Deer Hill Wilderness Leadership

# Deer Hill Wilderness Leadership Deer Hill Expeditions has run nature-based expeditions in the American Southwest for more than 40 years from its basecamp in Mancos, Colorado, and was named the Association for Experiential Education's 2019 Organizational Member of the Year. Wilderness Leadership is its longest and most demanding course - a 26-day expedition built specifically around teaching students to lead groups in the backcountry. ## What You'll Do - Start with basecamp orientation in Mancos, Colorado, then move through four expedition phases - Canyoneer in southern Utah's slot canyon country - Backpack and complete peak ascents in Colorado's San Juan Mountains - Complete a cross-cultural service project at Zuni Pueblo, logging 40 service hours - Take on expedition leadership training and student-led travel days throughout the course ## Who Should Apply The course is built for students "Ages 16-18" who are ready for a month-long expedition with real physical demands and leadership responsibility. Deer Hill invites families with questions about age or grade fit to call the office directly. Students enroll through Deer Hill's online application; scholarship information is published alongside the course. ## Outcomes Students leave with technical canyoneering and mountain travel skills, 40 documented service hours from a genuine cross-cultural partnership, and sustained practice leading a peer group through consequential decisions in the field - the closest thing to a full expedition-leadership apprenticeship available at high school age.