La Vida News

La Vida Facebook Page

October 27, 2009

We have just launched the Official Gordon College La Vida Center facebook page. Join and stay updated on what we are doing and get connected with past La Vida buddies and staff.

Planning Summer 2010 Expeditions

The La Vida office is now accepting group applications for Summer 2010. Bring your youth group, school group, or coordinate your family and friends for a time of spiritual growth and experiential learning in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. It's a great way to learn dependence on God, practice solitude and stillness, as well as develope important leadership and communication skills. Contact Abby Stroven (abigail.stroven@gordon.edu) for more information.

Flying Scots!

Alumni and kids lined up to strap on a harness and go flying like Peter Pan at Gordon's October 10th event. Perspective students also joined in the "Flying Squirrell" fun on their Gordon Experience days.

Return from Idaho

Gordon College's Outdoor Immersion Semester recently returned from their 25-day wilderness expedition in Idaho. teaming up with Boise State University's Outdoor Program, the 10 students and 2 instructors, Nate Hausman and Matt Loy, rafted their way along the Lower Branch of the Salmon River for 6 days follwed by 17 days of hiking through the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. The Frank Church Wilderness is the largest parcel of wilderness land in the United States outside of Alaska. Gordon's Outdoor Education department has run three of these trips using the Wilderness Education Association's 18 -point curriculum, allowing students to become certified as Outdor Leaders through the WEA. Since their return, the group has moved into a house in Gloucester, MA for the remainder of the semester. They will complete three more classes focusing on the historical roots of Outdoor Education, the relationship between humans and nature, and outdoor leadership. Nate Hausman refers to the unique nature of this program: " The Immersion Semester allows students to not only absorb the theories and philosophies of Outdoor Education, but also gives them ample opportunities to immediately use their classroom learning in real-llife situation. It is experiential education at its best."

Fall Discovery

Students enjoyed beautiful foliage this fall during their Discovery weekends. Hear what made their trips powerful:

"At the top of the mountain, everything was gray and misty and the clouds were covering the trees. As we finished telling life stories the clouds moved and we saw just how incredibly vast the expanse of trees was. It was so beautiful and the experience was so revealing of God's work on Earth." – Discovery student

"The sense of joy and accomplishment each of us had upon reaching the top of Mt. Sugarloaf could be read on our faces clear as day. The weekend together had a miracle-grow effect on relationships within the group. It encouraged us to push our limits, and I believe that's a transferable skill that can be taken outside of the Discovery classroom and into other areas of our Gordon College experience." – Discovery TA

September 8, 2009

The 2009 Outdoor Immersion Semester has started. A group of ten students leaves for Boise, Idaho on Friday, September 11th and will begin their month long trip by paddling on the Salmon River. For updates on their semester check out the immersion blog.

New Office Staffer
September 8, 2009

Abby Stroven, from El Refugio Training and Retreat Center in Quito, Ecuador, is stepping in for Nate Hausman this fall while he facilitates the Outdoor Immersion Semester. In the Spring semester she will assist both Rich Obenschain and Nate as they prepare for Summer 2010 in the ADKs and La Vida’s 40th Reunion at Homecoming.

Summer ADK Expeditions Bring New Recruits

La Vida ADK staff spent the summer leading trips and investing in the intentional community at base camp. Despite the rainy weather, groups were all excited by their experiences, and a new crop of La Vida staff has begun to get involved in our programs this fall.

Adventure Camp Success

Adventure Camp had its most successful summer yet! The 11–13 year old program was full for ALL six weeks of camp and the 14–15 year old program was full for four weeks. Jenn Memmen hired an amazing staff that worked and played hard.

La Vida Staff and the Boston Marathon
April 24, 2009

Around 20 La Vida staff cheered on Boston Marathon runners including La Vida Adirondack Director Nate Hausman. In addition to being a hiker and outdoor enthusiast, Nate is an avid runner and qualified for another Boston Marathon.

South Africa Photo Journal
April 24, 2009

Check out a new photo journal of La Vida and Recreation and Leisure Studies students trip to South Africa. See incredible pictures of their journey and stories of their visit to ministries near Cape Town.

