Welcome Home

Located at 8,000 ft above sea level, with majestic views into the valley, Iten is the perfect place to follow in the steps of hundreds of elite runners on the famous red-clay roads of Kenya. The crisp morning air makes it great for a morning shake out run, while the afternoon sun is just warm enough but not too hot for a great workout. In between, visit a number of service projects with which Strive has fostered connections over the years. On the weekends, choose your own adventure as the group will head off to explore Iten and the surrounding countryside.

Service

As with all Strive programs, the first step in service must be learning how we can serve the community we’re in. What are the needs of the community? What are we qualified to do? What are the potential pitfalls of our work? How can we make sure we’ll be having a positive and lasting impact?

Since our founding, Strive has been helping with a variety of projects at Kamirany and Kiptabus primary schools. Fundraising efforts will be used for building projects, beefing up the libraries with learning materials, and refurbishing classrooms that have been worn down by the harsh rainy seasons of Kenya. You may also help to teach Mathematics, English, and P.E. alongside Kenyan teachers.

Cultural exchange will be an ongoing part of your experience as you help KenSAP students, Kenyan high school graduates that will be attending colleges and universities in the States, prepare for their entrance exams and essays. Don’t worry, it won’t all be hard work! You’ll also enjoy sharing stories and playing board games with KenSAP students in the evenings or hanging out with St. Patrick’s Secondary School students while assisting them with college applications and preparation for their national exams.

Strive is always on the lookout for new and beneficial projects and we are hoping to introduce an “Iten Sports Day” next summer, providing an interscholastic competition between Kamirany, Kiptabus and other schools.

Lastly, Strive hopes to help set up, fund and organize a Half Marathon in the community and we’ll need lots of help with details and organization to put on a well-run event.

Athletics

The HATC and surrounding Kenyan countryside have all the basic needs of a budding athlete. Runners can head out on the red clay roads and join barefoot school children or elite marathoners on the hills of the Rift Valley. Use the newly built Mondo surface track for a speed workout or hit the weights in the first class fitness center facilities located within the HATC.

For other sport athletes, there is a swimming pool, soccer fields, indoor facilities, and a basketball hoop for anything you could imagine.

And, if you are a baseball player, cheerleader, dancer, or any other type of athlete, feel free to share your expertise with the local students who may never have heard of your sport but generally get a kick out of learning the new skills and lessons you bring to the table.

Adventure

Your everyday life in Iten will be an adventure in itself! Walking to and from school each day or simply exploring the small town -center can be an eye-opening experience. Weekends will allow time for your group to explore even more of the Rift Valley – trips to take a boat ride in Lake Baringo to see  fish eagles doing their thing, a visit to the tiny town of Kitale – home of professional runner and friend of StriveWesley Korir, or even a chance to witness the death-defying cliff jumpers of the Kerio Valley doing some amazing stunts.

Your adventure culminates at the end of your program with a visit to the Masai Mara Game Reserve. You’ll travel by jeep during the day, sleeping in rustic bungalows (that still have warm showers and lights!), and – if the time is right – witness the great migration of wildebeest and zebra across the plains. Keep your eyes peeled for the remaining “Big Five” – lions, elephants, rhinos and more! Your trip ends with a visit to a local Masai Village, where you can experience first-hand the intricacies of their unique, nomadic lifestyle.

Accommodation

At the High Altitude Training Centre, where you’ll stay for most of your trip, you’ll be in a room with 1-2 other Strive participants, complete with ensuite bathrooms and solar heated showers. Hang out in the well maintained pool area or manicured lawn – a great place to relax after a hard day of work and training. From your rooms, head over to the dining room next door where the in-house chefs cook up a mix of tasty western and local fare specifically designed for athletes in training.

Every Strive Kenya program follows a carefully designed progression while remaining flexible enough to respond to the group, our local partners, weather, travel conditions, and opportunities that emerge on the ground. The sequence below describes the general rhythm of the experience rather than a fixed daily itinerary.

Arrival and Orientation

Students meet their leaders and trip-mates at the designated U.S. departure airport and travel together to Kenya. After arriving in Nairobi, the group continues by air and private transportation to its home base at the High Altitude Training Centre in Iten.

