IS LVSA a Christian program?

Yes, 100% yes. We hold a Christian world view and subscribe to the traditional creeds and doctrines of Christian Orthodoxy. We have no particular denominational affiliation and enjoy fellowship with all Bible-believing churches and organizations. We welcome those from other worldviews who wish to explore Christianity and pursue truth, but students should understand that the faculty and teachings of LVSA are all decidedly Christian. Like any school, we seek students who are interested in the course content and are committed to learning. Incoming students should be advised that while at the chateau we spend 4 hours a day reading through the Bible. Our household rules are consistent with what you might historically find at most traditional Christian schools.

Why Does this program exist?

It exists because the leaders care deeply for early adults and believe in your potential in this world. We also believe that the wisdom contained in the Bible has the power to change lives and make the world a better place. We run this program with volunteers, and at a loss, because we believe in our mission and are ready to sacrifice to make it happen.

why did you (Rob and Leslie) start this?

Leslie and I (Rob) have been working with young people for three decades. In that time we've observed that the journey from youth to adulthood has become much more difficult and complicated. Our goal is to help young people in several ways.

#1. We want to help young people grow by reading the scriptures together, living in community, wrestling with their theology and applying the life-giving words of Jesus to their lives. During our 2 months, we will read the entire Bible together with a focus on understanding the text, identifying theological implications and life applications.
#2. We want to create a close-knit mentoring situation where faculty and students live in the same house, eating together and conversing together in close proximity. As a married couple we also feel that we can provide a good balance to life discussions:)
#3. We want to help them discover themselves and see the world, broadening their worldview and experiencing new things.
#4. We want to save them money. At $5,000 we're hoping students will have this great experience, and come out ahead financially.

How is this so cheap?

LVSA is about one third of the cost of other study abroad programs. In fact, we’ve even had some folks wonder if this is real since our price is so low? It is real, and it is only possible since it 100% run by volunteers. It is a labor of love, and the organization is a non-profit. To keep costs down we also ask students also help out with meal prep and cleaning while on the trip. Everyone pitches in, and we keep costs down.

Where does the money go?

In our first year, of the $72,000 brought in, $15,000 went to the chateau rental and costs, $14,000 went to Hotels, $12,000 went to vehicle transportation costs, $12,000 went to flights, $8,000 went to groceries, $4,000 went to office and legal fees, $3,000 to scouting costs, $2,000 to misc. We work really hard to keep costs down for you. We’re also posting this because we value transparency. As a registered non-profit we must make an annual report to the state of Oregon, and to the IRS

Are there age limits to who can apply?

While we’re open to running sessions for all ages, to this point we have focused on college aged students 18-25ish. There are lots of good ways to approach education, but for now, we’re trying to put people together in cohort groups of similar age. In the near future we may offer sessions for 20s and 30s singles, as well as retired folks. It’s quite possible these may run in July/August, and be shorter.

What do the fees include?

Pretty much everything except flight and meals on the road: all lodging, all meals in the chateau, transportation around Europe, van rentals, and trains. Your fee also covers the expenses of the staff and faculty (all volunteer). Admission for group excursions to museums and attractions are also included. But since one of our core values is accessibility and keeping costs down, we typically focus on museums and attractions that allow students in for free.

Not included are spending money, or food money on the road. There may also be free time in some of the cities where students might wish to visit an additional museum or castle not covered by the group. Students are also welcome to do their own excursion before or after the term at their own expense. Some trips also have time for a mid-term break where students can travel on their own, and at their own expense.

Do you have rules when living in the chateau, what are some of them?

We believe that a good fence builds good neighbours, so we do have rules on curfew (11:30-Midnight in rooms), and we have limitations on alcohol consumption. We have no paid staff so we ask students to keep their living space clean and participate in household duties like dishes, food prep, etc.. We also have pragmatic house rules like keeping food out of rooms to help keep away the ants. We have a student handbook each year and are glad to email it to potential and incoming students.

Is LVSA connected to another University?

No, we’re an independent, registered non-profit in the State of Oregon. While many of the volunteer staff and faculty of LVSA are students, alumni, or employees of other schools, there is no official connection.

IS LVSA accredited?

No, to keep costs down we have not pursued formal accreditation. Rather we rely on transfer credits and articulation agreements. To this point 12-15 other schools have granted transfer to our students.

Do courses transfer?

Each school has its own criteria for what they will accept for transfer credits. Students are advised to check with the registrar of their chosen school to confirm the eligibility of the course. We will happily provide syllabi for evaluation. All courses taught by faculty with earned doctorates and university teaching experience. We offer 4 courses each worth 3 semester credit hours. Several schools have accepted our credits historically.

Who Can Apply?

For international travel, students must be at least 18 years old. The program is designed for all young adults, whether in school or not. It will work well for those who have recently graduated High School, or are currently enrolled in College, or recent college grads, or those not planning on pursuing a four year degree. Young adults in the work force are very welcome to join us. While we’re open to all ages, we typically try to form cohorts of similar age and life status. We hope to offer programs for married students in the near future. And we’ve had significant interest from Seniors this year leading us to believe we may do a shortened program for them some day:)

The program is designed to be a spiritual exploration of the Bible, so those interested in reading the Bible will find the program most helpful.

Can I apply if I’m not interested in college, or have recently graduated?

Yes, for sure. If you want to read through the Bible, learn in community, and explore the world, we’d love to have you join us.

