Program Overview
WILDERNESS LEADERSHIP INTENSIVE
Wilderness Leadership Intensive (WLI) is a two-week wilderness course centered on learning to lead. Students gain hands on experience as they take turns teaching lessons and overseeing days in the backcountry. Each day, time is set aside to explore the characteristics of a leader by learning from characters in Scripture.
Upon completion of WLI, students plan and lead a multi-day wilderness trip. WLT and the wilderness leadership opportunity that follows serve as the pinnacle of the Guide team experience. It is the opportunity to put into practice the skills and theory learned over the course of the first semester.
CANOEING
Guide team members learn to lead canoe trips as they develop both both solo and tandem canoeing skills. Training starts by learning the basics on Mountain View lake. Afterwards, students shift to moving water, while continuing to develop as paddlers.
CHALLENGE COURSE
Guide students develop as challenge course facilitators through a mix of team experiences and leadership for outside groups. They gain real world experience on both our high and low challenge course.
The Guide team gathers weekly for a structured time to wrestle through big faith questions. The curriculum is centered around three questions: Who am I? Who is God? What do I do with what I believe? Some weeks provide space to take an intellectual approach to theological topics while other weeks give opportunities to engage with God through practical application. Faith class is foundational to the Guide experience.
Throughout the Fall semester Guide students are introduced to the history of adventure education, including the theory and practice that has shaped it. This class lays the foundation for every adventure activity and serves as a catalyst for Guide students as they grow as leaders and facilitators.
Guide students learn skills in rock climbing. From top rope anchor building and rescues to briefing groups for a day at the crag, the rock climbing curriculum is a rigorous crash course in climbing based leadership.
Guide students earn a Wilderness First Responder certification, the industry standard for adventure instructors. Upon course completion, students are prepared to serve on search-and-rescue teams, or put their skills to use in the the wilderness setting through recreation or even professional guiding.
Caving
Guide students learn the ins and outs of caving facilitation and cave rescue as they explore some of the most unique environments on earth.
Team meetings set the tone for the week as they provide space away from distractions for “just the team”. Weekly meetings are a mixed time of bonding and business. Team meetings are a key component of the discipleship structure and are supplemented by 2:1 times, which are opportunities for pairs of students to be intentionally invested in.