Our Reviews
We've collated reviews from previous students and parents.
Please reach out if you'd like a further testimonial.
"I thought it was really, really fun and a good camp because there were some hard moments. But I pushed through, and it was a great experience. I really didn't want to go at first and I thought I wasn't gonna bond with anyone. Once I got to know everyone it was so amazing and I'm happy I came here." - Student review
"Halfway thru college, our daughter, who struggles with anxiety, ADD and social awareness, was feeling lost and lacking purpose. We started our search seeking a program w/ mental health support. All of the programs we found were too strict (no phones/no contact with home), too rustic (camping/roughing it), too therapeutic (students were there against their will or not interested in working on themselves). This program nothing less than perfect for our situation - a young adult who was eager to find her passions, her purpose and her people." Parent
"My 10 weeks with Rooted Life Adventures in New Zealand was transformative, filled with unforgettable experiences. Both the program's leaders and other participants were some of the most incredible people I've ever met. I plan to stay connected with them. Together, we pushed our limits and shared in laughter. We created lasting memories through various adventures like hiking, cooking, and learning about New Zealand. The ups and downs during our time together only deepened our bonds. Making this one of the best experiences of my life. I highly recommend this program for anyone seeking personal growth, an amazing community, and adventure!" - Student
"At first, I was very reluctant to leave my everyday life behind to spend six weeks in Costa Rica. With girls I didn't know! But I'm so glad I did. Rooted Life Adventures was an amazing experience. I would recommend it to anyone struggling with mental health. It has beneficial therapeutic elements along with all the fun activities of a regular summer camp." - Student review
"For any young woman who is struggling to find her journey, unsure of what the next steps to take and feeling lost, this is the perfect place to grow. I have improved my self-confidence, my relationships with the community around me, and found a place where I feel love from everyone. This community is not temporary, as I consider the other girls around me sisters. This is a place where I feel I truly belong and am seen for who I am. The staff is full of life-changing mentors, there for every step of your personal discovery. From nights in the kitchen dancing and singing, or going on hikes to waterfalls with each other. The entire staff creates a place where you can play, have fun, and be silly, but also gives space to encourage vulnerability and promote connection, healing and growth. Each bond I have with every person is sacred here, and the amount of love created in this place is so pure. This is a place to reset, find community, build confidence, and create pathways for new opportunities. I am forever grateful that I have had the opportunity to go on this program, and I would not have changed it for the world. Thank you, Rooted Life Adventures, for changing my life." Student
"The range of activities was amazing. She saw things and did things that were once in a lifetime experiences. My daughter also was able to do meaningful work (e.g. volunteering) and got a lot of satisfaction from that experience. Finally, she had great role models in the program staff, who she really connected with and admired." - Parent
"This program was way more fun than I expected it to be, honestly. I loved all the water sports and sense of community between all the girls.
It's a great thing to do to have structure in your summer and to have loads of fun at the same time." - Student review
"This experience was a once in a lifetime experience! I loved getting close with the girls, learning new things, and learning more about myself! It was very tiring and hard but so worth it in the long run. I pushed myself to do things I don’t think i would’ve done back home to help my career and get me in a better position for when I am older. I overall would recommend this experience to someone in a space like I was when I found this program. It helped me out and I think it can help out another individual!" Student
"I loved the internship with Laura. It helped me consider what I want to do after school, and I had been really struggling to do that before I talked with her. " - Student
"WOW SO FUN. You get a sisterhood and learn how to live with girls. We had a fun time and became extremely close. Furthermore, you will also learn to confront things when there is a problem." - Student review
"On this program I grew exponentially in my mental state and my confidence. I gained a home away from home with friends from all over. This helped launch me into my next phase of life, helping me make a plan for success and begin to carry out that plan. Coming out of this program… I am now leaving to travel the east coast of Australia with another girl from the program (Shoutout Viv), and staying in hostels along the way which I never thought I would be brave enough to do. I’m so thankful for this experience." Student
"Volunteering with Baskets of Blessings was one of my favorite parts of the week. Everyone there was so sweet and fun to work with, and what they were achieving was incredible. I feel lucky to have been a part of that, even though it was just for a few weeks." - Student
"This program is one in a million. It helps students who struggle with mental health issues ranging from everyday anxiety to more severe disorders. The staff are extremely supportive and are always there to accommodate your needs. This program offers a large variety of activities and provides an educational aspect that is beyond compare. The group on this trip was just the right size and we lived in a beautiful house in the middle of Costa Rica. When I looked for a program, I thought this one was too good to be true, but it was the perfect fit. I can’t thank the staff enough. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who's interested in expanding their boundaries." - Student review
"For any young woman who is struggling to find her journey, unsure of what the next steps to take and feeling lost, this is the perfect place to grow. I have improved my self-confidence, my relationships with the community around me, and found a place where I feel love from everyone. This community is not temporary, as I consider the other girls around me sisters. This is a place where I feel I truly belong and am seen for who I am. The staff is full of life-changing mentors, there for every step of your personal discovery. From nights in the kitchen dancing and singing, or going on hikes to waterfalls with each other. The entire staff creates a place where you can play, have fun, and be silly, but also gives space to encourage vulnerability and promote connection, healing and growth. Each bond I have with every person is sacred here, and the amount of love created in this place is so pure. This is a place to reset, find community, build confidence, and create pathways for new opportunities. I am forever grateful that I have had the opportunity to go on this program, and I would not have changed it for the world. Thank you, Rooted Life Adventures, for changing my life.
