Wilderness ministry – Intensive training

COURSE DESCRIPTION 

Join like-minded ministry leaders for an 13 day Wilderness Ministry Training Course. During this training you will be equipped with a Biblically solid perspective on youth ministry and wilderness ministry, as well as industry standard outdoor and adventure skills.

Our experienced staff will facilitate an intensive 13 day course in which you will gain skills you can use in your local church context. Our time in scripture will guide our discussions as we explore how Jesus used wilderness and adventure with His own disciples, and glean principles of wilderness ministry and disciple-making you can apply in your own ministries.

This course is arranged and hosted by Karkku Evangelical College, and will be led by the Wilderness Ministry Institute staff. We will begin and end our course at the beautiful Karkku campus near Tampere, Finland. You will also have the opportunity to hike for six days in the beautiful Salamajärvi National Park in central Finland. The fall months are a beautiful season for hiking.

If all requirements are met and you have successfully completed this course you will receive a certification in Wilderness First Aid. More importantly, you will have the vision, theological basis, and practical skills to begin using wilderness ministry in your local church and community. 

COURSE DETAILS 

• Experience intentional community with other leaders from around the world.

• Be grounded in a robust Biblical view of student ministry and disciple making.

• Study a Biblical theology of wilderness and experiential learning to help you understand why Wilderness is a special place God uses for transforming lives.

• Hike in the stunning boreal forests of Finland on a multi-day expedition. There you will learn all of the basics of backcountry travel, including navigation, route-finding and camp craft.

• Receive industry standard Wilderness First Aid training and have the opportunity to earn a recognized WFA certification.

• Be introduced to many practical skills involved in leading transformational wilderness ministry including group formation, facilitation theory and ideas, experiential pedagogy, leading devotionals, and connecting Biblical truth with God’s creation. You’ll receive practice in trip prep and backcountry food prep as well! 

• Be equipped with skills and vision for Gospel centered youth ministry in your own region with practical skills you can use to begin developing wilderness ministry in you local church.

Wilderness Ministry Training course in Karkku Finland.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

1. Can I afford this training? Scholarships are potentially available for students who would like to participate but for whom finances might be a barrier. Please refer to the application for more information on how to apply for financial aid, and contact us with any questions. 

2. Will I have access to wifi, laundry and recreation? The school has lake front access and has a number of recreational opportunities including swimming, boating, sauna, disc golf, tennis, basketball, and other field sports. There will be access to wifi and laundry machines before and after the backpacking trip. 

3. Can I attend part of the training? No, this course is designed to be completed and attended in its entirety.

4. Are there any course prerequisites? Applications are required to be submitted in a timely manner. You must complete the online portion Wilderness First Aid course prior to arrival in Finland. Failure to complete the online course prior to arrival will result in not achieving the Wilderness First Aid certification. 

5. How do I get to Karkku? From Helsinki you can easily get a train to Karkku with one connection in Tampere. Please contact us with questions and your travel details. 

6. Where can I get travel insurance? There are many companies through whom you can purchase travel insurance. We have used www.worldnomads.com and www.allianztravelinsurance.com in the past. You must provide proof of insurance prior to beginning the course if you are not a citizen of Finland.

7. Submit to: joelv@nexusinternational.org, timo.vehvilainen@keokarkku.fi