This course is designed to deepen and expand on the skills necessary to plan, participate in, and enjoy adventures that take place away from urban centers. A connectedness with nature and the ability to make choices for a sustainable future will be some of the underlying themes of the course.
Students will gain skills in camping, safety, navigation, route selection, equipment use, equipment maintenance, as well as gain interpersonal skills as they work with their peers to meet individual and group goals. Personal growth will be achieved as students are pushed to their limits both physically and mentally.
Syllabus structural timelines mapped out chronologically by institutional focus blocks:
| Core Learning Focus | Approximate Classes |
|---|---|
| Winter Activities | 20 Classes |
| Outdoor Survival | 20 Classes |
| Sustainable Wildlife Management | 20 Classes |
| Backpacking / Hiking | 15 Classes |
| Orienteering | 15 Classes |
| Paddling & Water Safety | 10 Classes |
Students must cover fees associated with these 3 mandatory wilderness trips. Fundraising tools are provided to completely subsidize all individual costs.
Punctuality & Gear: Be ready to go outside during any given class. Students who are not contextually prepared for current weather elements will receive an unexcused absence.
Tool Responsibility: Throughout this course, students handle utility tools for carving shelters and processing natural elements. Safety awareness is strictly non-negotiable.
Property Upkeep: If gear is intentionally broken outside regular environmental stress, students are financially responsible for component replacement.