" Student
"I decided to go on this program because I was feeling like I had been in a rut for a very long time. Thankfully, I wanted to do something to change that. I was stuck in a cycle of unhealthy habits, poor coping mechanisms, abusive relationships, and self-deprecation. The goal was to completely remove myself from the environment that I was in and get out of my comfort zone. As well as change the way I felt about myself and my life.
Austin was able to combine therapeutic elements with adventure, community, volunteering, life skills, and so much more. The outcome was a phenomenal experience. Honestly, I feel like a completely different person now that the program has come to an end. I am so much more confident in myself. I've also learned a lot about what I need to be successful day to day. Finally, I thoroughly enjoyed this program. WHat's more, I'm incredibly sad to be leaving such an amazing place and awesome group of people." Student
"Now I feel I can live independently and be successful in a college setting." - Student review
"We lived in a beautiful house in Byron bay. We were surrounded by beautiful amazing women leaders. It was such a safe community that we built. We did volunteering, internship, and adventure days as well as learning about the aboriginal people. My favorite part was the people I met and the relationships I’ll have forever from this. We made meals together did Sunday resets together and thought about what we really want and life differently. Austin and Mechi were amazing and so helpful with anything we needed. On the daily we had Sierra and Mickey. Sierra kept everything running and was such a bubbly presence and always there to laugh or listen. Mickey was always there if we ever needed a chat or a laugh. They encouraged us to explore all of our options for the future and what we really want instead of what we thought we should do. We became such a close knit community and became such great friends. I am leaving this experience with a whole community of amazing girls and 4 amazing mentors that I know I’ll always have in the future. Our four leaders were so inspiring and amazing women I have had the privilege of knowing and will know. I made best friends and relationships I’ve never had before and am so grateful for this whole experience and will miss this house with everyone so much. It was beautiful to be in such a supportive, kind all women environment, we expressed gratitude and affirmations and I felt so loved within this community.
" - Student
"The supportive gap year program was all I needed to begin life on my own again. It built my confidence in others and myself and it truly felt like I had a new home in NZ." - Student
"Towards the beginning of the program I was fairly reluctant to share my feelings, and I hated being vulnerable. However, towards the end of RLA I became much more open to talking about difficult topics. What's more, I began sharing my uncomfortable and scary emotions. " - Student review
"I had so much fun all the other girls were so amazing and kind, the staff was so supportive and understanding and were always making sure everyone was having the best time. They were so good at checking in with you to make sure you were doing ok and were always willing to talk if you needed it and they were the best listeners. The owner Austin is such an amazing person who made the program so much better and made such an effort to make sure everyone was getting the support they needed. They made Australia the best experience ever 10/10 would go again!
” - Student
"We have no regrets, and only wish we had considered a program like this directly after high school vs. after an unsuccessful attempt at college.” - Parent
"This prepares older girls for going to college. In general, it makes a big change in your life which is good for you." - Student review
"Rooted Life Adventures Australia gap program changed my life for the better. I have never met a more amazing group of girls and had a better time living with them. The program is structured so wonderfully and morphs to fit everyone’s individual needs. However, it also stretches you to become accustomed to new things and pushes you into your growth zone. On top of this, lovely instructors are by your side to work through any troubles with you. I would recommend Rooted Life to anyone looking for a stable, fun, and supportive 6 weeks in a beautiful location with loving people.
