Students dive into what it means to lead like Jesus at Adventures in Leadership 2026
Adventures in Leadership just wrapped up another incredible week on the Gunflint Trail, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the support and the prayers.
Sixteen high school students gathered at Adventurous Christians to dive into what it means to lead like Jesus—not from the front, but from a posture of service. Together they studied the leadership from a Sermon on the Mount perspective, discovered how they’re uniquely wired through the Working Genius assessment, and learned how to lead a team through different challenges.
Then they got in canoes.
Over several days in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, each student took a turn leading their group on the water—navigating, decision-making and caring for the people around them. No simulations, case studies or videos. Just wilderness and responsibility and each other. When they were done leading their group, they spent time with a NWC staff person processing what they had experienced. This debriefing is a pivotal time of learning about leadership.
What made this week possible was a team of people who showed up to serve. Brian Zahasky coordinated the base camp experience along with Trisha Haugen of Adventurous Christians. Our NWC staff leaders, Maddie Hall, Layne Johnson and Dan Pearson, poured themselves into these students day after day. And our Adventurous Christians guides, Aubrey, Izzy and David, brought the wilderness expertise and the coaching that made the Boundary Waters challenge reachable. Watching the adults model what servant leadership looks like in real life was a powerful part of the curriculum.
It’s always something to watch students step into leadership and learn about themselves and God. But what’s easy to miss from the outside is how much growth happens in the quiet moments: the student who keeps the group moving when everyone’s tired, the ones who cheer on others as they attempt to rock climb a wall, and others who quickly volunteer to pray, wash dishes, or sweep out the outhouse. On this journey, they discover what kind of leader they were made to be.
Brylie Kolding put it this way: “I learned that being a Christian leader is not a rubric or how-to of being a perfect leader, but more so a role model that shows you how to lead and love while staying you.”
If you have a high school student in your church who has leadership potential—the kind of person who’s curious, who cares about others, who might not even know yet what they’re capable of—start thinking about nominating them for next year. Registration materials will be available in early 2027.
AIL isn’t for the already formed leader; it’s for the ones who are ready to try hard things and grow. As Lydia Priest told future students: “Just because something is hard doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Push through the pain [on the portages], and the sight of the water will get sweeter every time.”
Maddie Wilson agreed: “I would tell them that it is an extremely life changing experience and they will become a much better leader coming out of the trip.”
And when asked how he experienced God this week, Aulis Nelson said it simply and clearly, “I found him in the wilderness, in the Word and in prayer with others.”
