Abby’s Story

After 16 incredible years of service at the La Vida Center, Abby Stroven is beginning a new chapter as CEO of Toah Nipi Christian Retreat Center. This exciting opportunity allows her to stay connected with college student groups and step into a ministry that uses the beauty of the outdoors as a place for people to encounter Jesus. While the retreat center is located in Rindge, NH, Abby continues to call Gloucester, MA home. 

For the past eight years, Abby served as Executive Director of the La Vida Center for Outdoor Education and Leadership. In this role, she poured her heart into stewarding programs, experiences, teams, and facilities that open the outdoors to countless participants locally in Wenham, in the Adirondacks, and around the world. Her unwavering dedication and care in crafting experiences that inspire awe and wonder at the natural world, and the One who made it, have left a profound and lasting mark.

Abby’s story with La Vida began in Ecuador, where she met a team of women from Gordon College during a service trip to the El Refugio retreat center. She was deeply moved by their outstanding wilderness and challenge course skills, which inspired her to visit La Vida’s base camp during a May trip in 2008. Experiencing the transformative power of the wilderness, Abby felt God’s gentle nudge to return to the United States and join this life-giving ministry.

After finishing her final year in Ecuador and making a quick transition back to the States, Abby was welcomed to the North Shore by an exceptional group of like-minded adventurers. Her first summer was spent leading expeditions in the Adirondacks, a whirlwind of onboarding to wilderness life and quite literally learning the ropes with a new team of colleagues who quickly became trusted friends and even roommates.

Abby leads La Vida student staff on a trip to Romania to help build a challenge course near the town of Tusnad.

Abby and Rich at Wenham Challenge Course, May 2010 

Abby’s time at base camp overflowed with life lessons as she led groups through remote landscapes and shared her passion for encountering God in creation. She embraced La Vida’s core philosophies, Be Here Now, Holding Fast to God, Challenge by Choice, Commitment Move, along with unspoken values like servant-leadership and choosing joy in the face of challenges.

After two summers guiding Adirondack Expeditions and subsequent school years teaching Discovery courses, Abby was promoted to Director of Adventure Pursuits. Six years later, she had the honor of serving as Senior Director alongside La Vida’s founder, Rich Obenschain, all while earning her Master of Arts in Outdoor Education and Leadership from Prescott College.

Abby and Jennifer Jukanovich on their weekly walk in the woods

The past eight years were filled with blessings, milestones, and memories to cherish: celebrating La Vida’s 50th Anniversary, completing graduate school, starting an endowed scholarship in honor of Rich, hosting the first 5k trail race, earning readers’ and editors’ choice awards for best summer camp, completing a capital campaign for a new celebration space at base camp, and best of all, building friendships that will last a lifetime.

We would love for you to join us in celebrating Abby and sending her off with gratitude and joy as she steps into her next adventure. She is with La Vida through (DATE TBD), and we are hosting a farewell gathering at the La Vida Office (216 Grapevine Rd, Wenham, MA) (ON DATE TBD) before her last day.

In addition to the farewell event, we invite you to share a message, memory, or word of encouragement for Abby at the link below.