The Program

The 8-month program has been designed for you to be stretched with new experiences, new places, and new relationships within a Christian community. And out of this year, you will learn a whole lot about who you are and where you are heading.

Along with living in community and regular rhythms of recreation, study, mentorship, meals together, and worship, the following gives you an overview of Act Five’s 8-month program:

First Term

The goal for first term is to learn to listen well, to pay attention to our own stories and those of others, and to experience new things in new places. Students will be encouraged to ask, “What can I learn about who I am and how I am to live from other people in other places?”

Highlights

• Coldwater Canada outtrip
  16 days in Muskoka in September, including a 9-day canoe trip through the Temagami.
• Learning among First Nations community
  A week in October spent on the Six Nations reservation, learning from community members, in partnership with Ohsweken Baptist Church.
• Service learning trip to Zambia with EduDeo Ministries
  4 weeks in November spent in Zambia, integrating elements of school construction, classroom interaction with local students, and opportunities to serve and learn from the larger host community.
• Academic Courses
  The group will complete the course, “The Six Acts”, as well as part 1 of the courses, “Place, Home & Land” and “Stories of Faithfulness”.
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Second Term

The goal for second term is to put learning into practice in a Hamilton neighbourhood. We hope to send students away excited about what, how, and why they are going to do whatever it is that lies ahead of them after Act Five.

Highlights

• 2 Coldwater Canada outtrips
  An orientation week at a cottage near the Kawarthas, including a 3-day winter “hot tent” camping trip, and a concluding backpacking trip in April.
• Jubilee Conference in Pittsburgh
  A weeklong trip to Pittsburgh, where the group will be hosted by Christian communities throughout the city, culminating with the Jubilee Conference.
• Field Placements
  Two field placements over the course of 8-9 weeks with various local businesses, non-profit organizations, or tradespersons in Hamilton.
• Home Tour
  In the final month of Act Five, the group will visit each other’s home communities, finding ways to share their stories with schools, churches and families.
• Academic Courses
  The group will complete the course, “Vocation and Praxis”, as well as part 2 of the courses, “Place, Home & Land” and “Stories of Faithfulness”.
  View Courses

Other Program Details

Housing

Students will be living with the Act Five Program and Life Coordinators (PLCs) in one or two Hamilton neighbourhood homes.

Going Home

Students will have set times where they are encouraged to visit home. The most significant times are the following:

• Thanksgiving break (a 4-5 day break)
• Christmas break (3 weeks)
• February reading break (a 4-5 day break)

Field Placements

Students will work with Act Five staff and outside experts in determining where second-term field placements will be located. Some of these will be within community non-profits. Others will be in placements unique to each student’s interests such as music, business, architecture, healthcare, education, various trades, and more.

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