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Overview

The Fall program is our premium offering that allows students to deeply immerse themselves for 10 weeks.  As the leaves transform our mountainsides into a mosaic of autumn color, students in our Fall program get the most in-depth skill building, exploration, and mentorship that we can offer.

 

Sustainable Living & Farms

This program will introduce students to a wide variety of sustainable living and craft skills, while also bringing them into the surrounding wilderness to explore by foot, paddle, and rope.  During the program, students will be deeply involved in farming the land by contributing to tasks such as bed preparation, planting, harvesting, weeding, and general maintenance.  Their role in the garden will be integral in providing fresh food for their own plates and will give them a taste of self-reliance through growing much of what they eat.  Besides getting their hands in the soil, students will learn how to plan a garden and best utilize the fruits of their labor by preserving and storing its bounty for winter use.  Daily and weekly caretaking roles will also introduce students to caring for chickens and bees, which provide essential foods for our campus.  They will begin developing their knowledge of medicinal herbs and how to create tinctures, salves, teas, and other products that use the healing powers of native and cultivated herbs.  Students will also be involved in building projects and infrastructure maintenance that will teach them how to use their resources to fix whatever problems may arise. 

Traditional Craft

At least twice a week, students will get a chance to try their hand at a traditional craft taught by a local artisan.  This aspect of the program could find students hammering iron in the blacksmith shop, planing wood for a handmade piece of furniture, learning to make pots on a potter's wheel, or knitting their own hat from locally sourced alpaca fleece.  They may find themselves becoming immersed in creative projects that unearth newfound passions and talents that just may provide a life-long hobby or vocation. 

Outdoor Leadership

Once every 3-4 weeks, students will embark on expeditions into the surrounding wilderness.  These expeditions may find students backpacking in old-growth forests, paddling canoes on a beautiful high mountain lake, climbing up a rock face, or flowing through rapids on a local river.  As the program progresses, students will take on increasing responsibility for planning these expeditions and will finish the semester with much more confidence traveling in the wilderness.  In addition to the adventures we will have, the wilderness will also provide time for reflection and forging a connection with the natural world.   Students will embark on 4 expeditions from 4-5 days in length during this session.  They will develop skills in campcraft, backpacking, canoeing, orienteering, survival skills, rock climbing, and mountain biking.

Other Skills

On top of these exciting activities, students will take part in thought-provoking seminars and workshops on topics such as finding purpose, non-violent communication, philosophy, mind-mapping, yoga, and meditation.  Through using their hands and developing a clearer sense of purpose after the program, students will feel more empowered to make changes in their own lives and communities in accordance with their values.

Fall Program

The season of changing colors, the harvest,
and preparing for winter

Costs:

$9,650 for 10 weeks

 

Price includes: Program fees, room, meals, transportation for program field trips, group outdoor gear rental, craft workshop instructor and material fees

 

Price does NOT include: Airfare to and from campus, airport pickup, personal outdoor gear, spending money

Dates for 2015:

 

 

September 7-November 13

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 1 month before start date

exploring inner frontiers
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