trailhead logo color

SEEKING GOD'S CALL

TRAILHEAD

COME AWAY AND...

Trailhead: Seeking God’s Call invites high school students to explore God’s call to a meaningful life. For a week in the summer, you’ll learn from Westmont professors, encounter real-world needs with local ministries and nonprofits, and explore your beautiful surroundings. You’ll also get a taste of college life as you live on campus, eat in the dining commons, and worship with new friends.

Trailhead

Who is invited?

We will announce our three one-week session 2025 dates in December 2024. In the meantime, check out our program details here! 

Rising high school sophomores through current seniors are welcome to apply. If you have any questions about the program, please email us at trailhead@westmont.edu, or give us a call at (805) 565-6230. Choose one summer session:

Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores through graduating seniors, age 18 or younger on July 2, 2024.**

Program Cost and FAQs

trailhead 1-week session logo 2024
Icon HS Students_2
Icon Location_3
Icon Time with God

 

Trailhead

Why should I come?

At Trailhead, you can slow down, pause in the midst of pressure, and ask honest questions about who you are and where God might be calling you. And you’ll join others who are on their own journeys: high school students looking forward to the next step, college mentors a bit farther down the path, and professors and faculty who continue to listen for and follow their own call from God.

kristi-round


KRISTIE PHILLIPS

[Trailhead] helped me realize how much I still have to learn about the world, but in a way that made me feel excited rather than overwhelmed by all that I didn't know. 

Read More About Kristie's Experience

riley-round


RILEY JOHNSON

I had an amazing time discovering how I'm shaped, exploring how my faith and career could intersect, making friends from around the country and spending time with God. 

Read More About Riley's Experience

Come Away And...

Explore Your Place in God's Story

  • Consider new ways of thinking about faith, school, and career as you interact with Westmont faculty, pastors, community leaders, and Westmont student mentors.

  • Practice listening for God and listening to others. 

  • Learn more about your own gifts and passions. 

Come Away And...

Grow in Community

  • Live in community with other high school students and Westmont student mentors.

  • Visit sites in the Santa Barbara area that reveal pressing needs in our social and natural world.

  • Imagine your contributions to God's work in the world. 

Come Away And...

Experience College Life

  • Engage with world-class faculty from Westmont College. 

  • Live with your peers in a college residence hall.

  • Explore Westmont's beautiful campus.

 

TRAILHEAD

Our Vision

hands shaking icon maroon


We sometimes feel alone. But we can journey together.

Our culture encourages us to think about life as solitary and competitive. But God’s call is to the church, and not just to individuals. At Trailhead, we can be ourselves in community as we discover, worship and serve together.

hikin icon maroon


Life can seem like a treadmill. We see it as a trail.

College preparation often feels like a process of hoop-jumping that leaves us exhausted and unfulfilled. But the future can be a journey of exploration. At Trailhead, we chart the territory ahead with curiosity, creativity, and openness to God’s surprising and delightful call on our lives.

hiking boot logo maroon

We often feel lost and unprepared. But we have guides and equipment for living.

The future’s a place we’ve never been—it can be intimidating. But as we seek God’s call, we grow in knowledge and gain mentors who are further along the trail. At Trailhead, we acquire the tools, experiences, and relationships we’ll need to persevere in pursuit of God’s call.

Come Away...

For Churches and Schools


Westmont College and the Lilly Endowment are committed to cultivating a new generation of Christian servant leaders by partnering with churches and schools to support and extend your work with youth.

Find Out More About How Your Organization Can Be Involved

Youth Theology Network


We're proud to be part of the Youth Theology Network, a community of more than 100 colleges, universities, and seminaries helping young people discern what's next for them.

Learn More About YTN's Work Here.