Spring Discovery Update
April 24, 2009

Discovery is in full swing this spring semester with ten classes of first-year students. Students participate in group and personal development activities, the La Vida Center ropes course, and a weekend camping trip to New Hampshire.

Summer Leadership Training Institute
April 13, 2009

La Vida’s Adirondack program staff are getting excited for the coming summer as they attend training for the college and summer programs. Thirty-four staff members are attending pre-summer training that includes a sit down dinner, a time of fellowship, speakers and discussion. Julie Ray, Gordon’s Associate Dean of the First Year Experience, came in to talk about how crucial the first year experience is for Gordon students and Jan Holton, head of the counseling center, will speak at the next training.

The Outdoor Education Season Starts Again!
April 13, 2009

With the spring weather slowly coming to the North Shore, La Vida Center programs are revving up for another great year of outdoor adventures with groups. The start of the season is marked by the spring ropes course training for staff involved in Discovery and GORP. The training was a success with 16 staff trained to be belayers on the ropes course and three staff tested to become ropes course rescue certified.

Rock Gym Reunion Nights with Adventure Camp
March 10, 2009

The La Vida Adventure Camp is hosting reunions for all 2008 adventure campers and junior counselors in March and April. Past campers and friends are invited to climb, hang out with counselors, eat pizza, view a slide show, and get excited about coming back to camp again this summer! To find out more information and register for this event, click here.

La Vida Center Staff on Retreat in NH
March 10, 2009

At the end of February, staff from all of La Vida's programs went for the annual weekend retreat in Ossipee, NH. It was a time of reconnection and rejuvenation that included a snow-shoe hike, beautiful views, and excellent food.

Wilderness Education Association Conference
February 18, 2009

Nate Hausman, director of La Vida's Adirondack Expeditions program, recently traveled to Indiana University for the 2009 Wilderness Education Association's national conference on Outdoor Leadership. This annual conference brings together wilderness educators from across the US to learn, discuss, and reflect on the trends and issues within the outdoor and wilderness education field. This year's keynote speaker, Karsten Heuer, spoke on his five month journey to Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He and his wife told their incredible story of traveling by foot for 1500km, following the 123,000-member Porcupine Caribou herd. Nate recommends checking out his story documented in the book "Being Caribou" and also on his website.

Recreation, Service, and South Africa
February 18, 2009

La Vida Expeditions Director Nate Hausman led a student service trip to South Africa in January. Read more about his second trip to Monte Christo Ministries at the Gordon College blog.

La Vida Center travels to Quito, Ecuador
February 6, 2009

Staff for the La Vida Center for Outdoor Education traveled to Quito, Ecuador during Christmas break to partner with Gordon alum Paul Reichert at El Refugio. The La Vida staff who traveled consisted of three full time staff members and part-time staff made up of seven students and one Gordon alum. At El Refugio, an adventure based ministry to youth in Quito, the Ecuador team did initiative and game training and built ropes course elements with the Ecuadorian facilitators. They also traveled to different wilderness, including a cloud forest and a paramo (wet grasslands) area, to see the potential for wilderness education in Ecuador.

This is the second trip that the La Vida Center for Outdoor Education has taken to visit and serve El Refugio. La Vida is exploring  future ways to support alum and programs that are using adventure education internationally.

Accepting Applications for Immersion Semester in Outdoor Education
February 6, 2009

The Immersion Semester in Outdoor Education, an academic program with the Recreation and Leisure Studies department, is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2009 semester. This intensive off-campus semester trains and certifies visionary leaders who are prepared to work in both wilderness education or adventure education. Students who complete the semester recieve a minor in Outdoor Education.

Rock Wall FREE for Gordon students
February 6, 2009

La Vida is now proudly offering Gordon Students FREE access to the Rock Wall during regular Open Gym hours. This past fall Gordon College Student Association (GCSA) provided help to make this possible along with a number of student volunteers. The response from students has been exciting with a large weekly turnout, keeping the climbing wall busy.