Strive College Leadership Program
Run. Explore. Lead. Discover what’s possible.
Peru & Flagstaff, Arizona · Summer 2027 · College students
Step into a summer of training, service, adventure, and connection. Strive College Leadership brings college students together to run at altitude, experience a new community, and help shape a meaningful summer for high school participants—while making room for growth of their own.
You’re here to contribute, and you’re here to learn. Shared miles, unfamiliar places, honest conversations, and everyday acts of leadership can open new perspectives on who you are and how you want to show up in the world.
A summer to grow into
College is a time of possibility and change. Strive offers space to step outside familiar routines, build relationships across ages and backgrounds, and put your values into practice. You might find yourself encouraging a younger runner, listening to a community partner, sharing your story, or taking on a responsibility that stretches you.
College Leaders are participants in the experience, too. Alongside mentoring others, you’ll train, explore, serve, and reflect with fellow college students and Strive staff. There is no single outcome everyone must reach—there is room to ask questions, try something new, and discover what the experience means to you.
Build your base. Broaden your perspective.
Share miles with motivated runners and make training part of a summer that reaches beyond running. Altitude, new routes, and a supportive community offer a setting for consistent work as you prepare for the fall cross country season.
Bring your college coach’s summer training plan and discuss it with Strive staff before departure. Together, you’ll plan around acclimation, recovery, travel, and program responsibilities. Some runs will focus on supporting younger athletes; others can support your own goals. Training needs and flexibility are part of that conversation.
Discover your own way to lead
Leadership often starts in small moments: welcoming someone into the group, offering encouragement on a difficult run, or listening before you act. You don’t need to have everything figured out to make a meaningful contribution.
With staff guidance and feedback, College Leaders:
- Arrive early for orientation, preparation, and time to connect with the team.
- Mentor high school students through running, service, activities, and daily program life.
- Support runs and workouts suited to students’ abilities and staff guidance.
- Contribute to an area such as photography, social media, group activities, or daily logistics.
- Share a personal lesson or perspective through a “Strive Talk.”
- Participate fully in community-based learning, service, and adventure.
Staff provide supervision and support throughout the experience. Photos and communications follow Strive’s media permissions and staff review process.
Choose your summer setting
Peru · Summer 2027
Run in the Andes and experience life in Peru’s Sacred Valley. Training, cultural learning, community engagement, and adventure invite you to look beyond the familiar. Share the experience with fellow College Leaders and high school students as you learn from the people and places around you.
Flagstaff, Arizona · Summer 2027
Find your summer rhythm in the trails and landscapes of northern Arizona. Share miles and meals, take part in community-based service, and explore alongside a group of runners. The combination of altitude training, everyday connection, and shared challenges creates opportunities to grow as an athlete, a mentor, and a person.
Who should apply?
College students who enjoy running, are curious about the world, and want to contribute to a group. The program is especially well suited to cross country runners looking to combine summer base training with leadership, service, and travel.
We value reliability, sound judgment, openness, and a willingness to help. Tell us what you hope to learn, what excites you about the experience, and what you would bring to the community.
Planning your summer
Dates: Summer 2027 program dates: Peru, July 19 – August 8; Flagstaff, June 27 – July 11. College Leaders participate in the full program, including an early-arrival period for orientation and preparation. Early-arrival dates will be provided separately.
Program tuition: Peru: $4,497. Flagstaff: $2,997. Both cover the full program and required early-arrival period. International airfare for Peru is arranged and billed separately; travel to and from Flagstaff is not included. Final dates, inclusions, and exclusions will be provided before an enrollment commitment.
A few questions
Can I follow my college coach’s training plan?
Bring your plan and discuss your goals with Strive staff before departure. Workloads and schedules may need to adapt to altitude, recovery, travel, and leadership duties. Specific mileage or performance gains are not guaranteed.
How does my training fit with mentoring?
Both are part of the experience. Expect a full schedule of training, service, activities, and mentoring, with staff helping you plan. When responsibilities overlap, the group’s needs take priority, so flexibility matters.
Do I need leadership experience?
Tell us about your experiences working with others, whether on a team, at school, at work, or in your community. We’re interested in your judgment, willingness to learn, and readiness to take responsibility—not just a title you’ve held.
What happens after I apply?
Strive reviews your application and may invite you to an interview and request references. Applying is a chance to explore whether the program is a good fit; it does not confirm a place or commit you to payment.