Singing

As the mountains and alpine flowers raise their arms in praise to the LORD, we will raise our voices and celebrate who He is and what He is doing as we journey through the wilderness.

Teaching

We will have daily lectures, both in the backcountry and at Ravencrest Chalet. We will cover pertinent topics and books of the Bible with excellent teachers to engage with you in God’s Word. Most of the teaching will be lecture style, but some of the most valuable lessons will be those you learn through your own experience.

Wilderness

Wilderness is one of the greatest teachers, as the Creator uses His creation’s silence, magnitude, harshness to humble us and speak to our heart in a way that human words never could.

Solo Time

Part of the Ascension Wilderness Experience will be a structured time of solitude to reflect on your life, experiences, and what the LORD is speaking to you as you sit in silence with Him.

Sabbath

Throughout Scripture, God emphasizes the beauty and importance of resting with purpose. We want to structure your time to highlight the importance of rest as we play hard throughout the week.

Reflection

Whether in structured time or as you walk along the trail, there will be a plethora of time to reflect upon your life, your purpose, and who God is calling you to be.

Teamwork

During AWE, you will be divided up into smaller groups with an instructor leading you through the program. You will get to hike together, cook together, eat together, camp together, and enjoy the journey together as you process through the teachings and activities together.

Challenge

You will be met with challenges throughout the program, whether it be physical, the weather, or your team members. The nature of the program will create opportunities for you to confront and overcome the challenges you are faced with.

Communication

Whether it’s giving directions, listening to others in your team, making decisions together, good communication is key. Being in a community, it is essential to learn how to communicate well and is an integral part of AWE.

During your three-week experience, our hope is that you encounter Jesus through the Scriptures, in your community, and in creation. During your journey with us, there will be backpacking trips in the wilderness, Bible studies that dive into relevant topics, climbing, rafting, and challenging team building activities. All parts of the program are designed to point us to Jesus, and to challenge each one of us to become more fully human, as we learn to reflect his image.

You will be equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in the backcountry. This will include: Basic map and compass skills, ‘Leave No Trace’ principles, efficient backcountry travel, camping and cooking, team building and leadership skills.

All participants will be placed within a team with an instructor. In this team, you will hike, camp, climb, cook, laugh, tell stories, sleep and adventure together. Part of the experience is learning to live out what you are learning within a community through debrief times, team challenges, and other experiences.