4 Live Events, Held Once Every 12 Weeks

The core of the Ascend program is a series of four live student events that help students experience and practice community, resilience, practical life skills, team collaboration, and Christian leadership principles.

Ascend Events

The Ascend Student Experience is Built Around a Series of 4 Live Events

Ascend Events train students to thrive by connecting them with each other in a team environment, teaching them practical skills and resilience, challenging them to achieve more than they think is possible through hands-on projects, and training them in leadership and relational skills.

AUGUST 13-17

APEX - Unbound's National Student Gathering

Held in beautiful northern Michigan, APEX kicks off the beginning of the Ascend year. For new students, APEX is the ultimate orientation where they meet their teams and team leaders for the first time. For graduates, APEX is the ultimate crescendo where they cross the stage to receive their final certification and enter the expansive network of Unbound alumni. Open to both students and alumni, APEX is the biggest event in the program. Past speakers include Eric Metaxes, Andrew Pudewa, Joshua Luke Smith, Phylicia Masonheimer, and Navy SEAL Mike Ritland.

NOVEMBER 4-8

Basecamp - Ascend's Practical Skills Intensive

Basecamp is a hands-on, practical skills intensive focused on resilience and personal ownership. In addition to several keynote speaker sessions, students attend workshops specific to their year in Ascend, complete team challenges and activities, and enjoy time every afternoon and evening connecting with their fellow Ascend students and Unbound staff.

JANUARY 23-27

Ridgeline - Ascend's Project Intensive

Recap video
coming 2025...

Ridgeline is a hands-on project intensive focused on creating value and accomplishing real things in the real world. Students spend the majority of the event working together in teams to complete real-world projects that carry the possibility of impacting real-world organizations. All sessions held at Ridgeline are only 10-20 minutes long and are designed to be immediately applicable to the projects students are working on. Staff and speakers will be working alongside students as subject-matter experts to provide coaching and support as needed.

MAY 1-5

Capstone - Ascend's Leadership Intensive

A key piece of the Signature Leadership Course series that all Ascend students complete, Capstone is a robust Christian leadership intensive focused on living with hope in a fallen world. First-year Ascend students attend Capstone during the third and final Signature Leadership course. Second and third-year students return to serve in leadership roles and attend specific leadership tracks that build on each previous year. Their Signature Leadership Course instructor, President of Summit Ministries, Dr. Jeff Myers attends Capstone live and presents several interactive sessions, engages in Q&A time, and regularly eats meals with the students throughout the week.