gordon's campus.
Gordon College La Vida Center Offers Father/Child Adirondack Canoe Trip
May 3, 2010
WENHAM, MA—By offering a father/son and a father/daughter canoe trip in the Adirondacks this summer, Gordon College’s La Vida Center for Outdoor Education aims to provide a unique opportunity in which families can reconnect and develop a deeper understanding of one another without cultural distractions.
Both canoe trips will be July 5–10, 2010, for fathers and either a son or daughter, ages 10–14. The trips will consist of canoeing, portaging, camping, rock climbing, and team-building initiatives on the low and high ropes courses. The cost of the trip is $600 per father/child pair.
“Every La Vida Expedition fosters a community in which participants are challenged to be open with each other. We are excited to see how fathers are able to communicate with their children while on the trip, and hope that by being in God’s creation they are able to form a special bond with one another,” said Nate Hausman, Director of Adirondack Expeditions.
The La Vida Center celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and offers six different programs in the community including Adventure Camp, GORP, and La Vida Rock Gym. The offices are located at the Gordon College campus in Wenham, MA.
La Vida also owns 75 acres of property in Lake Clear, New York, which serves as a base camp for the Adirondack Expeditions.
“La Vida is excited to offer these trips to new and former participants of La Vida. We hope that they will awaken a sense of adventure in families in the North Shore,” said Hausman.
For more information, please contact Nate Hausman or Rich Obenschain at 978.867.4111 or visit La Vida’s website.
La Vida Rock Gym Expanded
April 19, 2010
WENHAM, MA—The La Vida Rock Gym at Gordon College has recently been renovated and expanded to offer a new climbing wall which includes two additional top rope climbs and thirty percent more bouldering area. Two of the walls have also received a covering of texture paint and feature all new routes in a range of easy to difficult ratings.
“We’re excited about the expansion,” says Holly Libert, director of the Rock Gym. “We hope that it will draw more members of the community to use the facility.”
The La Vida Rock Gym offers public climbing hours for the community to practice climbing and belaying skills. Open Gym (public climbing) hours are 6 p.m.–9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and some Saturdays from 12 p.m.–4 p.m. Day Passes are $8 and 10-visit Memberships are $40. The Rock Gym is also available to churches, schools, families, etc. for private group events, such as birthday parties, climbing courses, and team-building.
“While offering fun activities and a great workout, the La Vida Rock Gym seeks to encourage self-confidence, trust, and character formation in an environment that is safe for both beginner and more advanced climbers,” says Libert. “We’re excited to see how the new walls provide additional opportunities to our climbers.”
The La Vida Rock Gym is located at the Bennett Center on Grapevine Road in Wenham. For more information, please visit www.gordon.edu/rockgym or contact Holly Libert at 978.867.4111 or rockgym
gordon.edu.
Matthew Loy ('06) Influenced by La Vida
March 31, 2010
"Learning Leadership and Spirituality from La Vida," an article profiling La Vida and Gordon alumnus, Matthew Loy ('06), is added to Gordon College's blog Notes Along the Way. Since helping with the installation of a floor at the Adirondack base camp at age 12, Loy has dedicated eight summers, his education, and his career to pursue and develop the philosophy La Vida has taught him. Check out the rest of his story!
Discovery Classes Start Today
March 15, 2010
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40th Anniversary Page on La Vida Website
March 15, 2010
Be sure to check out the 40th Anniversary Celebration page on our website. Go here to see a description of and to register for Homecoming events for La Vida's anniversary in October 2010. There will also be La Vida alumni gatherings at base camp in upstate New York and in the Washington, D.C. area for those who cannot attend Gordon's homecoming. See page for contact information about these events.
While registering, consider taking a second to fill out an update of your contact information so that we can have up-to-date records for you for the future! Thanks.
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Rock Gym Renovation
March 15, 2010
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Outdoor Education students attend WEA Conference
March 4, 2010
The Outdoor Education Immersion Semester staff (Rich Obenschain, Nate Hausman, & Matt Loy) recently brought nine of the Outdoor Education students to the national conference on Outdoor Leadership hosted by the Wilderness Education Association. In the fall, these nine students completed their Outdoor Leader certification through the WEA and saw this as a natural bridge to continue their education and development as outdoor leaders. Not only were they able to attend multiple workshops during the three day conference, but they also had the opportunity to network with professionals from around the country.
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La Vida Center for Outdoor Education Celebrates 40 years in 2010!
January 21, 2010
La Vida is excited to celebrate with past staff, alumni, participants, and friends during 2010! La Vida began in 1970 as a part of Young Life and has grown to six outdoor education and adventure programs at Gordon College. Stay tuned for more information on how you can join in the celebration!
La Vida is Hiring!
January 21, 2010
La Vida Adirondack Expeditions and the Adventure Camp are currently hiring staff to work the summer programs. Collectively, La Vida hires over 60 staff to work with youth and college students in summer adventure settings. If you or someone you know is interested in joining La Vida's staff, you can find more information about staff opportunities with all La Vida Center programs here or at the Adventure Camp.
La Vida Adventure Camp Camper Brochures Available
January 21, 2010
La Vida Adventure Camp registration is now open for the 2010 summer season. Exciting and adventurous youth programs are available from June 28–August 6, 2010 for youth ages 11–18. For more information or to download a brochure, click here.
La Vida Marketing Intern
January 21, 2010
La Vida welcomes Heather Trapp, a communications major at Gordon ('10) as an intern for the spring semester! Heather has worked as a Discovery TA, Sherpa, and has served with La Vida in Ecuador. She is excited to help La Vida get the word out about Adirondack summer expeditions for youth and to develop marketing materials.
Office Changes
January 21, 2010
This winter brought another change to the La Vida office staff. Katie Madden, a Gordon grad ('06), has returned to be the office administrative assistant after completing a year-long graduate assistantship in outdoor education, ministry, and leadership from the Wheaton College Honey Rock graduate program. Katie brings a wealth of experience to the office, having worked with La Vida for five years in different positions. She is glad to be back on the North Shore and reconnect with past La Vida staff and participants.
Adventure Camp Visits North Shore Camp Fairs
January 20, 2010
Look for the La Vida Adventure Camp display at the Glen Urquhart Summerscape Camp Fair on February 6, 2010, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. The Adventure Camp was also glad to meet families at the Masconomet Camp Fair in early January.
Building up La Vida
January 20, 2010
After graduating from Mankato State University with a masters degree in Experiential Education, Gordon alum Matt Loy ('06) has spent the last year working for La Vida. He has done everything from property development in the Adirondacks to teaching as a part-time faculty on the Immersion Semester in Outdoor Education. This winter and spring, La Vida is glad to have him continue to build up the challenge course facilities at the ropes course and the indoor rock gym.