Freqently Asked Questions
To read all frequently asked questions, please scroll down. To jump ahead to a specific category of questions, please click on the links below. For specific questions about the Leading Edge or the High Peaks Adventure programs, please visit the Frquently Asked Questions section for the individual program.
How big are your groups?
High Mountain Institute Summer Programs groups are small; there are never more than 12 students per group. This allows everyone to get to know each other and form a small, tight-knit and cohesive community.
Who are the other students and where do they come from?
High Mountain Institute Summer Programs students come from all over the country. All groups are co-ed and grouped by age. All students are enthusiastic, eager to live, learn and play in a small group, and experience the great outdoors together.
What are your two main programs?
The Leading Edge is a leadership development and wilderness adventure program for high school students. The Leading Edge empowers students to truly excel in their final years of high school and prepares them to assume leadership roles in college. Our goal is to teach leadership through experience while backpacking through Colorado's Rocky Mountains and to foster an educational and fun environment in the process.
The High Peaks Adventure is a multi-sport introductory program to the outdoors for students who have completed either 7th or 8th grade. Come experience an 8-day backpacking trip in Colorado's Rocky Mountains, a day of mountain biking in Vail, a day of top-rope climbing, and a day of rafting on Colorado's celebrated Arkansas River!
What is the weather like in Colorado during the summer?
Days during the summer in Colorado tend to be warm and sunny while nights are cool and dry. Colorado summers tend to make for perfect hiking weather! Most summer days in Colorado start off sunny and there can be thunderstorms in the afternoon. It doesn't usually rain much, but it's not unusual for it to rain a little bit every day.
Who are your instructors?
Our staff is comprised of outdoor educators with experience guiding and mentoring young adults in the backcountry. Many of our instructors are classroom teachers during the school year or dedicated outdoor educators. The majority have prior experience working for the High Mountain Institute. All expedition leaders have wilderness medical training. They serve as mentors and role models during the trip.
How many instructors do you have per group?
Typically there are three instructors with a group of twelve students. Our average student to staff ratio in 2009 was 4:1.
How do you train your instructors / what sort of certifications do they have?
High Mountain Institute Summer Programs instructors come to the High Mountain Institute with experience working in the outdoors with teenagers. Many of them have worked with our semester students through the Rocky Mountain Semester and several are current Rocky Mountain Semester faculty members. Regardless of experience, all High Mountain Institute Summer Programs instructors participate in a pre-course training prior to the start of their program. Additionally, new staff participate in a training trip before leading their first program. All High Mountain Institute Summer Programs instructors have wilderness medical training.
Enrollment questions:
How do I apply for a High Mountain Institute Summer Program?
To apply for a High Mountain Institute Summer Program fill out the High Mountain Institute Summer Programs application and answer the short questions listed on the application. Please also give a Teacher Recommendation Form to one of your teachers to complete. Once we have received your application and recommendation form we will contact you for a phone interview. If you are applying for financial aid, please submit your application by March 1st.
Do you have references for students who have done a High Mountain Institute Summer Program previously?
Absolutely. Please contact us and we will be happy to give you the names of a couple of recent alumni (or alumni parents) who you can contact as a reference.
How quickly do sessions fill up?
Each session is filled on a rolling basis. The majority of applicants apply in January and February. Most sessions will fill in March while others will have availability into the spring.
What if my first choice session is full?
If your first choice session is full, we'll call you to make sure that your second choice is acceptable before processing your application.
Does the High Mountain Institute offer financial aid?
We recognize that the cost of an excellent program such as the Leading Edge or the High Peaks Adventure is significant. The High Mountain Institute attempts to make our summer programs affordable for all accepted students, regardless of the financial circumstances of one's family. In offering aid, we hope to attract students from a wide range of economic, ethnic, and geographic backgrounds. The High Mountain Institute offers need-based financial aid for students whose families cannot afford the full cost of a summer program. The amount of aid available each year is finite. To apply for financial aid please complete a High Mountain Institute Summer Programs Financial Aid application and submit it along with the supporting materials by March 1st.
Why don't you require a deposit?
We are committed to making sure that each student is a good fit for the program and that the program is a good fit for each student before requiring students to pay a deposit. We carefully review each student's application and recommendation form. We then interview each student to ask them a few questions and answer any questions that they might have before enrollment. Once a student has received all enrollment materials and has a full understanding of the nature of the summer program, we ask students to put down a deposit for their program. In our experience, this helps to ensure that all students are enthusiastic participants, eager to live and learn together in the outdoors.
When are payments due?
An $800 deposit is due two weeks after receipt of your enrollment packet. The balance is due by April 15th. If you are accepted after April 15th, your full tuition payment is due two weeks after receipt of your enrollment packet.
What is the High Mountain Institute's refund policy?
In the event that the High Mountain Institute cannot accommodate a student because of medical concerns, we will issue a refund of the deposit. If for any reason (whether voluntary or involuntary) a student leaves the program in progress, there will be no tuition refunded. The High Mountain Institute will not refund or reduce tuition for late or non-arrival, early withdrawal, or participant cancellation for any cause. We encourage all families to purchase trip insurance to protect their investment. We will send you more information about trip insurance in your enrollment packet.
Parent concerns and questions:
How do you manage the inherent risks of being in the wilderness?
We are proud of the quality of our programs, our safety record, and our risk management practices. The High Mountain Institute is fully accredited by the Association for Experiential Education and our faculty and staff have first aid training. We strive to develop creative and challenging programming and endeavor to responsibly manage risks, knowing we cannot eliminate those risks. High Mountain Institute program activities, including wilderness travel and campus life, involve inherent and other risks. For more information about the High Mountain Institute's approach to risk management please visit: http://www.hminet.org/about-hmi/risk-management.
How do I know if the Leading Edge or High Peaks Adventure program is right for my child?
Ultimately your child knows best whether or not the program is right for him. We seek curious, motivated students who chose to attend the Leading Edge or High Peaks Adventure because they want to experience a fun-outdoor experience and learn about leadership. The High Mountain Institute Summer Programs are not therapeutic wilderness programs. If you are looking for a therapeutic wilderness program, please give us a call and we will be happy to point you in the right direction.