." - Student
"I think it acted as an excellent catalyst for all the things I was already working on in therapy. It built on my confidence, my independence, my self-esteem, and my capacity for and interest in adventure." - Student
"RLA was an amazing experience for our daughter. She was immersed in a new culture and gained life skills, confidence and made meaningful connections." - Parent
"This experience provided me with more that I could have asked for. I as supported by an amazing group of strong and talented women. I felt like I was empowered to be myself and experiment with activities like surfing hiking, public speaking, leadership, cooking, cleaning, tasting, and more. I was comfortable in my growth zone and i felt myself expanding into a new world that I was once afraid of. I became confident in myself and my peers, and my future. I was supported in many ways anywhere from helping me write a resume to learning how to get lead a group of people. Along with that I feel confident in my international travel skills, we had opportunities to immerse ourself in the new culture and people. so much could be said about the program, let along the leaders that run it, I would trust my life with the people on this program and i feel so greatful to have had this experience.
" - Student
"I LOVE New Zealand. New favourite place on Earth. Don't want to leave. Finally, I learned a whole new way of life and gained an entirely new perspective on what it means to have a work-life balance." - Student
"It was an exciting program for our daughter that had a therapeutic element. We enjoyed meeting the team via zoom beforehand and we were impressed with the location, home, and activities." - Parent
"At first I was so nervous to be surrounded by so many people, but right the feeling of being a failure changed due to be surrounded by women who were on the same boat I was. The doubt I had turned into the determination I needed for the future I wanted to have. I was able to create this new version of myself I never knew existed. The adventures I had were unforgettable and makes me want to bring everyone to Australia. I would highly recommend to women searching for guidance in there future. I don’t regret doing this program one bit.
" Student
"We were amazed at the many brave and adventurous things that our daughter ended up doing. Almost all of which we couldn't imagine happening at home. She made genuine connections, learned how to manage a range of challenges. Students took an active role in their own self-care and genuinely had fun." Parent
"The Rooted Life Adventures staff are outstanding and clearly give their all. They support each student, supported the parents, etc" - Parent
"Austin and Mechi did an amazing job creating and carrying out this program. I truly have never felt so seen, comfortable, and cared for as I did on this program. I could not recommend it more to any students struggling to find direction, needing a chance to clear their head, and feeling a need for community!! The all women aspect of this trip was something I have never experienced before and found to be amazing, the way all the girls connected and truly loved each other so authentically was beautiful to experience and could not be recommended more."
- Student
"I love New Zealand! Even after being here for 10 weeks, I still look around and think, "this does not look real". It is absolutely the most beautiful place I have ever been and will probably ever be. All of the people here are so nice and welcoming, which I really appreciate. I love all of the farm animals that are everywhere, the stunning views that are literally in our backyard. As well as how green everything is. The untouched, wild, raw landscapes are stunning and make me feel like I am on a different planet. I learned that the Kiwi way of life is full of adventure and community. They heavily appreciate the land they live on and work incredibly hard to conserve the nature and wildlife around them. "
- Student
"This is an outstanding program." - Parent
Honestly, when I read the description I just couldn't believe how many boxes it checked! I liked that it was all women, that it was a relatively small group, that it was very structured with all kinds of activities that I knew would be great for our daughter (including "adulting" stuff like cooking and cleaning), tons of time in nature, being surrounded by other young women who were possibly dealing with some of the same issues she was dealing with, that it was supportive without being an intensive therapy program (but that a mental health professional would be living in the house), the artistic outlet (pottery), and the opportunities for bonding and self-reflection. It just seemed so intentional - from getting everyone together in LA to fly to Sydney as a group, to not having many super long and exhausting days - it just seemed like Austin really understood the needs of this group, and tailored the program in this incredibly balanced way. I also loved that Austin and Mechi would be living nearby, and trying out all kinds of things since this was the first Australia group - that seemed very cool!" -Parent
"Undoubtedly, I grew a lot over the course of the program. I became more comfortable with everyone. In addition, I was able to be honest and communicate in ways that I could not at the beginning. I was able to push myself more and more and continuously step outside of my comfort zone. This was uncomfortable for me before this program. Over time, my head and thoughts became clearer, and I genuinely felt alive again for the first time in years. In addition, I was much less irritable and able to commiserate with my fellow students. I'd engage in the wellness activities wholeheartedly and with all my attention. Overall, I became a happier and healthier version of myself. With more energy, motivation, and appreciation for life and the beauty of the world around me. " - Student
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