Yellowstone Backpacking Expedition

Expedition Overview

Dates: July 6 - 13, 2021
Age: 14–16 years old
Group size: max 8 students/2 instructors
Length: 8 days
Tuition: $1,840

8-day adventure through remote area of the Montana wilderness, developing leadership, outdoor skills in navigation, camping, backcountry cooking and teamwork.

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MWS Essential Eligibility Criteria 

Packing List 
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Expedition Highlights

Backpack in the mountains of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem
Navigation, orienteering, and wilderness travel skills
Wilderness decision-making and communication skills
Experiencing abundant wildlife and ecosystems

Expedition Description

The Yellowstone Backpacking Expedition is an introductory backpacking expedition, specifically designed for 14 - 16 year old students. This one week adventure focuses on preparing students to enjoy the backcountry and teach them fundamental outdoor skills such as cooking, camping and navigation while being a member of an expeditionary group. Students will be challenged physically (at appropriate introductory levels), and will hike most days with packs in a mountainous backcountry environment. While on this expedition, students will learn about Leave No Trace® camping principles and how to work as a team to accomplish common expedition goals. For more information about MWS core curriculum and expedition progression see Expedition Life.

Expedition Objectives and Learning Outcomes

Teamwork and communication skills

Learn positive communication skills with diverse group members to create a healthy community, build trust, and make sound decisions in the backcountry together
Develop an expedition philosophy, apply it to the course, and understand how it can transfer back to the student’s home environment

Safety and wilderness based decision making

Backcountry hazard evaluation and risk reduction guidelines and tools
First aid awareness for backcountry settings: identification and treatment of common backcountry illness and injuries
Learn to collaboratively make decisions in remote environments that prioritizes individual and group safety

Conservation Ethic

Use basic observational and interpretive skills to demonstrate an understanding and respect for the natural environment
Discuss the history, facts and potential solutions to pertinent environmental and social issues affecting the wilderness in the expedition area
Reflect upon and discuss the conveyance of wilderness conservation ethics into personal life and build a capacity for commitment and stewardship to wild places

Backcountry camping and navigation skills

Use safe backcountry kitchen practices to cook nutritious meals on a camp stove or fire
Demonstrate an ability to select an appropriate campsite and set up a shelter while minimizing the impact on the ecosystem
Understand and demonstrate how to stay healthy, warm, and comfortable in the backcountry
Understand and demonstrate techniques for camping and traveling in bear habitat
Use various navigation and route-finding tools and methods for on and off trail travel
Travel efficiently in the alpine environment using map and compass skills

Technical Skills

Backpacking

Learn to properly pack and adjust a backpack
Become competent in backpacking in alpine environments
Travel off trail and discover unpopulated areas of the Montana wilderness

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Yellowstone Backpacking

expedition