Rooted Life Adventures

Name: Rooted Life Adventures
Address: 4 McIvor Lane, Queenstown, OTAGO9304, NZ
Telephone: +12146809486

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Rooted Life Adventures

Small group adventure travel in a wellness environment with therapeutic coaching.

27/08/2024

Meet Peter, the latest addition to our strong team here at Rooted Life Adventures! Originally from Southern California, Peter's spent the last five years living in New Zealand and currently calls Queenstown home.

A talented former outdoor educator, raft guide, keen climber and passionate surfer, Peter finds joy and inner peace when he's in nature and has a deep love and appreciation for the outdoors. In recent times Peter has become a qualified horticulturist and has planted thousands and thousands of native plants around the Whakatipu Basin. When he's not working, you'll find Peter in Fiordland National Park, exploring the vast valleys and peaks of the Darran Mountains - he proclaims this is his favourite place in the world. Peter's very active in the community and has been involved in the Queenstown Climbing Club, the Department of Conservation and New Zealand Alpine Club.

We are thrilled to have Peter join us as a Program Instructor on our upcoming fall program in Queenstown, and we know he'll be of great support to all our new students. Peter joins our Wellness Director Mickey and our Executive Director Austin, who will be facilitating the fall program.

Welcome, Peter!

25/08/2024

What adventures do we get up to in Queenstown, New Zealand?

23/08/2024

We love getting reviews from students and parents, here's some recent feedback we received off the back of our latest Costa Rica summer program.

23/08/2024

If you've been thinking about our fall program in New Zealand, departing next month, this is your last opportunity to sign up! We have a few last-minute places for young adults who are looking for a ten-week supported adventure in Queenstown, New Zealand ✨

Get in touch today!

17/08/2024

How do you decide what you want to do on a gap year?

08/08/2024

Our programs are outcome focussed, with 'sense of belonging' being a primary objective for all our programs. Our curriculum provides workshops, training and 1-1 support focusing on social skills, community and conflict resolution.

Here is 'sense of belonging' broken down into bite sized chunks.

- Students will understand the importance of authentic relationships, perspective taking and build effective intrapersonal skills
- Students will develop self-awareness skills to manage expectations and peer competitiveness.
- Students will understand the importance of connection to a larger community and their role in building a collaborative environment.

You can find out more on our website, or feel free to schedule a call!

05/08/2024

We couldn't have said it better ourselves😊

We think this also applies to our 10 weeklong fall program and our next intake is for New Zealand 2024, based in the spectacular South Island. Our fall program is suitable for all genders and is for those aged 18-22 years.

03/08/2024

Our students join us from all around the US, however more often than not - they're looking for the same thing in a program. They're looking for adventure, they want to do something different that's not available to them back home and they want to embark on a program with a team that just 'gets them' and who can support them.

This means our students bond with other students very quickly, as they are very similar and can understand each other better than most others. Firm friendships and authentic connections are formed, and we love hearing about how they've continued to blossom post program.

02/08/2024

Our team are at the heart of everything we do. We go to great lengths to recruit for our Wellness Director roles, recognising that they are at the very core of our programs.

All our Wellness Directors are qualified therapists and have had extensive training to be able to facilitate holistic adventure travel with built-in mental health support. They support the group’s collective journey by integrating intentional wellness practices into daily routines as well as facilitating psychoeducational core curriculum groups and wellness workshops.

Here are some of the things our Wellness Directors have trained in.

Eco-therapy | Wilderness First Response | Eye movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) | Somatic Embodiment & Practices | Trauma-Informed Yoga | Mindfulness-Based therapy | Motivational Interviewing | Life Transitions | Liberation and Feminist Therapy Somatic Embodiment | Eating Disorders in LGBTQIA+ Community | Gestalt Therapy | Mindfulness Based Techniques

Keen to hear more about our team members? Please head on over to our website.

01/08/2024

We are DELIGHTED to have been formally accepted to the Gap Year Association 💚

As an Accredited Gap Year Program provider we have passed the Gap Year Association's robust accreditation process, demonstrating that we meet the highest standards in the field of gap year education.

It's an honor to have our hard work recognised and to have joined such a prestigious organization!

01/08/2024

Thank you Gap Year Association 💚 It was a heap of fun and it was for a great cause! The fact that Austin could do it alongside our Costa Rica summer program students made it even better.

28/07/2024

"What did you learn on your six week summer program with Rooted Life Adventures?" - another fantastic response! 🙌

26/07/2024

Meet Austin, the creator of Rooted Life Adventures. After spending years working with outdoors educational programs for young adults all around the world, Austin saw an increasing number of students suffering from mental health challenges. The need for increased mental health support on program or an 'in between' program was clear and Rooted Life Adventures was born.

