High Sierra Backpacking for LGBTQ+ Young Adults
« Back to SearchJoin other members of the LGBTQ+ community for a backpacking adventure across the iconic Sierra Nevada Range.
High Sierra backpacking expeditions travel to lesser-known backcountry areas in the iconic Sierra Nevada Range. The course will challenge new and experienced backpackers as your crew travels above 8,000 feet and completes high-mileage days. The length of this course, together with its single focus on backpacking, allows for longer travel distances and additional opportunities to implement feedback from Instructors and crew.
You’ll learn technical skills like navigation and fine-tune leadership skills like effective communication and conflict resolution. Your group will learn and practice together – with the granite domes, alpine lakes and starry skies as your classroom.
At Outward Bound, we are crew, not passengers. We support each other and share in our challenges and our victories. Your crew becomes a critical piece of your experience while on course, and beyond! While all our courses are inclusive for all identities, we understand the value of affinity spaces, too. This is a traditional Outward Bound course for young adults, with an added focus on LGBTQ+ themes. During a time of development, when LGBTQ+ youth need a safe and supportive space, this course builds self-esteem and community, and creates opportunities to make lifelong friends.
Students can expect a progression of activities to initiate personal growth and conversation about shared experiences as LGBTQ+ youth. We will spend time having guided discussions surrounding LGBTQ+ topics, as well as opportunities for individual reflection, while embracing the affirming and healing powers of nature.
Outward Bound’s LGBTQ+ courses are designed to build community and cultivate self-efficacy. Expeditions are led by LGBTQ+ Instructors, and aim to create a safe space for those who have experienced being marginalized due to their identity, and/or are exploring their sexual and/or gender identity. Outward Bound is a place for all people to learn, grow, make friends, and have fun! We encourage you to talk with one of our course advisors if you have questions about which course is the best fit for you. You are welcome here – let’s adventure together!
NOTE: Outward Bound strongly recommends that all students be vaccinated against COVID-19 and up to date as defined by the CDC prior to arriving to their course start. For all open enrollment courses beginning on or after April 15, 2023, Outward Bound will no longer require students to be vaccinated against COVID-19. For questions regarding this policy please see this page or call us at 866-467-7651.
UPCOMING COURSES
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For detailed information on course availability statuses and what they mean, click here.
Course # XMTB-341
Age 14 - 17
Days 14
Cost $5,140
Dates 6.11.23 - 6.24.23
APPLY NOW
This means a course has several open spots and is actively processing applications.
APPLY NOW – Almost Full
This means there are three or fewer currently available spots left on a course. To secure your spot click Apply Now to begin an application!
JOIN WAITLIST
Once a course has reached capacity, three waitlist positions become available. To join a course’s waitlist, click “Join Waitlist” to begin the application process. A $500 deposit is required. This $500 deposit includes a $150 non-refundable application fee and a $350 tuition payment. The $350 tuition payment is refundable only if you cancel your waitlist application or if an open position does not become available. If a position does become available, the applicant will be applied to the open position and the Application and Cancellation Policies of the Regional Outward Bound School will be followed, including forfeiture of the $500 deposit if you cancel 90 days or less prior to the course start date.
Waitlist applicants are encouraged to complete all required admissions documents while awaiting an open position. Positions may become available up to two weeks prior to the course start date. Applicants may only apply to one course. We recommend applying to a course with open positions instead of a course that is accepting waitlist applications. If you have questions, please call 866-467-7651 to speak with one of our Admissions Advisors.
CALL TO APPLY
This means a course is very close to its start date. Although it is unlikely to secure a spot this late, you can call the National Admissions office at 866-467-7651 to discuss your options.
COURSE IS FULL
When a course has reached maximum capacity, meaning all spots and the three waitlist spots are occupied, a course will read “Course Is Full.” This means applications are no longer being accepted.
CLOSED
As a course nears its start date, the availability status may read “Closed.” In this event, a course roster has been finalized and applications are no longer being accepted or processed.
