Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions
Vitals
- GYA Accredited Since: Unaccredited by the GYA. Please see the Standards for more information.
- COVID-19 Plans: In-person only
- Enrolling:
Yes - App Deadline: Jun 30, 2021
- Next Available Departure? Aug, 2021
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Mission Statement:
Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions sponsors educational wilderness expeditions and outdoor programs in the American Southwest that promote personal growth, scientific, historic, and cultural discovery as well as a knowledgeable environmental ethic among all those who participate.
- Level of Independence/Supervision (mouse-over for definition):
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Attachments
Program Locations
Typical Itinerary
Days 1-7 Basecamp for Course Introduction, Trip to Chaco Canyon
Days 8-18 Backpacking trip in the Pecos Wilderness
Days 19-33 Basecamp for Wilderness First Responder, Rock Climbing, Mountain Biking
Days 34-50 Backpacking trip in Escalante, Resupply in Moab, Multi-Day Raft Trip
Days 51-58 Basecamp for Rock Climbing, Mountain Biking, Prep for End of Course
Days 59-84 Backpacking trip in the Gila Wilderness, 24 hour solo, Backpacking trip in Big Bend, Project Presentations
Peer Reviews
Program Details
- Program Starts: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
- Program Duration: Less than 2 months, Semester, Yearlong
- Program Cost: $14,980
- Program Financial Aid: Yes
Program Learning Outcomes
- Complete an independent project related to water in the Southwest
- Gain technical outdoor skills and learn to teach those skills
- Experience personal growth and hone leadership skills
- Define your environmental ethic through seeing the effects of climate change, reading, and conversation
- Outdoor and community living
- Communication skills
- Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
- Leave No Trace Trainer Certificate
Learn, grow, and gain valuable skills while having the time of your life in a small community
Spend 84 days on the adventure of a lifetime, working on a project in a discipline of your choosing, and wandering the unforgettable wilderness of the Southwest. Be part of a community dedicated to personal growth, learning, and cultural understanding. Investigate the impact of climate change on the Southwest and explore the issues surrounding environmental and social justice. Explore the “big W” Wilderness of deserts and mountains, frontcountry campgrounds, out of the way towns, and everything in between.
You will emerge from this semester having completed a personal project rooted in the Southwest in a discipline of your interest. Your research will be enriched through connections with Indigenous elders and local experts and supported with resources like a 500 acre Basecamp and a series of collections, tools, and books. Although your project will be up to you, everyone will engage in conversations about the impact of climate change and what it means to have an environmental ethic. As a group, you’ll experience the personal challenges that come with living in a small, intentional, outdoor community. Additionally, you will develop your technical skills including increasing your comfort with extended wilderness travel, risk management thinking, and group leadership in the outdoors. Breathtaking Southwest vistas provide an incredible setting to sink into a project and soak up skills and memories.
Staff Training and Certification
Our staff are both exceptional mentors as well as knowledgeable and experienced outdoor educators who come to us from a wide variety of backgrounds. While they may come to us from a variety of locations, all of our staff are knowledgeable about the Southwest and have experience leading groups in this area specifically. At least one staff person per program will have a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Certification, which is an 80 hour medical training and all staff are trained in Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and CPR at a minimum. Every staff person participates in a field-based training at the start of their employment and has been subjected to a background check. The staff facilitating mountain biking and rock climbing have certifications in those disciplines as well as extensive personal experience. Additionally, instructors understand that our programs put the student experience at the forefront. They are dedicated to building strong connections with each student and invested in delivering an unforgettable educational experience.