Recording from Costa Rica during our latest teen girl summer program, Austin tells us more about the programs, how they're structured, the expected outcomes and the types of students we work with. You can head on over to our YouTube channel for a full 15 minute version, which goes into more detail about these subjects. The link is here > https://youtu.be/Xu_fdipgo8c

Please feel free to reach out if you'd like to chat about our programs with Austin in further detail, our next program starts on September 17th in New Zealand.

25/07/2024

Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world and we get to see some incredible wildlife whilst living here! These are some photos from our most recent six week summer program.

Our next program takes place in Queenstown, New Zealand. This ten week fall program explores some of the lower South Island of New Zealand, which is another wonderful location to spot native wildlife, flora and fauna! 🍃

24/07/2024

We can't believe that's a wrap on our six-week summer young teen girls' program in Costa Rica for 2024! 🌴🥥☀️🐒

It's been our absolute pleasure to facilitate this six-week program, thank you to our wonderful students for choosing our program and for undertaking this journey of adventure and growth with us. 💚

23/07/2024

Why did we choose New Zealand and Costa Rica as the primary locations for our programs? There are so many reasons; beauty, nature, safety and adventure are some of the words that spring to mind - this photo of Aoraki/Mount Cook is a perfect example of landscape perfection! It's easy to disconnect from the online world and to feel inspired when mother nature serves up views like these, and New Zealand is full of them.

Would you, or a young person if your life benefit from a ten-week program in New Zealand, full of adventure, culture, environmental conservation and fun with some extra mental health support? If so, please get in touch, we'd love to hear from you.

Just a reminder that you can save $2000 on our Fall New Zealand program, departing in September when you book before the end of July! 💚

22/07/2024

Join our NZ Fall Program! ❤️

For further information about our curriculum, inclusions, activities and outcomes - please head on over to the website.

Remember, our Earlybird finishes at midnight on 31 July 2024 - save $2000.

22/07/2024

"What did you learn on program?" - This is one of the questions we asked our students who recently joined us on a six week Costa Rica program💚 We loved this response.

21/07/2024

New Zealand takes outdoor exploration very seriously. Despite Queenstown being a haven of activity, you don't have to go far to enjoy silence and serenity. There are so many trails to explore and hikes to enjoy, there's something for all abilities, fitness and confidence levels.

Whether our students are looking for stunning vista points, or in search of a secret beach to dip their toes and read a book, Queenstown has it all. Our programs celebrate real connections, removing reliance on devices and replacing it with authentic, human connection and the opportunity to fall in love with nature in all its glory. ❤️

Another great thing about New Zealand? We don't have any wildlife that can hurt you!

19/07/2024

Let's talk about food 🍇🍉🍌🍓🍍

There's no lack of fresh, delicious food in Costa Rica. Fresh fruit is grown in our own back garden, and we also have a local cook on-site, so no one's ever going hungry! Food is always available for our students, but more importantly - our students get involved in the planning of meals, preparation of ingredients, cooking and cleaning up after themselves. The kitchen is a sacred place for us, it's where we bond, learn, teach and have many impromptu dance parties! 💚

We understand that food can be a complex subject for some students, and our Wellness Directors are well qualified to be able to help navigate and support.

18/07/2024

How good does it feel to switch off and disconnect?

These photos are of our Costa Rica summer students enjoying some quiet time as they read, paint, plan and reflect. We believe that positive growth happens when we give ourselves space - providing us with mental capacity to think and daydream. 🌞

12/07/2024

We are currently in Costa Rica and our students are getting stuck into the rhythm of our curriculum. Two days a week are dedicated to adventure activities and our eager students are enjoying the days spent in the ocean. Here's what Maddy has to say about the surf lessons - look at that smile!!

11/07/2024

So, what's our point of difference?

Simply put, Rooted Life Adventures provides more time with a therapist than any other program provider. We are not wilderness therapy, but we do provide more support on programs than a 'regular' gap year year program.

Our programs are led by live-in therapists, which we call Wellness Directors, who conduct 'in the moment coaching' to help support the students in their self-development.

We support students in working towards and achieving their goals, and helping them work through behaviours and patterns that are keeping them from success.

Would you like to find out more about the support we offer? Please don't hesitate to reach out, or head on over to the website for more information. www.rootedlifeadventures.com

10/07/2024

Here are some snaps of our students enjoying our 6 week summer program in Costa Rica!

