The Yellowstone Backpacking Adventure is an introductory backpacking course offered for students entering grades 9-11. This 8-day adventure will take students into the backcountry of beautiful Yellowstone National Park, where they will have an opportunity to experience and learn about the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem firsthand. The course curriculum focuses on preparing students to safely navigate and enjoy backpacking in wild backcountry environments. They will learn core outdoor skills such as cooking, camping, and map and compass navigation from an experienced instructor team with lots of area knowledge. Students will be challenged physically—at appropriate introductory levels—and will hike with moderately heavy packs in mountainous terrain, camping at some amazing backcountry sites along the way.
While on course, the team will engage in lessons about Leave No Trace® land stewardship principles, and students will learn how to communicate effectively and work together to accomplish common goals. Each student will have an opportunity to lead the group as the Expedition Leader of the Day to gain experience with newly acquired leadership skills. For more information about MWS core curriculum and expedition progression, check out Expedition Life.