Challenge Course Experiences
A group experience that brings people together
Some outings are forgotten by the time everyone gets home. Challenge Course Experiences at La Vida in Wenham, MA help groups build trust, strengthen communication, and grow through shared challenge. Whether you are planning for a class, church group, staff team, or retreat, each experience is shaped around your goals and led by facilitators who know how to turn activity into a memorable experience with lasting impact.
Why Challenge Course Experiences
The best group experiences change the way people relate to one another. They give people the chance to encourage each other, solve problems together, step outside their comfort zones, and leave more connected than when they arrived.
That is the kind of experience La Vida creates. Some groups come looking for trust. Some need stronger communication. Some need a shared win. Challenge Course Experiences create space for all of that through active, well-led experiences in the Gordon College Woods in Wenham, MA.
Challenge Course Experiences are a strong fit for:
Schools and classrooms
Churches and youth groups
Colleges and universities
Businesses and staff teams
Camps and nonprofits
Families and friend groups
Whether the goal is class culture, retreat connection, team cohesion, or a custom group outing, La Vida shapes the experience around the group in front of us.
Activities
Groups can build an experience around activities such as:
Team building and low ropes
High ropes course
Outdoor rock climbing
Camping
Kayaking add-on experiences
Team building helps groups solve problems together, celebrate one another’s strengths, and build stronger relationships. High ropes gives participants the chance to stretch themselves while being supported by the group around them. Rock climbing offers an empowering challenge with routes for different experience levels and is offered seasonally from June through August. Camping creates space for evening conversation, reflection, and community.
Program Options
Half Day
A strong fit for school groups, class trips, youth groups, and teams that want a focused experience built around team building, low ropes, or one featured activity. Half-day programs can run up to four hours.
$70/participant, chaperones are free
Full Day
A good option for schools, camps, church groups, and organizations that want more time to build momentum and combine activities across the day. A common format is team building in the morning and high ropes in the afternoon.
$100/participant, chaperones are free
Overnight & Retreat Experiences
A strong fit for groups that want more time for conversation, reflection, and shared experience. Groups can pair a one to night stay or a multi-day retreat with challenge course activities, camping, or custom programming. Groups can choose to stay in on-campus housing at Gordon College, or tent camping.
Starting at $115 per person, per day
Custom Experience
A flexible option for groups with specific goals, schedules, or outcomes in mind. We’ve hosted birthday parties, corporate retreats, family reunions, and more. We help you design the perfect program for your group.
What groups take with them
Groups leave with stronger trust, better communication, and the kind of shared experience people talk about long after it’s over.
Students come away more connected and engaged. Youth groups often leave with deeper friendships and stronger community. Teams gain a clearer sense of how to support one another and work together to overcome obstacles.
La Vida’s Challenge by Choice approach is a big part of why this works. Participants are invited into challenge without pressure or coercion. Success is measured by effort, courage, and growth, not comparison.
Kelly Madden
Executive Director of Boston Fellows
“The Boston Fellows has partnered with La Vida for ten years, and literally since Day 1 of our existence. Our program would be something very different without La Vida. Nobody is better at combining fun/outdoor adventure with bigger questions and purposes.”
David Wall
Youth Pastor at Bethany Covenant Church
“I have brought my youth group to Adventure Pursuits to close up the summer and kick-off our fall programming. It is consistently a highlight of the whole year for my students, volunteers, and myself.”
Judith Claire
Professor at Boston College
“I have brought a group from my university to La Vida Adventure Pursuits for over 10 years. We do a full day of low ropes and high ropes. Each time we go, the event goes smoothly and my students learn a great deal about themselves and working together.”
Trusted by schools and organizations
From field trips to retreats to team-building days, La Vida has partnered with groups across New England and beyond to create meaningful experiences built around challenge, connection, and growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Challenge Course Experiences serve schools, churches, nonprofits, businesses, camps, families, and other custom groups.
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Yes. La Vida shapes programs around your group’s goals, needs, and schedule.
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No. Activities are appropriate for any skill level. Challenge by Choice also allows each participant to decide how far to stretch outside their comfort zone.
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La Vida typically keeps a ratio of 1 staff member for every 10–15 participants so each person can be an active part of the experience.
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Activities follow current safety standards and meet Association for Challenge Course Technology and Massachusetts Department of Health guidelines.
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Experiences do not include an explicit faith component. As part of La Vida at Gordon College, they are shaped by values of challenge, community, and personal growth. If your group would like to include prayer, reflection, or devotional time, we’re happy to build that in.
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Yes. The current deposit is $100 and is non-refundable.
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Most groups register 2-12 moths ahead of an event day in order to secure ideal dates and times. The registration page asks groups to register at least 72 hours before the start of the event. Registrations inside that window may incur a late sign-up fee.
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Our minimum group size is 8 participants. We’ve supported groups of up to 120 participants. Please note, groups larger than 60 require a longer lead time.
Looking for a getaway for your group?
Adirondack Retreats & Trips offer groups the chance to step away from routine and spend more time together through shared adventure, reflection, and camp life in the Adirondacks.
Getting started is simple
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1. Tell us about your group and goals
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2. Reserve your date with a $100 deposit
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3. Get ready for a day your group will remember
Ready to find the right experience for your group?
Tell us about your group, your goals, and your ideal dates. We’ll help shape a Challenge Course Experience that brings your people together and gives them something worth carrying home.