By Taylor Bradford ’19
With plans of hiking Mt. Marcy, the backpacking patrol looked up at the snowy peak and embarked on their long and cold journey towards the summit.
“I remember that it was pretty rough, wet, and nasty,” said Nate Hausman, Director of La Vida’s Adirondack Expeditions.
As they continued to hike, the snow only got deeper the higher they traveled. Eventually, unavoidable post-holing forced the group to turn around and seek shelter amidst the harsh conditions.
“It was then, during that trip, that I decided I wanted to get involved with the program more,” said Nate.
That was the spring of 1997. Nate Hausman had just finished his freshman year at Gordon College and declared an outdoor education concentration without much previous knowledge of what it would entail.
Twenty-two years after that inaugural expedition into the formidable New York wilderness, Nate has been on many more La Vida expeditions, made hundreds of trips to Donnelly’s Ice Cream, and made unforgettable connections with students and staff members.
Nate with Waypoint Adventure, one of his favorite groups that has come to Base Camp.
After Nate’s participant trip in 1997, he would continue to dive into his studies while staying involved with the La Vida Center in a variety of ways.
“College was pretty transformational for me,” said Nate. “I was always outgoing, but it was then that I began to realize I really enjoy being with people. That was the time that I also realized that I like facilitating small groups.”
That love of facilitation would bring Nate to spend the summer after his sophomore year working the second year of Adventure Camp. With less than twenty campers and two weeks of camp, Nate and two other counselors took campers paddling on the Ipswich River, hiking and cliff jumping in New Hampshire, and rock climbing at Red Rocks.
After spending the next two summers leading trips for La Vida’s Adirondack Expeditions, Nate would move to Wisconsin to begin his graduate degree at Wheaton College’s outdoor education program, HoneyRock. Two years later, Nate received a Master of Arts in Educational Ministries and a Graduate Certificate in Camp Ministry and Leadership and accepted the position of Director for La Vida’s Adirondack Expeditions.
The next 17 years would be filled with fond memories at base camp as staff spent many evenings barbecuing out in the lawn, local connections would create long-lasting friendships, and Nate would meet Amber Dvornski–a backpacking guide and talented photographer from Arizona who would later become his wife and adventure companion.
In addition to the many trips to delicious soft serve and time spent with the staff, Nate has always loved when friends come to explore the place he calls home for four months out of the year.
“I knew Nate at HoneyRock when he was a student working on his Master’s. It was cool to see him transition from being a student to leading his own program. No one works harder than Nate. He never expects something of his staff that he isn’t willing to do himself” says Scott Barnett, Associate Professor of Outdoor Leadership at Simpson University.
This past summer, marking Nate’s 20th year serving at La Vida’s Adirondack Expeditions, brings a whole new experience in a familiar place as he does daily life with a little one strapped to his side.
The Hausmans having some pool time to beat the summer heat.
“I love being a dad,” said Nate. “It is so fun for me to have her here.”
On Feb. 8, Evalyn Rae Hausman was born. Her first summer, Nate’s 20th, would prove to be monumental for Nate.
“Most recently, with Amber and I having Evalyn at base camp with us, I have come to realize how much the staff have invested into my life,” said Nate. “ It’s not just about us pouring into the students, but it’s also how we care for one another. It was a huge blessing to watch this year’s staff connect with Evalyn and care for her because she was one more staff member who needed support (and diaper changes).”
“To have Colden up here,” said Nate, looking over his shoulder to his beloved black Labrador basking out in the sun. “Her first summer was up here as a puppy and Evalyn gets to spend her first summer up in the Adirondacks as well is pretty cool.”
While he may love Amber, Evalyn, and Colden more than ice cream, Nate still holds the record for the most Donnelly’s Ice Cream consumed.
“I challenge anyone to eat more than 50 Donnelly’s ice cream cones as I have done… in one summer,” laughed Nate.
Nate, Colden and Amber at Donnelly’s, Nate’s favorite ice cream place in the Adirondacks.
Nate Hausman is the La Vida Center’s Director of Education and Program Development, Director of La Vida’s Adirondack Expeditions and professor at Gordon College. He is certified as a Wilderness Education Association instructor, Leave No Trace Master Educator and Wilderness Medical Associates Wilderness First Responder and is an active member within the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education, the Center for Outdoor Ethics, and the Wilderness Education Association. Nate lives in Gloucester, MA with his wife Amber, daughter Evalyn, and beloved canine Colden. For ice cream flavor recommendations, you can reach him at [email protected].