Live a big idea.

Nestled into the forests and hills of San Diego, a new kind of community is emerging. It is a place where each day of life is stimulated by the possibilities of extraordinary cultural and learning options. You can immerse yourself in offerings that range from unimagined creativity to classic intellectual challenges. This pioneering approach to an ever-growing mind is designed for an intergenerational community of millennials, families, and boomers. You can participate from anywhere, or you can be part of the exclusive residents who live on the Campus of Life itself, in Ascent’s luxury residences.

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Program.

A hike in the forest.
A look into the workings of a microbrewery.
A gourmet cooking workshop.
A yoga and meditation class.

An introduction to Microsoft Excel.
A journey in spiritual philosophy.
An exploration of the skill of communication.
A deeper understanding of art as it has evolved from the old masters.

The spirit of our offerings is rooted in the following three convictions:

An ever-growing mind creates a happy life.
We all have many abilities, unknown potential, and a desire to grow throughout our lives.
With inspiring facilitators, creative engagement and a supportive environment or community, one can progress and reach any goal the heart desires!

Learn more about experiential offerings of Campus of Life through the link below.

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Story.

The Campus of Life is the collaborative effort of local visionaries and community leaders in San Diego who had the goal of bringing education to life and creating a real-world community where neighbors take care of each other and grow together.

Over the course of 25 years, innovators and community leaders including Peter Chortek, Morrie Steiman, Richard Gabriel, Colin Seid, Barry Galgut, Salomon Gorshtein, Rabbi Yonah Fradkin (founder Chabad San Diego County), Alan Saloner, Craig Saloner (founders of the Station Co-Lab), and Milton Sorokin, among numerous others, pursued a dream to create an intergenerational community of good. They envisioned a way of living and growing, with timeless values and modern interests, that is supportive, committed to personal growth and development, civically engaged, socially responsible and dedicated to bettering the world and each other. As long-time San Diegans, the group set out to tackle three wide-ranging yet interwoven issues impacting quality of life and the social fabric in the region:

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Community. Education. Family.

Cohesion for a spread-out city with limited neighborly interaction and civic engagement
Mentorship for young people to develop their dreams and reach their potential
Connection between young families, new to the area, and seniors living alone.

In 1977, the group began by funding a nonprofit dormitory combined with mentoring and educational support for college students and the indigent. Over the next decades, this was followed by support for experiential education, summer camps and continuing education. In 1998, the vision for a residential learning community was developed as a legacy for this great city. Starting in 2008, Craig Saloner, Josef Fradkin and their educational team researched and refined the intersection between living and learning, personal development and community, leading to the purchase of 10 acres from the Chabad Hebrew Academy to create an idyllic, permanent setting for innovation at the Campus of Life. Craig simultaneously opened the Station Co-Lab, an innovative institute where ancient wisdom and modern performance science combine.

Today, the Campus of Life is bringing together a cutting-edge program under its Founding Dean, Dr. Ilana De Laney & Program Director, Caleb DeBoie who are committed to developing a new approach to pursuing one's personal growth while learning with innovative support.