Toccoa Falls, Ga. (April 9, 2024) – Located in the beautiful foothills of North Georgia, Toccoa Falls College boasts 1,100 acres to explore alongside an 186’ waterfall on campus. While this beauty attracts many, students in the Outdoor Leadership and Education (OLE) Program at TFC are of unique benefit. 

Housed under the Ministry & Leadership Department, the Outdoor Leadership and Education major combines adventure, wilderness, camping, and environmental education with godly character development. Students gain a basic understanding of outdoor leadership and education and develop specific skills, competencies, and points of view needed by outdoor leadership and education professionals. Additionally, they will be able to research, design, and implement outdoor education programs that are safe, challenging, and rewarding. Skyler Meyers, a current OLE student, says the best part is “being in the Ministry Leadership Department, where professors are passionate about growing students spiritually, in character, in knowledge, and care about you as a person.” 

Recently, the Backcountry Travel and Education class took their first semester trip traveling through the Chattahoochee National Forest. The 14-mile, four-day excursion began with reflecting on the words of Robbie Seay’s song, “Slow Me Down.” By asking the Lord to speak into their lives and help their hearts hear His sound, the students could not only learn the objectives of the class itself but also connect more closely with God and one another. 

Students reflected on the trip by saying, 

“Nature reveals God’s creativity and power, and I was really able to recognize His presence during this trip. I learned about the importance of working as a team. God designed us, as humans, to live in community to thrive in life. Through the long miles, tedious terrain, and unfortunate weather, the adversity ended up showing each of us the sweetness of what happens on the other side. Just like in life, even through the hardships we can find more beauty than we thought possible because God is close by.”

To learn more about TFC’s Ministry & Leadership programs and all of its undergraduate, graduate, and dual-enrollment offerings, please visit tfc.edu/academics.