DownWest Semesters
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: Jul 3, 2021
- Next Available Departure? Jul, 2021
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Mission Statement:
DownWest Semesters inspires and educates the next generation of leaders by offering thoughtful adventures rooted in the stories, histories, mountains, rivers and deserts of the West, including adventures in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Alaska.
- Level of Independence/Supervision (mouse-over for definition):
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Attachments
Program Locations
Typical Itinerary
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | |
|
W e e k 1 |
Arrive at the start of your gap program, meet your instructors and fellow group members. | Orientation, including lessons on backpacking and bike touring skills. Topics may include, but are not limited to, responsible backcountry travel, risk management, kitchen and stove use, water purification, setting up a tent and packing a pack/bike. | Orientation and backpacking and bike touring lessons continue. Get out on a day hike or practice ride! | Orientation and prep day. Your group begins to come together as you pack and prepare for your first backcountry or bike touring section. | Hit the trail or the road! We'll typically start with shorter mileage days to ease into carrying a full pack or riding a fully-loaded bike. | Backcountry and bike touring sections continue. Lessons build on and reinforce skills learned during the orientation days. | Backcountry and bike touring. Days begin to get a little longer as your group gains strength, and confidence! In addition to skills lessons, you'll continue readings and discussions focused on getting to know the area. |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | |
|
W e e k 2 |
Hike and bike! Discussions may cover topics like public land use, from a local expert who hikes in for the afternoon. | Stay-put day! A chance to tune up your bikes as needed and to go on a day hike, exploring alpine lakes or canyons | Hike and bike! You will have the chance to be a "leader of the day" with a group member. As the trip progresses, you'll build on constructive feedback to grow as a leader. | Hike and bike! Continue to gain confidence traveling by bike or foot, to grow as a leader and to learn about issues pertinent to Colorado, Arizona, Utah and its people. | Backpacking sections are typically 8 to 10 days in length. This could be your final full day on the trail before moving on to the next section of your trip! | Finish backpacking section one and return to the front country to catch a shower, call home and prepare for the next part of your gap program, which could include rafting, rock climbing or a Wilderness First Aid Course. | Travel day! Head from southwestern Colorado to Moab, Utah - for example - to start a four-day rafting trip. Or drive from Tucson up to Tonto National Forest outside Tucson. The exact itinerary depends on your program! |
DownWest offers 14, 22 and 34-day courses, so this itinerary is an example of what some of your days on these programs may look like. Itineraries are subject to change. All programs include readings and discussions on the history and people of the course area and issues pertinent to the area, like public lands management and water conservation. Each student also receives one-on-one mentoring and constructive feedback from an advisor (one of the instructors) focusing on personal and leadership growth.
Peer Reviews
Program Details
- Program Starts: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
- Program Duration: Less than 2 months, Semester, Yearlong
- Program Cost: $8395, $5975, $3650
- Program Financial Aid: Yes
- Other Financial Aid Details:
We recognize that everyone deserves the opportunity to explore new locations, be inspired by landscapes and grow with group mates. If financial constraints would prohibit you from participating on a DownWest gap semester, please reach out to us.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Leadership Growth
- Personal Growth
- In-depth knowledge about issues pertinent to the West, such as wilderness ethics and western watersheds
- In-depth knowledge about the histories and people of the American West
- Responsible travel in the backcountry
- Learn how to comfortably navigate and travel in mountains & canyons
- Leave No Trace (LNT) Certification
- Wilderness First Aid (WFA) Certification
- Bike touring & bike-packing skills (on biking programs)
- Backpacking skills
Receive individual mentoring from an advisor (one of your instructors) to focus on your goals for the program and to guide and coach you toward personal and leadership growth.
Staff Training and Certification
Field instructors have Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certifications as well as experience guiding students in outdoor settings. Background checks and sexual offender checks are completed.
DownWest staff are active members of the Gap Year Association and have presented, as well as regularly attended, industry events such as the Wilderness Risk Management Conference (WRMC).