Wilderness Leadership Course - 12 Day

This course is designed for those individuals who are seeking exposure to a wide-variety of wilderness leadership skills and training in how to apply them. The remote wilderness of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern Colorado will serve as the container for our learning expedition. It is a wonderful place to connect with nature, practice awareness and contemplative skills, be challenged, and discover your own unique leadership style. We will camp in high alpine cirques, hike along deep, clear lakes, through grassy slopes and alpine flowers, cross cascading creeks, traverse over mountain passes, and climb (weather permitting) to spectacular views of the summits of Broken Hand, Crestone or Humboldt Peaks. Through experience, lecture, and discussion we will address trip preparation, safety, survival, campcraft, guiding, basic mountaineering, Taoist climbing, and outdoor teaching. We will cover how to read a topographical map and compass, how to navigate safely through remote mountain terrain, how to facilitate a group, and work with group dynamics. We will also explore the metaphorical, spiritual, and therapeutic elements of the wilderness experience.

Our course will begin at 9am on July 26th (Boulder Public Library, Arapahoe Ave), and begin the course with 1 day of pre-trip planning and team building. Lunch will be provided. Please see the itinerary (attached) for more information. Out-of-town participants should arrive in Boulder July 25th. We reserve the right to alter the trip, change the site and itinerary as weather, environmental conditions, or the nature of the group may require. Special travel needs may be able to be accommodated. Cost includes trip meals.