The Wilderness Adventure Program takes students deep into the wilderness of the North Cascades. The two week program is designed to introduce and build on our four fundamentals: Naturalism, Environmentalism, Indigenous Survival and Adventure Activity taught in the Wilderness Discovery program. The first few days will be spent at Basecamp getting to know each other, running team building exercises, issuing gear, and learning the technical skills needed to survive in the wilderness. In the evenings the groups will be instructed by local experts on how to prepare and plan the first of several 3-5 day wilderness treks into the North Cascades. They will learn how to plan a route, decide what gear is needed, what food and quantity to take, safety considerations and much more. The first trek the students will plan with the help of the instructors but with each additional trek more of the planning responsibilities will be placed on the students with the instructors there for guidance.

Once the group has their gear and a solid understanding of the basics they will begin their trip they have planned. Depending on the route they have chosen they will hike, boat and climb their way through the North Cascades National Park using the skills they have learned in previous courses. Along the way they will stop to learn the plants and animals around them, to identify animal tacks, to discuss the natural history and environmental concerns of the area and how they are a part of all that they see. At night they will set up camp under the stars, next to a stream, alpine lake or glacier and over a meal prepared by the group, they will reflect back on their day’s journey and all they have learned and experienced.

With each trek the student’s appreciation for the natural world around them, their leadership abilities, confidence and ability to work as a team will increase to levels they never dreamed of achieving. They will leave the program with an understanding of the basics for seeing through “Native Eyes” and what their role is in nature and how to preserve and protect the wilderness that remains.