The opening portion of the program is intentionally paced to help students recover from travel, adjust to the altitude, become familiar with their surroundings, and begin building trust within the group. Activities include orientation, exploring Iten, meeting community partners, setting individual goals, and gradually returning to athletic training.

Finding Our Rhythm

Once students have acclimatized, the program settles into a balanced rhythm of athletics, community engagement, cultural learning, and reflection.

Most mornings begin with training while temperatures are cool. Runners explore Iten’s red-clay roads and join elements of the local running culture, while other athletes pursue individualized workouts using available facilities and equipment. Training is adapted to each student’s sport, experience, goals, and response to altitude.

The central part of the day is generally devoted to community-based learning and service. Projects are shaped by local priorities and may include supporting teachers and students, assisting with youth activities, contributing to community facilities, or helping organize sports and wellness events.

Evenings give students time to recover and reconnect. Depending on the day, the group may share a meal, participate in a Strive Talk or guided reflection, play games, spend time with local friends, or simply relax together.

Learning From Kenya’s Running Culture

Iten is known around the world as a center of distance running, but students experience it as a living community rather than simply a training destination. Opportunities may include visiting St. Patrick’s Secondary School, learning from respected coaches and athletes, joining a Kenyan fartlek, and spending time in communities connected to the region’s running tradition.

These experiences offer a close look at the discipline, humility, community support, and daily habits behind extraordinary athletic achievement. They also invite students to reflect on their own relationship with sport, effort, and success.

Exploring the Rift Valley

Excursions throughout the program deepen students’ understanding of the region and provide opportunities to stretch beyond familiar routines. Possible experiences include exploring the Kerio Valley, visiting a community-based giraffe sanctuary, hiking, attending local sporting events, and learning about conservation and rural life.

Specific excursions vary according to local conditions, group readiness, and the opportunities available during each session.

Growing Into Leadership

As the program progresses, students take greater ownership of their experience. Leaders encourage them to make sound decisions, support one another, communicate across differences, and reflect on how they are showing up as athletes, travelers, and community members.

Students may help shape group activities, support local sports events, lead reflections, mentor younger participants, or take responsibility for elements of a shared project. This gradual increase in responsibility is central to Strive’s approach to student development.

The Maasai Mara

The culminating adventure is a safari in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Students experience one of the world’s most remarkable ecosystems through guided game drives and may visit a Maasai community to learn about local culture and contemporary life.

The safari creates space for wonder, connection, and perspective after the active rhythm of the program in Iten. Routes, timing, and activities may change based on wildlife conditions, weather, and other safety considerations.

Reflection and the Journey Home

Before departing Kenya, the group gathers to reflect on the experience—what students learned about themselves, how they developed as athletes and leaders, and how their understanding of travel and service has changed.

Students return home with new friendships, greater confidence and independence, and a clearer sense of how they want to engage with the wider world.

• Summer 2028 Program Dates

  To be confirmed. Dates will be finalized in coordination with participating schools and their academic calendars.

  Program Tuition

  $7,495

  Estimated Group Airfare

  Approximately $2,500. Airfare is arranged and billed separately from tuition.

  Tuition Includes

  Small-group, high-touch leadership and mentorship; lodging; meals; in-country transportation; athletic coaching and individualized training support; community-based learning and service; excursions; entrance fees; local programming; and 24/7 in-country supervision.

  Tuition Does Not Include

  International airfare; passport and visa expenses, if applicable; immunizations or medical appointments; personal spending money; travel insurance beyond any coverage included by Strive; or costs resulting from changes to a student’s individual travel plans.

  Payment Schedule

  A $500 enrollment deposit is required to reserve a student’s place and is applied toward tuition. The due date for the remaining balance will be announced when the program dates are finalized.

  Payment Plans

  Flexible payment plans are available. Families are encouraged to contact Strive to discuss an arrangement that works for them.

  Financial Aid

  Limited need-based financial aid may be available. Families interested in assistance should contact Strive for additional information.

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