Our son just returned from the LGBTQ expedition. WOW!!! We expected that they would have an amazing time and find aspects of themselves that they did not know they had, but in just a couple hours of trip debriefing, we realized that this was so much more. It is hard to put into words how grateful we are to Outward Bound for providing this amazing program for LBGTQ youth and for our son. We are so happy that our child returned physically spent, but emotionally and mentally invigorated, and so comfortable with who they are. We are so glad to be a part of the Outward Bound family now. Thank you again for making this experience so incredible
Students will travel into the heart of the Sierra Nevada where they’ll learn Leave No Trace camping and travel skills, outdoor cooking techniques, map and compass use, creek crossings that are often void of bridges, route finding and how to set up shelters in the backcountry. Although rare, patches of snow may be found at higher elevations.
In addition to technical skills, Instructors will teach and facilitate the interpersonal skills needed for students to function effectively as a team, accomplish goals and tackle new challenges. Challenges on course are designed to compel students to draw upon inner resources and develop trust in one another. One example of on-course challenges is a peak attempt. With lighter packs, participants will often start before sunrise to summit a mountain and are rewarded with 360 degree views and an incredible sense of accomplishment.
As skills and experience increase, Instructors will turn over more responsibility to the crew. Students will eventually make navigation decisions, plan routes and set up camp.
Please note: Students carry both personal and group gear, which means packs can be heavy. Students should be physically able to hike with a 40-pound backpack to be successful on this course. If the applicant is under 5 feet tall and/or 85 pounds, please call Outward Bound prior to enrollment.
Service to others and the environment is a core value of Outward Bound and is integrated into each course. Participants follow Leave No Trace ethics and do acts of service while leading and supporting fellow participants. When possible, designated service projects are coordinated with land managers like the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service to collaborate on land restoration projects. As they see the impact of their actions first hand, students develop a value of service, and transfer this desire to serve their communities once they return.
In order for profound learning to take place, Outward Bound believes there must be time to reflect on the experience. During course, the Solo experience offers the most impactful chance for this to occur. It is a chance to experience solitude in the wilderness without distraction while also taking a break from the physical rigors of course. Students are separated from their group for a period of time which depends on course length and Instructor assessment of group capability. Solo sites are chosen to provide solitude. Participants have all necessary equipment, food and water. The maximum time for Solo on this course is 48 hours.
This course pushes participants physically, socially and emotionally. With a longer course length, participants dig deep and achieve a higher level of mastery of both technical skills needed to travel in a crew and the social and emotional skills to be a positive member of the group. Additionally, this course aims to provide space for LGBTQ+ youth to explore how their identities intersect with their desire for personal growth and development. Participants will gain both technical and personal skills that they will be able to take back to their community, school, and work.
The Sierra Nevada range is California’s backyard and wonderland of wilderness, waterfalls, lakes and peaks. It’s an enormous range – spanning more than 400 miles from north to south, and 70 miles east to west. Courses take place in the southern and western parts of the Sierra: Emigrant Wilderness, Ansel Adams Wilderness, Yosemite National Park and Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park.
Summer in the Sierra is mostly sunny, with occasional rain and cold evenings. Snowfall is unlikely, though June courses may traverse atop lingering winter and spring snow. Summer temperature tends towards the 70s to 80s during the day, dipping into the 30s to 50s in the evening and night.
These regions are the ancestral lands of the Northern Paiute, Western Mono/Monache, Me-Wuk (Central Sierra Miwok), Eastern Mono/Monache, and Tübatulabal nations. We acknowledge them as the past, present, and future caretakers of this land, and also pay respect to their elders, both past and present. We recognize and continually support and advocate for the sovereignty of the Native nations of this territory and beyond. By offering this land acknowledgment we affirm tribal sovereignty, commit to working to support these tribes, and commit to holding Outward Bound California accountable to this work.
Course Stories
Our son just returned from the LGBTQ expedition. WOW!!! We expected that they would have an amazing time and find aspects of themselves that they did not know they had, but in just a couple hours of trip debriefing, we realized that this was so much more. It is hard to put into words how grateful we are to Outward Bound for providing this amazing program for LBGTQ youth and for our son. We are so happy that our child returned physically spent, but emotionally and mentally invigorated, and so comfortable with who they are. We are so glad to be a part of the Outward Bound family now. Thank you again for making this experience so incredible
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Getting Started
If you are ready to enroll on a course click the enroll button next to the course you wish to select or you can enroll over the phone by speaking with one of our Admissions Advisors (toll-free) at 866-467-7651.
To secure your spot on a course you must submit an enrollment form and $500 deposit that is applied toward the total cost of the course and includes a $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee.