This is a two-week river expedition by raft and, as your skills progress, by smaller craft like canoes. The course begins on the Green River at the mouth of Desolation Canyon, and descends through Gray and Labyrinth Canyons near Canyonlands National Park. It is an ideal course for younger teens looking for adventure, wilderness skills and the lifelong benefit of Outward Bound.

Youth Courses
Our instructors are committed to bringing younger teens into the wilderness and exposing them to the beauty, freedom and adventure of Outward Bound. From rigging a raft to taking care of your teammates, from building a fire to building character, an expedition on the Green River is a perfect place to get out on your own and practice independence and leadership. Youth courses are typically more structured and focused on student success, self-confidence and teamwork. Students are expected to try their best, exercise compassion, practice craftsmanship, and show tenacity. Throughout the course, expect to work hard, laugh, try your best, and have a lot of fun!

Course Area
Surrounded by the Tavaputs Plateau and bordered by the Uinta and Ouray Indian Reservation on the east, your journey on the Green River begins in Desolation Canyon near Sand Wash. Throughout the canyon, there are spectacular rock formations, ancient Indian ruins and abandoned ranches, including McPherson Ranch, once frequented by Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch. The tiered rock walls of Desolation give way to the earthy bluffs of Gray Canyon, creating a striking contrast that characterizes the next 25 miles of our journey. In Labyrinth Canyon, the Green River dives deep into the pink sandstone of the Navajo Formation that characterizes southeastern Utah and the Canyonlands area with narrow winding side canyons, orange Wingate cliffs, pinnacles and ledges.

Course Description
Arriving at your course start, you join a boat crew of 5-7 students and an instructor, learn about your raft and how to pack it, and then launch on the river. You spend most of each day paddling through magnificent canyons and working together to paddle and build skills in a flat water section at the beginning of your course. On the raft you learn commands, ruddering strokes, how to see obstacles and how to anticipate the force of the current from far enough upstream. You also explore side canyons and hike to archeological, geologic and historic sites.

Then transfer to two-person canoes for the final 63 miles through Labyrinth Canyon. While many of the skills you learned rafting are applicable to canoes, the small craft demand a new level of coordination and cooperation.

NOTE: While rafting and canoeing are not as physically challenging an activity as backpacking, you do need to be adequately fit to paddle aggressively and to enter and exit the raft (you should be able to get out of a swimming pool without using a ladder). You should also know that hiking is an almost daily element of the course.

NOTE: Virtually all airlines, except United and Southwest, REQUIRE that travelers, age 14 or younger, flying without a companion over the age of 18, purchase their Unaccompanied Minor service. This fee ranges anywhere from $40 to $75 each way. In most cases, the Unaccompanied Minor service is OPTIONAL for travelers between the ages of 15-17.