Our world is an intriguing place. I’ve always been fascinated by what it has to offer. From different cultures and values, to foods and languages, our global community is as expansive as it is beautiful.
Travel changes you from the inside out. It opens your eyes to different ways of doing things, thinking about things, and even how you think about yourself. By broadening our horizons, challenging ourselves, and stepping outside our comfort zones we're inspired to grow into our authentic selves.
Finding Purpose
In my pursuit of what the world has to offer, I myself left my hometown of Dallas, Texas. I went in search of global experiences. It was in NZ, where my passion for outdoor education found a natural fit in the international gap year community.
Over the years, I have managed gap year programs with hundreds of U.S. students on 70-day multi-country adventures. Facilitating tours in Nepal, Tibet, Southeast Asia, Central America, South America, Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand. It was through this that I developed the greatest sense of self, of belonging, of capability, and purpose.
I saw, firsthand, the increasing number of adolescents suffering from mental health challenges. Witnessed the growing need for increased mental health support in programs. Gen Z has demonstrated a craving for learning about emotional intelligence, social justice, identity, and empathy. All this whilst showing acute attention to their mental and emotional wellbeing like never before.
Addressing the "Gap" in Gap Year
It became clear that there were no programs holding the space between Gap Year and full on Adventure therapy. The latter can be overwhelming and with a price tag out of reach for most families.
My mission became clear. I needed to create a therapeutic gap year program that would blend the best of everything. The gap year community, volunteer service learning, cultural immersion and adventures activities. We'd pair it with mental health support, psychoeducational development, and wrap around care.
Rooted Life Adventures is that therapeutic gap year program. I have reimagined adventure, travel, and therapeutic coaching in a way that facilitates exponential growth. Not only this, it provides deep and meaningful change through the power of community and belonging.
The RLA Experience
RLA students experience what it means to be part of something bigger than themselves. They learn how responsibility, accountability, and transparency creates authentic connections. They build confidence, self-esteem, and cultivate lifelong friendships by being part of a close knit team. Students travel together, learn together, and overcome challenges as a collective.
By immersing students in other cultures, they will be able to find even more humanity. Through volunteering and working shoulder-to-shoulder with locals, they’ll learn how to benefit their global community. By testing their limits in every direction. From rock climbing, hiking, surfing, canyoning, kayaking, backpacking, and white water rafting. Students will reach inside themselves and realize they are capable of more than they ever imagined. And by supporting their emotional wellbeing throughout the journey, they will be empowered to understand themselves more deeply. They will connect with those around them more fully.
Explore the world, and yourself, through a Rooted Life Adventure.
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