💃 The local community teaching us a cultural dance
⚽️ Soccer games with the local school children
🧘🏽‍♀️A yoga and mindfulness session, with a chance to reflect
📖 Time out to read and journal
🌿Service learning in the outdoors

It's so important to be intentional and to carve time out for the simple things that bring us peace and joy! 🙌🏻

02/07/2024

Our Founder and Executive Director, Austin, was recently asked to feature on the Success is Subjective podcast alongside host, Joanna Lilley.

"On today’s episode of Success is Subjective, Austin Rogers is the executive director of Rooted Life Adventures where she brings experience and passion to her role. She has always sought purposeful work, navigating careers in non-profit, corporate and government sectors before finding her true calling in experiential learning and adventure travel. After moving to New Zealand in 2018, Austin spent 5 years with a leading gap year company that facilitated transformative journeys for over 700 students across 15 countries. She recognized an increasing need for mental health support among adolescents and young adults. She loves to create programs where fun and mental health support co-exist."

So, what did Austin have to say? How did Rooted Life Adventures come to fruition? Below's a sneak peak.

"After a year of research, I found that students were struggling with a sense of self - knowing who they were. They lack a sense of belonging - it's a lonely generation, and they are desperate for authentic connection with others. They want a sense of capability and to feel confident, to have a purpose. They ask themselves, what do I want to do in this world? "

Please click the below link to hear Austin on the Success is Subjective podcast. We think it's a great resource to find out more about what Rooted Life Adventures do, and to hear Austin talk so passionately about the young people we are committed to supporting 💚

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-235-purpose-your-unique-gifts-skills-interests/id1499891712?i=1000659380041

02/07/2024

Our home in New Zealand 💙

This beautiful house, located by Lake Hayes between Queenstown and Arrowtown, is where our Fall students will be spending the entirety of their six and ten week program. Lake Hayes is the backdrop to many summer adventures such as paddle boarding and kayaking, with hiking trails connecting us to a range of beautiful locations. Arrowtown won 'New Zealand's most beautiful town' award last year and is an absolute treat of a destination to explore.

Not only is it a stunning and well located property, it's also spacious, providing us with an abundance of space for our wellness workshops, craft afternoons, yoga sessions and BBQs that we love to host and that students enjoy partaking in.

Our New Zealand Fall program is suitable for young adults aged 18-22, of all genders and we are currently waiving the enrolment fee of $2000 for all sign ups before 31 July! Head on over to our website today to find out more - www.rootedlifeadventures.com

29/06/2024

Where do we stay in Costa Rica on our six week summer program? ☀️🌸🌴

Here! Part 1 of 2.

24/06/2024

Our bee keeping experience in Queenstown 🐝🍯

We provide a sweet introduction to the beautiful world of bees and the natural world on our New Zealand Fall program - here's a sneak peak of Austin on this tour last year! We join a local couple of bee keepers for the day and soak up all their knowledge on all things bees, learning about the importance of bees on our global food chain. We'll get dressed up in appropriate PPE, open and work on an active hive - we'll also hold the frame that's covered in hundreds of bees buzzing around! Students love this experience, learn so much and find a new found appreciation for our buzzy friends and the food that we eat.

Address

4 McIvor Lane
Queenstown
OTAGO9304

Telephone

+12146809486

Website

https://linkin.bio/rootedlifeadventures

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Videos

Looking forward to welcoming our students to Queenstown, New Zealand! 🇳🇿💚 #rootedlifeadventures #supportedgap #newzealand #gooverseas

Meet Austin, the creator of Rooted Life Adventures. After spending years working with outdoors educational programs for young adults all around the world, Austin saw an increasing number of students suffering from mental health challenges. The need for increased mental health support on program or an 'in between' program was clear and Rooted Life Adventures was born. Recording from Costa Rica during our latest teen girl summer program, Austin tells us more about the programs, how they're structured, the expected outcomes and the types of students we work with. You can head on over to our YouTube channel for a full 15 minute version, which goes into more detail about these subjects. The link is here > https://youtu.be/Xu_fdipgo8c Please feel free to reach out if you'd like to chat about our programs with Austin in further detail, our next program starts on September 17th in New Zealand. #rootedlifeadventures #gapyear #gapyearprogram #gooverseas #goabroad #supportedgap

Where do we stay in Costa Rica on our six week summer program? ☀️🌸🌴 Here! Part 1 of 2. #costarica #rootedlifeadventures #gooverseas #goabroad #supportedgap #gapyear #gapyearprogram #summerprogram

