North of Boston, in the charming town of Wenham, MA, exists a private liberal arts Christian institution by the name of Gordon College. My buddy, Kevin, is an alumni from Gordon so I thought I would take up the opportunity to do a more personal tour. Because we both are runners, the tour was half walking through the campus, going down memory lane, and the other half was a jogging tour in and around the campus. For anyone who appreciates running, Gordon is situated in an excellent location with miles and miles of wooded trails, ponds and lakes. Kevin reflected back on his experiences, and is able to see, years down the road, just how impactful his time there was. Like any liberal arts college experience, it was all about the relationships. Add the Christian faith aspect to the mix, which Gordon is intentional about providing, and you have a life changing environment beyond career preparation.
One of the many areas Kevin showed me was a ropes course back in the woods, which was part of Gordon’s La Vida Center for Outdoor Education and Leadership. They believe in the importance of connecting with nature and the growth that can take place in doing so, and thus make it a requirement for all first year students to either participate in a 12-day La Vida Expedition, or a Discovery class on campus, both fulfilling the outdoor requirement Gordon maintains. They also provide many opportunities to the surrounding community, including the ropes course challenges.
At a Glance:
Wenham, Massachusetts
Undergraduate Students: 1,368
Student to Faculty Ratio: 11:1
Acceptance Rate: 77%
Six Year Graduation Rate: 72%
Freshman Retention Rate: 79%
Notable Majors: Psychology, Business, Communications, Biology, Education, English, Foreign Language, Art