Registration Deadline: April 30th, 2024

Paperwork Deadline: June 28th , 2024

High Peaks Backpacking Expedition Description:

This Backpacking Expedition is an immersive backpacking experience for high school students. During this 6 day course, participants will confront challenging terrain and build foundational backcountry skills, such as learning how to read and follow maps, understanding what it takes to set up a successful camping experience, and even learning how to cook yummy meals in the woods! This course is a great option for participants who are excited to explore a new high alpine course area. Your group will form enduring bonds as you cover significant ground, both physically and emotionally, crossing evergreen-covered ranges and snow capped peaks. In this safe and supportive environment, participants will develop team-building and leadership skills that will transfer to their lives outside of the course.

This course is suitable for beginner to intermediate backpackers. Pick up and drop off is in Boulder, CO.

Details:

• Ages: 14-18 (from going into 9th grade to high school graduates going into college)
• Date: July 28th-August 2nd 2024
• Time: Drop Off – 7:00AM on start date / Pick Up – 3:00PM on end date.
• Location: Meet at the Women’s Wilderness Office in Boulder and drive together to the trailhead.
• Price: $900 – Apply here for Financial Aid

Activities & Features:

• Campcraft, including backcountry cooking, tent set-up, and pack packing
• Backpacking through spacious alpine environments studded with pristine lakes and soaring peaks
• Build, refine and expand backpacking skills and wilderness medicine knowledge
• Dive deep to your values, passions, and unique leadership capabilities
• Take space away from technology and screens

CHILD CARE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS: Due to our licensing we are required to have all forms below that apply. Please make sure to make an appointment before the paperwork deadline:

• Required for ALL participants: Youth Health Form (Physical- We will provide form)
• If participant has allergy that requires an epi-pen: Colorado Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan
• If participant has asthma: Colorado Asthma Care Plan and Medication
• If participant has seizures: Seizures Emergency Care plan and Medication Orders
• If participant has been to counselor/therapist in past 2 years: Counselor/Therapist Form

This paperwork must be turned in by the paperwork due date June 28th, 2024 for your student to keep their spot in our youth camp. Please make sure that your physical appointment is set before that date.

For any questions email info@womenswilderness.org

Participant Feedback:

• “I learned that my process of completing a task is not the only way to complete a task. I learned to be accepting of others process and trust that they will get it done. This is important because I oftentimes would try to get others to get something done the way I knew how, but now being able to trust others gives them responsibility and the feeling of being trusted.”
• “I realized I can do way more than I thought I could.”
• “The most significant change that I experienced from participating in this course is that I now appreciate the outdoors more than before.”

Mac (they/them) graduated from Hampshire College in 2019 with a BA in Critical Youth Studies. Mac was awarded the Business with Purpose Scholarship from Clif Bar in 2019 to fund a full-year independent project. Following this, Mac spent several years as a Faculty Instructor at the Philadelphia Outward Bound School, leading backpacking, canoepacking and rock climbing courses for youth. Mac is continuing this work with Women’s Wilderness in the Girls Lead for Life program, as well as working as a Mental Health Advocate at Nederland Middle/Senior School.

Steph (she/her) is a writer, coach, world-traveler, and truth-seeker. She’s spent the past 7 years working in the coaching industry and childcare, where she applied person-centered, social justice, and sustainability lenses to her work. Always curious about learning new skills, she first came into contact with Women’s Wilderness in 2017, when she signed up for an outdoor rock climbing class. After working as Gear & Transportation Intern in Summer of 2022 she’s excited to continue being a part of the team and helping the organization run more smoothly.