The Company You Keep…
As a travel program director, I have had the privilege of working with some of the most reputable outdoor education programs in the world. These programs provide students with unique opportunities to learn about themselves and the world around them, while also gaining valuable skills that they can use throughout their lives. While certainly not an inclusive list, the following folks have been instrumental in shaping who we are as a program.
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS):
NOLS is the leader in the field of outdoor education. In the fall 1994, I spent a semester climbing and skiing through the mountains of Wyoming and exploring the canyons of southeast Utah. Here I learned not only the “hard skills” that taught me to be technically proficient, but also how to weigh risk, predict outcomes, and communicate effectively with my peers. It was the hardest, most rewarding 94 days of my life.
NOLS offers programs all around the world, ranging from 7 days to an entire year in length.
The outdoor classroom
Outward Bound is one of the oldest and most respected outdoor education programs in the world. Founded in 1941 in the UK, Outward Bound has been providing students with transformative experiences for over 80 years. Our first experience with OB was in 1997 at a Wilderness First Responder training course. Since then, Mags has also completed a river course in Oregon with these fine folks.
Wilderness Medicine Institute:
WMI is a leader in the field of wilderness medicine. Now a part of NOLS, they offer initial certifications, continuing education, certifications for medical professionals, and search and rescue courses. We have now completed 7 WFR recertification courses with WMI, and they continue to modernize their curriculum and standards to match the best practices of the ever- evolving field of medicine.
Our go-to guide service in the Rockies, the always friendly folks in Estes Park have led our climbing trips since 2008. The Colorado Mountain School offers a wide range of courses, from beginner-level courses to advanced courses in ice climbing and mountaineering, and has programs in some of the most beautiful and challenging mountain ranges in the world.
Last, but certainly not least, is our home away from home. At Prescott College, the world is your classroom. Writing research papers by campfire light after 8 hours of paddling whitewater is standard fare for a student in the outdoor education program. Want to learn Spanish while also studying coastal biology? There’s a base at Kino Bay, Mexico. An internship guiding mountains in Nepal would not be out of the ordinary, and senior projects have produced curriculum guides, sustainable farms in Central America, and art exhibitions across the country.
Maybe you can’t take the boy out of Prescott
The writer, Dick Schaap, often said that his favorite pastime was “collecting people.” We’ve been fortunate through the years to be involved in a community where we can say the same. Thanks to all of you for letting us play along!