You're going to have the break you need ☀️ The complexities of growing up in a digital and 'ever connected' world is exhausting, and frankly it's only a matter of time before we run out of bandwidth to function. The idea of 'switching off and unplugging' can seem really daunting, scary and for some - absolute madness - but it could be the mental break you need. Removing yourself from your home environment over the summer break will do wonders for you and put you in the right headspace for next semester, setting you up for success. #rootedlifeadventures #costarica2024 #summerprogram #gapyearprogram #explorethegap #gooverseas #goabroad #summercamp #summer2024

Reason number 1 why you won't want to stay home this summer 💛 You're going to make new friends There's no doubt about it, you'll meet new friends and for many, these will blossom into lifelong friendships. Not one teen has joined our program and not found themselves with a group of girls their own age, of whom they find a connection with. These relationships happen in real time, in real life and have depth and wholesomeness that simply beat online interactions. These friendships go beyond summer, and many of our students have travelled around the US to catch up with each other, long after the program has finished. #rootedlifeadventures #costarica #summerprogram #summercamp #explorethegap #goabroad #gooverseas #summer2024

Reason no.2 to not stay at home this summer! 🙌🏻 You're going to find new hobbies, discover new things you like and things you're good at - and you didn't even know! If you stay at home this summer, it's likely you'll spend a lot of time doing the same things, the same way. Some might find themselves bored, find their days monotonous and maybe even slip into unhealthy habits. Our summer program is varied with a range of new experiences incorporated, whether that's adventure activities, life skills or new ways to communicate. #rootedlifeadventures #costarica2024 #summerprogram #gapyearprogram #explorethegap #gooverseas #goabroad #summercamp #summer2024

What do we do on our summer program in Costa Rica? ☀️ 🏄‍♀️ Surfing Waterfall rappelling 💦 Rafting Flying trapeze (yes, really!) 🎒Hiking Beach and waterfall swimming 🚣🏻‍♀️ Kayaking These are just some of the activities we take part in, but we do so much more! Two days a week are allocated to adventures, and then there's the eating, the exploring, the cooking, the bonding, cultural activities, service learning and wellness workshops. It's where young girls connect, further form their identity, become inspired and develop self awareness and confidence. Young females don't just learn and grow on our programs, they thrive 🌱💪🏽 #ExploreTheGapYear #AdventureTravel #WellnessAdventures #AdventureTherapy #CulturalImmersion #VolunteerWork #GapYear #GapYearLife #GapYearTravel #GapYearAdventures #GapYearProgram #CostaRica #TravelCostaRica #RxOffTheCouch #DiscoveringMe #JourneyOfSelf #RootedLifeAdventures #TravelOverseas

Explore the world, and yourself, through Rooted Life Adventures 🌏 #ExploreTheGapYear #AdventureTravel #TherapeuticAdventure #SupportedGap #WellnessAdventures #AdventureTherapy #MentalHealthSupport #EducationalConsultant #FamilyTherapist #StudentCounsellor #ParentingTeens #ParentingYoungAdults #Psychoeducation #SelfEsteem #CulturalImmersion #VolunteerWork #GapYear #GapYearLife #GapYearTravel #GapYearAdventures #GapYearProgram #GapYear2024 #TravelNewZealand #NewZealand #RxOffTheCouch #RLANewZealand #RLALife #DiscoveringMe #JourneyOfSelf #RootedLifeAdventures

Our six week Costa Rica program includes an ESL (English as a Second Language) internship, where RLA students teach English to local, elementary school children! One day a week we journey to the local school, and teach these young children conversational and written English. #ExploreTheGapYear #AdventureTravel #TherapeuticAdventure #SupportedGap #WellnessAdventures #AdventureTherapy #MentalHealthSupport #EducationalConsultant #FamilyTherapist #StudentCounsellor #ParentingTeens #ParentingYoungAdults #Psychoeducation #SelfEsteem #CulturalImmersion #VolunteerWork #GapYear #GapYearLife #GapYearTravel #GapYearAdventures #GapYearProgram #GapYear2024 #TravelNewZealand #NewZealand #RxOffTheCouch #RLANewZealand #RLALife #DiscoveringMe #JourneyOfSelf #RootedLifeAdventures

Who's our student? #supportedgap #rootedlifeadventures #explorethegap #summerprograms

Our NZ Fall program features an internship on a 22,000 acre rural sheep farm! #explorethegapyear #SupportedGap #WellnessAdventures #RootedLifeAdventures

"It helps you like therapy helps you, but they made it fun!" #rootedlifeadventures #explorethegap #summerprograms #supportedgap

On program we visit Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, Australasia's highest peak, and home to glaciers, icebergs and these cheeky Keas - the only mountain parrot in the world! #rootedlifeadventures #GapYearTravel #NewZealand