Katrina Panasuk
Are you ready to make a meaningful impact in the Rocky Mountains? If you're eager to contribute to the care of public lands while enjoying a wilderness adventure, this course is for you. Whether you're ready to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty, or you're simply curious about public lands management, this expedition will allow you to combine both hard work and breathtaking adventure in one incredible experience.
Your journey will take you through the Wind River Mountains, a rugged and beautiful wilderness known for its towering granite peaks and stunning alpine lakes. Surrounded by majestic snow-capped mountains, you'll embark on a backpacking adventure while working on important conservation projects to help maintain and protect these lands.
Throughout your expedition, you’ll set up base camp for several nights at remote locations, where you’ll join a Forest Service ranger in impactful service projects. Your work may include repairing or building bridges, replacing trail signs, restoring eroded trails, clearing brush, and cleaning up campsites—each project helping preserve the wilderness for future generations of adventurers.
The course begins with essential skills like cooking, stove use, map reading, Leave No Trace practices, and the basics of hiking and camping in grizzly bear habitat. As your journey continues, you'll dive deeper into leadership techniques, effective communication, wilderness first aid, and navigation with a GPS and compass. Depending on group interests and conditions, you may also have the chance to learn skills like baking, fly-fishing, snow travel, and plant identification. Throughout your travels, you’ll gain knowledge in natural history, geology, leadership, and more, with opportunities to apply what you've learned every day.
During the service project portions of the course, you'll camp at one location for 4-7 days, cooking, camping, and working in small groups. You'll take part in leadership sessions in the mornings and evenings, and engage in physically demanding work like lifting, digging, and using tools such as shovels, pulaskis, saws, and axes. While these tasks may be challenging, they play a vital role in preserving the wilderness so that others can experience it for years to come. By dedicating time to care for our public lands, you're serving both your community and the environment.
By the end of this expedition, you’ll have gained valuable skills for future mountain adventures and a deeper understanding of public lands management. Plus, you’ll leave with new leadership and teamwork abilities, preparing you for a future in conservation and outdoor careers.