Mission

Expose participants to the rich texture of God’s creation, while providing an outdoor lab for spiritual growth through experiential learning and reflection.

"Follow me as I follow Jesus" -Apostle Paul 

Philosophy

Utilize adventure experiences as tools to encourage self-discovery through the use of metaphor and formal/informal intentional facilitation resulting in personal growth.  

"Experience is knowledge; everything else is just information" -Albert Einstein 

Outcomes

1.    Leadership development.
2.    Personal responsibility.
3.    Enhanced communication and listening skills.
4.    Peer to peer teaching and modeling.
5.    Teambuilding.
6.    Unity building.
7.    Develop ethic of service.
8.    Character development.
9.    Life-long appreciation for the outdoors as God’s creation.
10.   Desire to spiritually feed others.

"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail" -Unknown 

Leadership Goals

1.    Learn and teach skills competency in the particulars of an outdoor discipline.
2.    Define and foster character development in individual participants.
3.    Learn to transfer skills and character principles.
4.    Appreciate and effectively and affectively use:
        •    Ritual as confirmation of learned ability and Rite of Passage as confirmation of the totality of new skills learned.
        •    Metaphor as a tool to understand and implement principles of life.
5.    Inspire Godly confidence leading to appropriate faith based risk taking.

"Those closest to the leader will determine the success level of that leader" -John Maxwell 

Expectations

1.    Spiritual Development
        a. Soul Search Trips are an opportunity for participants to experience “high-tech disconnect”.  In a world where they go to class via podcast, have “real time” conversations via instant message, and can go an entire day “connected” to people but never having face to face interaction; participants are required to leave their technology behind and engage in real life in real time with their peers.  
        b. Simplicity is freedom.  Simplicity brings joy and balance.
2.    Leadership & Character Development
        a. Student leaders are empowered to take ownership of their trip and the participants’ experience under their authority.  This encourages real life leadership and character development for leaders and participants; including but not limited to decision making skills, improved communication, critical thinking, group process, judgment, community development, and acquisition and continued growth of technical skills.
        b. Participants are given as much responsibility as possible to solve problems for themselves
        c. Participants are involved in appropriate decision making.  This facilitates participant ownership, decision making and communication skills, and encourages “challenge by choice” allowing participants to “own” their experience.  
        d. Participants (students and leaders) are encouraged and challenged to practice environmental stewardship, utilizing leave no trace camping and minimum impact techniques; resulting in appreciation and respect of God’s creation.  
        e. Safety – Instructors and administrators are constantly thinking about the what-ifs, both in the planning and the implementation of the program.  Limit real dangers.  

"Good made man simple; man's complex problems are of his own devising" -Eccles. 7:30

"Settle yourself in solitude and you will come upon Him in Yourself" -Teresa of Avila

"Be still and know that I am God..." -Psalm 46:10