The Canyonlands Leadership Semester is an extraordinary expedition which combines beautiful, challenging environments and activities with an intensive leadership curriculum which emphasizes individual growth, communication skills, and leadership skills.
This semester is a 50-day journey through the mountains, canyons, deserts, and rivers of one of the most beautiful and geologically stunning landscapes in the world. The challenging course is designed for those looking to experience new and unique places, learn top-notch wilderness skills, and discover more about themselves and the world around them. However, as with all Outward Bound courses, the focus is not just what you do, but why you do it and who you are when you do it.
As you travel through the pristine mountains, into the meandering canyons, and down difficult whitewater rivers, you will certainly encounter considerable hardships and challenges. These experiences will not only push you physically, but also emotionally and socially. The course will provide valuable opportunities for you to discover your strengths and potential, and also to learn tools that will help you better cope with difficult situations. An exploration of the importance of compassion, service, and social and environmental responsibility will provide real experiences to learn anew the value of giving to others as well as being an involved community member and steward to the environment.
Successful completion of your course demands mastery of skills, curiosity, undefeatable spirit, fitness, confidence, tenacity, leadership, initiative and compassion. The technical skills gained on this course will benefit you in your outdoor pursuits in the future, but the true value of your course experiences lies in the “soft” skills: the essential abilities and characteristics of great citizens and leaders. They are applicable to all facets of life — school, career, relationships, community and home, as well as the out of doors. The promotion of these qualities, and the discovery of what’s in you, is the purpose of Outward Bound.
Course Highlights
- Leadership, teamwork, goal-setting and expeditionary behavior skills
- Camping, navigation, and route finding skills in mountain, canyon, and river terrain
- Geology, natural history, and ecology of three distinct environments
- Risk management training, emergency response, and decision-making skills
- Technical skills acquisition and practice: Backpacking and campcraft, raft guiding, reading water, rappelling and other slot canyon techniques, and much more
- Exploring the magical and mysterious canyon country of Southeastern Utah
Course Overview
Outward Bound Semester courses are designed to develop outdoor skills, to enhance your leadership and communication abilities, and to push you to new mental and physical horizons. They also strive to increase your knowledge of the environment-- all while you learn wilderness travel techniques in a variety of environments in Utah.
Sample Itinerary
Day 1-12 Backpacking in the La Sal Mountains. The La Sals are known for their groves of aspen, rich amount of wildlife, high summits, and incredible views overlooking Canyonlands and Arches National Park and the Four Corners. During this section, you will learn the essentials of outdoor living, including traveling light, reading topographic maps and navigating through backcountry terrain, campcraft skills, and Leave No Trace ethics.
Day 13-22 Sit-on-Top Kayaking down Desolation Canyon on the Green River. Deeper in some spots than the Grand Canyon, Desolation Canyon is characterized by spectacular rock formations, ancient Indian rock art and abandoned ranches including the McPherson Ranch (once frequented by Butch Cassidy's Hole-in-the-Wall gang). You will learn the basic river skills as well as the skills specific to kayaking: river living, environmental stewardship, reading whitewater currents, paddling strokes, eddy turns, bracing, surfing, and self-rescue. You will travel down the river close together and support one another through rapids and share the stories of each rapid with an ear to ear grin on your face.
Day 23-33 Canyoneering in the Canyon Country. The most spectacular aspects of the Utah landscape are the hidden treasures found within its vast canyon networks, formed by millennia of wind and water erosion. The canyonlands of Southern Utah are still as stunning, mysterious, and wild as they were for the first Western frontier explorers. To meet the demands of the technical terrain you will encounter, instructors will begin by teaching the foundational skills necessary for efficient travel, such as basic movement over rock and spotting techniques. The instructors will then teach more advanced movement on rock, and roped techniques such as rappelling, knot-tying, self-rescue, and rope handling.
Day 34-42 Whitewater Rafting in Cataract Canyon on the Colorado River. One of the most rugged and beautiful canyons in the West, Cataract Canyon takes you through the heart of Canyonlands National Park. In this section, you will transfer the river reading skills and paddle strokes you learned in the kayaking section to a paddle raft. You will learn to captain your crew and raft through whitewater rapids as well as perform flip drills and other raft rescue techniques.
Day 43-50 Canyon Backpacking Finals Expedition in Dark Canyon Wilderness Area. As you find yourself at the bottom of this majestic canyon with your toes dug into warm sandy beaches, you will be surrounded by lush, green cottonwood trees and listening to the murmur of crystal clear spring-fed water tumbling over slickrock cascades into deep swimming holes. In this section, you and your patrol mates will have the opportunity to pull together all of your outdoor and interpersonal skills into one last backpacking expedition. You and your patrol will be operating mostly independently of your instructors, working as a team, problem-solving, and managing the risks, presenting a powerful end to an amazing semester experience.
NOTE: Semester courses are demanding physically and socially. Students who are unmotivated or struggle with inappropriate behaviors on course may be expelled. Students who are expelled are not eligible for a refund. You and your family should be prepared to make a commitment to being in a challenging, formal educational setting for the entire length of the course.
To apply for this course click the apply button next to the course dates that work for you. The non-refundable application fee of $125 is due at the time of application. For full fee schedule and process, click here. Course tuitions listed do not include our application fee or transportation fee.