Latina Course

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Communidad Latina unida! Culture and community are important for all families and a great way to make sharing a new experience more comfortable. While we have Latina girls on all our courses, this trip is special because it has the added component of bringing girls together around cultural themes while having fun outside. You'll try rock climbing, express yourself with creative art projects, adventure on an overnight backpacking trip and have a chance to climb a peak. Latina women will be your leaders and mentors, providing a supportive environment and sharing their experiences and ideas about cultural identity and pride. Includes a family picnic in August.

Welcome to the Girls' Wilderness Program!You can expect your course to be fun, challenging, and different than anything you've ever done. You'll learn the outdoor skills that will set you up for a lifetime of adventures. You'll also stretch yourself, try new things, and learn things about yourself and others that you can take home with you. You'll laugh so hard that you can't stop. You'll get to know a group of girls in the kind of "real" way that makes the deepest friendships. And, better yet, lots of our course graduates tell us that when they returned to home or school, they felt more confident "being themselves" - trying new things, voicing their thoughts, and making solid friends.

Who Else is Going to Be On My Course?This course was created specifically for Latina girls, but all kinds of girls take Girls' Wilderness Program courses. Some girls who come are "outdoorsy," with previous experience camping and hiking, but most come just to do something adventurous and to meet new people. Everyone brings unique life experiences and perspectives to the course, and you'll leave the backcountry with a new group of friends.

What Will I Do on the Latina Girls' Course?This six-day course takes place entirely outdoors, and is a great way to enjoy the wilderness, make new friends and explore your Latina heritage! The first three days are spent at Blue Moon Ranch, a beautiful piece of land near Red Feather Lakes in northern Colorado. In this first part of the program, you will be building the skills needed for a three-day backpacking expedition in the Colorado State Forest, in the Medicine Bow Range just west of Cameron Pass.

At Blue Moon Ranch, you will practice basic camping skills: sleeping in tents, preparing meals on camp stoves, and learning the art of staying warm and comfortable in the outdoors. One day will be spent rock climbing, learning the knots, techniques, and signals used in climbing. You will also get to do art projects, play games and participate in fun activities that build the teamwork, communication and decision-making skills that will be needed on the expedition.

During the second phase of the course, you will backpack approximately two to three miles to a pristine area of the Colorado State Forest. Since you'll be carrying everything you'll need for three days, you'll be hiking with a backpack that weighs about 30-35 pounds. Women's Wilderness has a good selection of adjustable packs, and staff will fit your pack just for you so it's comfortable. This course is an introduction to backpacking for most participants, so we'll hike at a pace that works for everyone and take frequent breaks. After setting up a backcountry camp, your group will have an opportunity to climb a peak, using topographic maps and making route-finding decisions. A closing celebration on the last evening will celebrate the accomplishments and strengths that each girl brought to the expedition.

Where Are We Going?Blue Moon Ranch
Blue Moon Ranch is a privately owned piece of land covering 150 acres near Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, approximately 50 miles northwest of Fort Collins. Rock outcrops, wildflowers, meadows, and forests cover the area, offering plenty of terrain for scrambling and exploring. A covered cooking shelter, propane stoves, and a "Sunny Jane" composting toilet provide a comfortable camping environment.

Colorado State Forest State Park
With thousands of acres of lush forest, jagged peaks and alpine lakes, Colorado State Forest offers a true backcountry experience. The State Forest lies on the eastern slope of the Medicine Bow Mountains and the northern tip of the Never Summer Mountains, approximately 70 miles west of Fort Collins, Colorado. Elevations in the forest begin at about 8,500 feet and reach 12,644 feet. Turquoise mountain lakes are home to brook, native, rainbow and brown trout, and visitors might see moose, elk and deer roaming the vast stretches of forest. Colorado State Forest is a one-hour drive from Blue Moon Ranch.

What about fitness?Girls' Wilderness Program courses are meant to be challenging, but do-able. Regular exercise in the months before your course will be helpful, but a positive attitude and a willingness to try are just as important.

What Will I Eat? Spending all day outside will work up your appetite, and we'll provide meals and snacks that taste good and give you the energy you'll need for six days of hiking, backpacking and rock climbing. Meals are simple and hearty with a lot of variety. We'll also make sure to pack enough dessert for everyone! We can accommodate some common dietary restrictions; please let us know if you have specific dietary needs.

What Should I Bring?You will receive a "What to Bring" list with your registration packet. Women's Wilderness will provide all camping and climbing gear (tents, stoves, sleeping bags, sleeping pads and backpacks), and we have outdoor clothing and hiking boots to loan. Plan to bring everything you have from the "What to Bring" list to your Pre-trip meeting (held the night before we depart) and we'll help you with the rest. If borrowing a backpack from TWWI, please bring your items in whatever bag is convenient for you!

How will I carry everything? One of the beauties of a backpacking trip is that you will be entirely self-sufficient during your course. This means that when you move from camp to camp, you'll be hiking with a backpack that weighs about 30-40 pounds. Women's Wilderness has a good selection of adjustable packs, and staff will fit your pack just for you so it's comfortable. Since this course is an introduction to backpacking for most participants, we'll hike at a pace that works for everyone and take frequent breaks.

Course ExpectationsWe expect that you will come to your course with a willingness to learn, an open mind, ready to make new friends and have tons of fun! You can expect that we will listen to your needs and interests, and those of your group, and adapt the itinerary and course content accordingly. Your rights and decisions will always be respected, and no girl is ever forced or "talked into" doing something she doesn't want to do.

Pre-Trip MeetingAt The Women's Widerness Institute Office:
For Girls: 4:00 to 6:00 pm, on the afternoon before your course starts.
For Parents: 5:30-6:00 pm, on the same day as the girls' pre-trip meeting.
You'll get a chance to meet the other girls on the course, make sure you have what you need, and borrow clothing and hiking boots if you need them. Your parents will have a chance to meet the staff and to get questions answered about the course.

ItineraryEach course is different, and the itinerary can easily change to accommodate the needs of each group. While weather sometimes influences our schedule, here's an itinerary of a typical Latina course:

Slideshow and Pizza PartyA celebration slideshow and pizza party will be scheduled in August for all participants, their families and friends.

CostThe cost of the Latina Girls' Course is $825. Full and partial financial aid is available for participants from low- and middle-income families, and scholarships are determined on a case-by-case basis. Please request a financial aid form if you would like to apply.