| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): $9,900; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Catalog terms: ASP partial scholarship assistance: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Partial assistance is advertised; amount, eligibility, deadline, and availability require the current scholarship process.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. About 40% received aid in the published cycle; average award was 70% of tuition, and aid included discounted or free gear rental, with top packages potentially covering flights.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Catalog terms: Earlier stated group registration fee: $95. One nonrefundable fee per registering group, not per participant. The current overview does not restate this amount; confirm whether it still applies.; Group transportation: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Groups provide transportation to the assigned center and a vehicle for each work crew; cost varies by origin and group.; ASP partial scholarship assistance: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Partial assistance is advertised; amount, eligibility, deadline, and availability require the current scholarship process.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 student-account deposit: $500. Returned to the family if unused; separate enrollment deposit details were not quantified on the official pages.; Travel to and from Colorado: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Flights were not included in tuition, although the largest need-based aid packages could cover them.; Need-based financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. About 40% received aid in the published cycle; average award was 70% of tuition, and aid included discounted or free gear rental, with top packages potentially covering flights.; Clarity financial-aid application fee: $65. Applies to the aid application; automatic or inquiry-based fee waivers are available for eligible families.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grade 6 and above; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 10–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Minimum age 11; Residency: No citizenship or state-residency restriction is stated; participants must travel with or join an eligible registered group serving in Central Appalachia; Requirement: Be at least age 11 and have completed sixth grade before service; Requirement: Register as part of a group of at least five or obtain approval to join an existing registered group; Requirement: Provide at least two adults age 19 or older for the group and maintain ASP's adult-to-youth supervision requirements; Requirement: Complete an approved background check if age 19 or older; Requirement: Provide a suitable vehicle for every work crew and transportation to and from the assigned center; Requirement: Commit to the full Sunday-afternoon-through-Saturday-morning week; Requirement: Complete all participant, guardian, health, emergency, conduct, safety, and group paperwork and payment requirements; Requirement: Participate respectfully in ASP's service, regional education, and faith-based programming; Exclusion: ASP does not currently host an unaccompanied individual volunteer on their own; Exclusion: Volunteers must have completed sixth grade before service and be at least 11; current sixth-graders may qualify for a 2027 summer trip after completing the school year.; Exclusion: A preferred week, state, center, homeowner, or project type is not guaranteed; Exclusion: Participants and groups supply transportation and may have costs beyond ASP's published fee; Exclusion: The trip does not confer employment, wages, academic credit, a licensed construction credential, college admission benefit, or guaranteed school-accepted service hours; Exclusion: Physical, tool, driving, dietary, disability, medication, and worksite accommodations must be confirmed directly with ASP and the group leader | Ages 14–18; Requirement: Be a rising 10th, 11th, or 12th grader and age 14-18 for the applicable cycle; Requirement: Be prepared for a residential program at 10,000 feet and extended backpacking expeditions; Requirement: Complete the required application, recommendations, transcript, and interview; Requirement: If accepted, complete health, physical, risk, release, enrollment, and payment requirements; Exclusion: Prior outdoor experience is not required; Exclusion: The official pages do not state a citizenship or Colorado-residency restriction; Exclusion: Program mental-health services are limited, and backcountry groups may lack timely outside support; families must evaluate fit with HMI |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 1 week; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 28, 2026; Ends July 25, 2026; 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | In person | In person |
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| Housing and supervision | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Central Appalachia: eastern Kentucky, western North Carolina when served, northeastern Tennessee, southwest Virginia, and central or southern West Virginia | Leadville, High Mountain Institute campus and Colorado/Utah backcountry |
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| Selection and application | Selection: This is capacity- and group-based registration rather than a competitive individual admission. ASP matches registered crews to weeks, centers, and projects based on preferences, skill, need, supervision, and available space. | Selection: HMI describes a typical cohort of 12-20 students; it does not publish a current applicant count or acceptance rate. Application materials: Two approximately 250-word essays; Two teacher recommendations, including at least one from a core academic teacher, under the current central admissions page; Required 15-30 minute admissions interview |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-12Source 2 · checked 2026-08-20Source 3 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-22Source 2 · checked 2026-08-22Source 3 · checked 2026-08-22Source 4 · checked 2026-08-22Source 5 · checked 2026-08-22Source 6 · checked 2026-08-22 |
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