Can Canadians Apply?

Yes, the trip cost is listed in USD, but we can accept other currencies and try to give a good exchange rate if we can. We happily accept students from any country whose citizens are eligible for the 90 day European visa waiver. We really do see diversity as a advantage in our student body.

How do I pay?

Upon acceptance, LVSA will request a non-refundable $500 deposit to secure your spot. Students are free to pay the full amount up front and receive a $100 discount, or make payments of $1,000 per month.

Do you give refunds?

Yes, sometimes. In 2020 we refunded every student 100% since the pandemic cancelled the session. The $500 deposit is generally non-refundable. Of the main fees, we would only be able to refund the money that we were able to recoup. Some tickets and hotel bookings cannot be recouped. If we were able to re-sell your spot we would be able to refund a percentage of those fees. LVSA runs very very lean, so we have little margin for error when it comes to folks needing to withdraw.

What should I bring?

Enough clothes for 10-14 days is usually smartest. You will need to be able to carry all your baggage for as much as a mile sometimes carrying it onto trains and in small quarters. Students are limited to one checked bag (normal airline checked bag size) and one soft carry-on (like a backpack or small duffle). The carry on should not be a suitcase since it may need to rest at your feet in the vans. Travel in Europe always necessitates a great deal of walking. It is highly highly recommended that your large suitcase has wheels, and that you not bring baggage that you can not personally carry up and down flights of stairs. We will have laundry facilities for much of the term.

Will I be safe studying abroad?

Not necessarily. Travel always brings with it a certain level of risk. That said, the countries we are visiting are all first world countries with developed systems of transportation and criminal justice. Many of these countries have lower crime rates than North America. Leaders will do their very best to make safe and prudent decisions, but none of these actions will guarantee your safety. Students are required to carry medical insurance, and are welcome to add any additional insurances they wish to hold. LVSA is an organization that has virtually no assets, and very little insurance. We will do our best to keep you safe, but you should understand that as a non-profit LLC, the members are protected from legal liability. If you are not willing to live with this level of risk you should pursue one of the study abroad programs that charges $17,000 a semester and carries lots of insurance.

Is there Financial aid available?

Q. Is financial aid available for this program?
A. We are growing in this area and soon hope to offer some help to students in need. We are also excited to announce that we have one full ride scholarship available for our upcoming 2025 terms. Our strategy is to keep the cost as low as possible, but that means no government support.

What will housing look like?

While we are on the road, we typically have 2-4 people per hotel room. As best we can, we book rooms with single beds. While in the chateau we usually have a girls wing and a guys wing. Usually we have 2-3 students per room. To keep prices down we often stay in IBIS budget hotels, and Hotel Premiere Classe. Most are 2* or 3* locations, think about what an IKEA hotel would look like, clean but simple.

Why Study Abroad?

Well…. not including the fact that we’re cheaper than tuition from the average private college, and the fact that most people could not manage to spend 2 months in Europe for $5000, there are several reasons. Study abroad can be a life-changing experience. You will see new cultures, eat new foods, and see architecture that will shatter your expectations. What can be more educational that learning about WW2 while walking Omaha beach, climbing into a bunker or walking through a concentration camp in Germany, seeing the medieval castle where Luther was staying as he started a reformation, or standing in the Colosseum watching the very spot where Christians were killed for their faith.

Where are you going this year?

The specifics of the trip often vary based on the costs and logistical realities of the particular year. We work hard to keep the price down. As details emerge, we will post them on this page.

Typically, we spend a good deal of time in France, Germany and Italy, countries like Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Slovenia, and Switzerland are added as the schedule allows.

How does studying in France save money?

When people ask us why we're considering starting a study abroad program in France, they are always super confused by my answer. I always start with the cost of education and the burden it places on young people. I see that as a blight on our society, an embarrassing failure of the adults of this world to assist their young in reaching adulthood. But folks can't imagine how running a school in France could help young people financially. It could, for two reasons:

#1. We can acquire a beautiful building for a fraction of the cost it would be in North America.
#2. The location is a "means", not an "end". The "ends" are spiritual growth, learning in community, broadening worldviews, getting a degree, and saving money. The location is a "means" in that it has inherent draw, and inherent marketing value. College students want to see the world. We don't need to spend millions on marketing, athletic departments, or dozens of support departments that exist in today's schools. We can run lean, save the student money, while still giving them the time of their life.

The location provides the sizzle, the teachers and community provide the learning. Our goal would be to run 1/2 the cost of the normal private school. Worst case we save a few students $5k and show them the world.

What is your dismissal policy?

Well…. we’ve never had to do it, and hopefully we never do, but if a student was unwilling to follow the house rules, LVSA would help them return home as the situation allows. This would like result in additional travel costs born by the student. But again… hopefully we never have to use this.

Can you accommodate my dietary restrictions?

Probably not…. We’re just a small organization so we all eat the same meal. And all our workers are volunteers so we don’t have the staff to make multiple meals. One of our priorities is keeping costs down and keeping the program accessible. If a person has specific dietary needs they might be well advised to pursue a program in the $12,000-15,000 range that is better placed to cater to students needs.

Do you have a non-discrimination policy?

Yes, we welcome diversity as a strength, and are pleased to admit people from a variety of backgrounds. Our non-discrimination policy comes directly from the IRS

LVSA admits students of any race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It doesn't discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.