Journey Programme

What Makes This Programme Unique

The Extreme Life Journey is not a gap year, but an intentional, Christ‑centered year programme that equips young people with hands‑on skills and industry‑recognised certifications in areas such as camp and team‑building facilitation, church youth ministry, adventure guiding, nature field guiding, lodge operations, maintenance support, and entrepreneurship. Through experiential learning, discipleship, and practical service, we cultivate a generation of servant leaders who live with purpose, steward creation responsibly, and impact communities through love and service. This adventure with Christ blends life‑changing spiritual formation, leadership and entrepreneurial development, and practical outdoor expertise. Guided by our core values—Christ‑centered living, servant leadership, stewardship of creation, adventure and discovery, community and connectedness, integrity, responsibility, and a hunger to learn—we empower young people to build deep spiritual foundations, develop emotional resilience, embrace innovation, and see life as a never‑ending adventure.

What You'll Experience and Learn on Your

On your Journey year you’ll gain hands‑on experience and recognised certifications across a wide range of fields. You’ll explore your thinking patterns and preferences through NBI Brain Analysis, and grow in discipleship and youth ministry with Tuks Enterprises. Adventure training includes Generic Adventure Guide (NQF), Mountain Hiking Guide (NQF), artificial climbing wall, high and low ropes, archery, and Wilderness First Aid (NQF). You’ll also work toward a FGASA Nature Guide (NQF) qualification, and develop creative skills through mobile photography and videography projects.

At the Adventure Institute you’ll be equipped in adventure learning facilitation, entrepreneurship and innovation, emotional resilience, dynamic hospitality, and creativity. Along the way, you’ll earn your learner’s licence and basic driving skills.

Beyond these, you’ll build essential meta skills such as wellness, self‑awareness, critical thinking, adaptability, empathy, problem‑solving, diversity awareness, teamwork, conflict management and leadership. You’ll also pick up technical skills like welding, electrical work, plumbing, vehicle maintenance, food preparation, and customer care—preparing you practically and spiritually for whatever lies ahead.

Why Join

Whether you know exactly where you’re heading or are still figuring it out, this opportunity will equip you to:

Strengthen your identity in Christ
Build character
Grow in confidence
Take bold steps into the future
Gain a wealth of new skills and recognised qualifications.

Spiritual Growth

On Journey, you’ll discover your purpose in God’s creation, establish healthy spiritual discipline, deepen your knowledge of the Bible, and learn how to stand firm in spiritual warfare. Throughout the year, we partner with organisations that share our passion for adventure, personal growth, and meaningful service.

Who Should Apply for

This programme is for you if you’re between 18 and 23 years old
Have a passion for Jesus, people, nature and adventure
Are looking for a year of:
- Self‑discovery
- Service
- Adventure
- Skills development
Ideal if you want to:
- Be part of a national community
- Grow deeper in your relationship with Jesus
- Gain valuable qualifications for your future career
Available from February to November 2026.

What You Get

Gone are the days of spending three or four years on a single course. At Extreme Life Journey we offer a rich, multi‑disciplinary training experience that equips you with a broad range of skills and recognized qualifications. You will earn an Adventure Institute Level 1 Practitioner Certificate, four national qualifications (NQF levels), two university modules (non‑accredited), four industry‑recognized certificates, and complete 16 life‑skills modules. Training includes hands‑on adventure learning and participation in national conferences, camps, and ministry opportunities.

Core modules cover areas such as:

Whole Brain thinking and personalities
Youth ministry (University of Pretoria Enterprises & Petra Institute)
Adventure site guide with speciality in hiking (NQF 4)
Nature field guiding (NQF 2)
Facilitate adventurous experiential learning (school camp and corporate facilitation)
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
First aid
Emotional awareness
Creation purpose and discipleship
Leadership
Conflict handling
Group dynamics
Social media and marketing
Creative ministry
Vehicle maintenance
Welding
Electrical tools
Hygiene
Food preparation, and much more.

Learning happens through experiential, online, project‑based, and adventure‑based methods, enriched by peer mentorship, journaling, facilitated discussions, role play, guest speakers, and workshops—preparing you practically and spiritually for life and leadership.

Expectations from Applicant

Journey applicants must show a genuine commitment to Christian values and a willingness to grow through personal challenges, service, and spiritual formation. They are expected to fully engage in every phase of the programme (February to November), actively practice spiritual discipline and discipleship activities, and demonstrate initiative, adaptability, and teamwork throughout their training and service. They are called to respect the vision, values, and leadership of UCSA/VCSV, uphold all agreed‑upon rules, and pursue growth—intellectually, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. A readiness to travel, live in community, and serve within diverse cultural environments is essential, along with maintaining a lifestyle aligned with Christian ethics. Interns will meaningfully contribute to camp facilitation, school ministry, and outreach initiatives. Please note that students who are found guilty of misconduct and required to leave the programme remain responsible for all funds already spent, including deposits and future commitments.

The Process

Commitment from Applicant

Journey programme cost R80 000 for the year with a deposit of R10 000 by acceptance of contract. If, at the end of the year, students are still found to be not yet competent in certain modules, it will be their responsibility—and at their own cost—to continue the academic process in the respective modules. No refund will be issued to a student who withdraws from the programme.