Wilderness Program

Imagine waking up in a field of summer wildflowers. As the sun rises, the 14,000-foot peaks above you turn pink, then orange. A day of learning and adventure, with new-found friends at your side, awaits you.

During the Summer Term, two wilderness backpacking expeditions provide a unique environment to practice leadership and develop skills to live and travel in remote settings. Expeditions also provide an amazing backdrop for our academic classes, as the stunning scenery of the Rocky Mountains becomes our laboratory, source of inspiration, and fodder for debate.

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY

The wilderness curriculum we offer during the summer mirrors that offered during our HMI Semester. Among other skills, we'll teach you how to read a map, how to cook delicious meals over a one-burner stove, and how to camp comfortably and in style. The backcountry also provides an ideal setting for you to develop your leadership skills by leading your peers, while receiving coaching from faculty. Serving as a team member in a group is a fantastic way to learn about yourself, and to develop interpersonal skills that will transfer far beyond the wilderness boundaries.