About
Why La Vida exists
People deserve experiences that build confidence, strengthen relationships, and prepare them for life. La Vida at Gordon College creates those kinds of experiences through outdoor education, supportive community, and challenge that helps people grow.
Mission & Philosophy
La Vida at Gordon College exists to cultivate community, catalyze character formation, and develop servant leadership through outdoor experiential education.
This mission takes shape through programs that help youth, students, and groups grow in confidence, connection, and resilience. La Vida is built on a simple belief: people grow when they are invited into meaningful challenge in a supportive environment. That is why La Vida combines intentional facilitation, trained leaders, clear safety practices, and shared experience.
The goal is not only a memorable moment. It is growth that lasts beyond the program itself.
Core Principles
La Vida’s core principles shape how those experiences unfold.
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Be Here Now
Growth starts with attention. La Vida invites people to slow down, unplug from devices, stay present, and engage fully with where they are, who they are with, and what is in front of them.
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Make a Commitment Move
Growth usually involves action. La Vida encourages people to step toward challenge with intention, even when that step feels uncomfortable.
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Hold Fast
Strong community matters. People grow when they are known, supported, and challenged by others who are paying attention.
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Redefine Success
Success is not only about performance. It is also about courage, effort, learning, and the willingness to keep showing up.
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Challenge by Choice
La Vida uses challenge to foster growth, never coercion. Participants are invited into challenge in a supportive environment, not pressured into proving something.
Safety
La Vida is not just technical. It is also relational. People grow best when they know they are supported and safe. We cannot eliminate every risk; however, we prepare, train, and build programs that prioritize safety. All staff have CPR and emergency response training, and depending on their area, additional advanced certifications (available upon request). Through certifications and inspections, we follow professional practice standards across all areas of operation, including facilities, staffing, and program elements. We continually seek to improve our knowledge.
Meet the Team
The staff behind La Vida bring skill, care, and lived experience to every program. From college programs to youth camps to challenge course facilitation to trips in the Adirondacks, they help create the kind of environment where people can step into challenge with trust and support.
King Hunter
La Vida Adventure Camp Director
King is a Gordon alum and former Adventure Camp counselor who now leads La Vida’s summer camp for the North Shore community. He oversees staff, camper groups, and day-to-day camp operations, and cares deeply about helping young people grow in confidence through challenge, teamwork, and meaningful outdoor experiences. King and his wife Emily, a former Adventure Camp counselor, enjoy soccer, board games, puzzles, and hiking together.
Christian Y. Kim
Rock Gym and Challenge Course Manager
Christian’s passion for adventure began while volunteering at a small school in Honduras. After that, he came to Gordon College, connected with La Vida, and graduated in 2022 with a B.A. in International Affairs and a minor in Spanish. He now helps plan, market, and facilitate experiences at the challenge course and rock gym. In his free time, he enjoys climbing, soccer, learning new languages, making music, and trying new foods.
Credentials: PCL2, Project Adventure, WFR, WMA International, 1,200+ hours facilitating at the challenge course, 5,000+ participant interactions
Kate McMillan
Director of Finance and Discovery Program Director
Kate has her Masters of Science in Financial Analysis and oversees the financial direction of the La Vida Center as well as the Discovery OE Courses. Kate enjoys going hiking and camping with her husband Todd and children, Jade and Oliver. Before joining the La Vida staff, Kate worked in adventure and expeditionary programs in the South, Mid-West, and Mountain regions.
Lauren James
Outdoor Education CORE Coordinator and Office Manager
Lauren is the registrar for La Vida college programs, helping Gordon College students sign up for their outdoor education core requirement. She also supports the entire La Vida center as the office manager. Lauren graduated from Gordon College in 2004 and lives in Danvers with her husband Ray and their two kids, two cats and dog. Getting outside into nature is something her whole family enjoys. They love exploring new locations, but also find joy in revisiting beloved local places in all seasons.
Rosie Marshall
Director of Outdoor Education
Rosie studied at Montreat College for a Bachelor’s degree in OutdoorMinistry and earned a Master’s degree in Outdoor and Adventure Leadership at Wheaton College. Rosie is passionate about transformational outdoor experiences that lead to growth, which led her to La Vida! In her free time, Rosie enjoys hiking, card games, and a cup of coffee! Often by Rosie’s side is her companion, Coop – a lab mix dog who is ready to greet everyone at Base Camp!
James Wellborn
Outdoor Education Coordinator
James supports La Vida’s outdoor education programs for Gordon students, helping lead and coordinate experiences in the Adirondacks, Discovery, and other student programs throughout the year. A Gordon College art major with a ministry minor, he brings creativity, steady leadership, and a genuine care for students. James grew up going on expeditions with his church, earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and spent two years as a La Vida Trip Leader. Outside of La Vida, he enjoys tennis and making art.
Frequently Asked Questions
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La Vida is Gordon College’s outdoor education center. It serves first-year students as well as youth, families, and community groups through a range of programs.
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No. Gordon students participate in college programs and can stay involved through the rock gym, jobs, and other opportunities, but La Vida also offers youth programs, challenge course experiences, Adirondack trips, and community-facing programs.
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La Vida is built on Christian principles. Some programs include an intentional faith component, such as programs for Gordon College students and churches, while most others do not. Across all of them, La Vida’s approach to challenge, community, and growth is shaped by that foundation.
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La Vida is based at Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts, and also runs programs out of its Adirondack Base Camp in New York. Different programs take place in different locations, including Gordon’s campus, the Adirondacks, and the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
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La Vida uses challenge as a means of growth, not pressure. Its Challenge by Choice philosophy invites people into meaningful challenge in a supportive environment.
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Since our founding in 1970, La Vida combines a clear mission, experienced leaders, emphasis on safety, and a strong track record of guiding people through meaningful challenge.
Support La Vida
Supporting La Vida helps make these experiences possible for students, kids, teens, and groups. It helps create the kind of challenge, community, and formation that stays with people long after the program ends.
A gift to La Vida helps sustain outdoor education that strengthens confidence, relationships, and leadership across the Gordon community and beyond.
Employment
Working for La Vida means helping lead experiences that ask something meaningful of people. Seasonal and contract staff support youth programs, Challenge Course Experiences, Adirondack Retreats & Trips and more across Gordon’s campus and Base Camp in the Adirondacks.
For people who care about outdoor education, youth development, challenge-course work, or student formation, La Vida offers work with real purpose.
About Gordon College
La Vida is part of Gordon College’s larger vision for formation. At Gordon, La Vida Expedition and La Vida Discovery make up part of the core requirement for students because the college believes students grow through challenge, reflection, community, and faith.
La Vida’s community programs, such as summer camps and the rock gym, are examples of the way Gordon puts its values into practice.