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O2 is The Vail Academy’s new and exciting initiative, combining an Adventure Leadership Program with a Christ centered focus. This program will serve students in grades 5-8. Mission: To build Christian character through outdoor activities which will equip students with practical skills and knowledge of their outdoor environment. Vision: To strengthen students understanding and appreciation for God and His creation; to instill in them a desire to have a positive impact on others. To develop leaders who make wise choices based on experience, knowledge, and God’s Word.
Goals and Objectives: The outdoor classroom will challenge and grow students:
Spiritually – Programs will have Scriptural basis. They will begin with prayer allowing students to walk in faith with God, seeking the manifestation of the fruit of the spirit.
Physically – walking, hiking, climbing, skiing, rafting, swimming will make bodies fit.
Emotionally – students will learn to rely on each other for support and encouragement as members of a team.
Intellectually – to learn by way of experience how to safely enjoy the area in which we live, broadening the scope of what is taught in the classroom.
First year program will include activities like:
• Orienteering
• Rock climbing
• GPS systems and geo-caching
• Winter track and sign
• Snowshoeing
• Skiing, snowboarding
• Avalanche awareness
• Wilderness first aid
• Adventure race
• Outdoor ethics
• Snow shelters The program will culminate with a major trip or expedition in May. This trip may be within the continental U.S. or abroad. Destination will be chosen and communicated prior to the start of school. This trip will be optional. Parents are encouraged to help their child create a fundraising plan to earn all or part of the fee for the trip.
 Eric Alexander, "O2" Director
Eric Alexander is a skier, climber, and mountaineer who has lived in the Vail Valley for twenty years. He and his wife Amy have twin daughters, Karis and Aralyn. Born in Indiana, Eric moved with his family to Evergreen Colorado where he gained his first experiences in the outdoors with his church youth group. His mentors there, with world class credentials, gave him a passion for the outdoors and for the Lord which continues to this day. With a BA degree in Environmental Science from the University of Denver, Eric was a member of the Alpine Club, Ski Team, and was President of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship on campus.
On May 25th, 2001, Eric defied the odds and scaled Mt. Everest, guiding his blind friend, Erik Weihenmayer to its 29,035’ summit. Eric has climbed the highest point on six of the seven continents. What makes this accomplishment even more notable is that Eric has led a person with a disability to the summit of each peak.
Through his business, Higher Summits, Eric continues to climb and lead expeditions throughout Europe, Africa, North and South America, the Himalayas and other mountainous regions of the globe with disabled teens and adults. He is a motivational speaker, sharing his experiences and his faith in Christ all over the world. He is always looking for new mountains to climb, both personally and in the outdoors, while challenging people to overcome the “Everest” in their own lives.
Eric is proud to be a part of the O2 program at The Vail Academy.
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