Please join us on Monday, August 19th at 2:00PM in the Larder Courtyard for a dedication service for students participating in the Highlander Wilderness Adventure. There is a reception for students and families immediately following the dedication service that employees are welcome to join. We are excited to have incoming first-year students participating in Highlander Wilderness Adventure this year. Students will begin their experience at the Houghton Ropes Course and then travel up to the Adirondacks, where their adventure will include 30-40 miles of backpacking and canoeing in the wilderness, as well as a 36-hour solo experience. A Snapshot of Highlander Wilderness Adventure History: Since 1979, Highlander Wilderness Adventure (HWA), an experiential orientation program, has been available for incoming first-year and transfer students and provides a foundation for their success as they embark on their Houghton University experience. The HWA program focuses on experiential learning for growth, challenge, and discipleship in an outdoor setting. Research confirms that adventure in natural environments improves psychological outcomes such as self-efficacy, resilience, and well-being. Specific learning and strategies are integrated into the curriculum to deliver stronger and more lasting outcomes. The Highlander Wilderness Adventure experience is designed to stretch the total person. Participants experience joy after challenge, confidence after uncertainty, and satisfaction after the hard work of adventure. Through learning and applying the basic skills germane to outdoor adventure and group living, the HWA provides opportunities for the student to build self-confidence and self-awareness. When positively experienced, these encounters encourage them to embrace, rather than avoid, challenges and uncertainty in the future. Ultimately, we believe the HWA process allows students to look inward to self, outward to others, and upward to God.
