Lucy Rogers
This summer, get ready for a real adventure: spend three weeks hiking and camping in the Rockies with a group of peers ages 14 and 15. Work hard and have fun as you backpack along high ridges and climb soaring peaks. Go fly fishing in clear alpine lakes and make cinnamon rolls on a campstove. In the evenings, share laughter and stories by the campfire with your new friends. Fall asleep under starry skies, listening to the sound of wind in the lodgepole pines.
Whether you’ve been camping before or this is your first time, you’ll find new adventures each day. Start with the basics, like pitching a tent, reading a map, and following Leave No Trace principles. As the course progresses, move on to more advanced topics, like using a compass, fly fishing, and rock climbing. You may also learn about snow travel—and take the opportunity to make backcountry snowcones.
Along the way, build your self-confidence and gain real-life leadership experience. Learn about teamwork and problem solving while working with your teammates to plan a hiking route. Practice good communication as you cross a river with your coursemates. Return home with new friendships, great memories, and the skills you need to lead in the outdoors and beyond.
“The most rewarding thing about this course was being able to learn as much as I did about people skills and leadership as well as the sheer physical accomplishment involved.”