The NEXT Expedition

Focus Group: 8th Grade individuals heading into 9th grade; Coed.

Program Mission: Provide participants with a larger set of tools and greater confidence for successful integration into high school.

Program Topics and Themes: Leadership traits, group and expedition dynamics, adventure, problem solving, fun, goal setting, alcohol education, hazing, assessing personal limits, backcountry skills, nutrition, learning when to step up and when to step back, first aid skills, sitting on top (literally), experiencing true wilderness

Program Location: OWA Base Camp facility and the Lost Creek Wilderness in Colorado.

Program Dates: June 19- 27, 2010; 9 days (Saturday arrival through Sunday departure).

Program Overview: Undoubtedly, the transition from middle school to high school is challenging for the majority of young people. Social, emotional, mental and physical changes constantly ebb and flow throughout this transition period creating a confusing array of challenges and opportunities that are best confronted with some degree of recognition of what is going on, a willingness and ability to communicate with peers and parents, the establishment of a positive support group or groups and the personal confidence to take charge of personal decisions and actions.
The NEXT Expedition brings together a small unique group of individuals with varying interests and backgrounds and creates a model unified team working together in a backcountry mountain expedition setting to better understand how positive groups function and to develop personal group and leadership skills.
After arrival at the OWA Base Camp facility in Colorado the group spends two days at the facility developing basic skills and preparing for their backcountry expedition. From the facility they head out into the surrounding Tarryall Mountains and Lost Creek Wilderness for a 6 day/5 night self-led backpacking expedition. ALP guides follow closely, facilitating events as needed and assisting the group through the process of becoming a closely knit team.
“NEXT” is more than a simple backpacking trip. There are specific ambitious physical goals such as particular peaks to climb and locations to discover. All day to day expedition components including route finding, meal preparation, logistics and group dynamics are handled by the team itself. Team members are confronted with a multitude of daily decisions-- each of which lead to real consequences. They’ll experience both failure and success as they learn what it takes to move things forward in a positive direction.
ALP guides stay in the background for much of the daily decision making and logistics, only intervening in the case of safety concerns or as teaching opportunities arise. Guides do provide daily instruction in a variety of outdoor skills and activities including route finding/navigation, natural and local history, mountaineering skills, fishing and environmental awareness. And finally, guides facilitate regular group discussions to keep things moving forward and to help team members relate expedition experiences to real world situations.
The NEXT Expedition confronts serious topics in a tough environment with challenging goals, but is designed to be overwhelmingly fun and takes place in truly spectacular mountain backcountry. Team members will learn significant outdoor skills, discover the full range of what leadership is and will gain confidence in their personal traits and abilities. Finally, each person will develop a better sense of what “team” is all about and will likely find themselves immersed into a new group of friends to confide in as they move on to their next adventure.
ALP Leaders: The NEXT Expedition is offered by Team ALP working in conjunction with Outpost Wilderness Adventure. A minimum of two ALP Guides will serve as program leaders/facilitators. ALP guides for 2010 include David Appleton (Team ALP Founder and Director Emeritus of Outpost Wilderness Adventure).

Application:The NEXT Expedition is offered to boys and girls entering the 9th grade. Due to the nature of the program, team members must be in reasonable physical condition—normal, healthy individuals. Participants must demonstrate a sincere desire to participate in the program. The NEXT Expedition is designed to work with mainstream kids currently functioning well at home and in their community. A letter of recommendation from a teacher, coach or other adult with specific knowledge of the applicant is required for acceptance into the program. No previous outdoor or adventure experience is required. Team size for 2010 is limited to 8.

Cost/Tuition: The NEXT Expedition fee is $995 which includes all meals, lodging, activities and group equipment after arrival at the OWA Base Camp. Group gear includes backpacks, tents, and cooking gear. Transportation to and from the Denver Airport is provided by OWA for $50 each way.

Equipment List: ALP does try to limit the amount of gear each participant must supply. Besides normal shorts/t-shirts each person will need raingear, warm/lightweight sleeping bag/pad (available for rental), long underwear, fleece jacket/pants or the equivalent, warm gloves, simple lightweight trail running shoes or boots, and water bottles.


Itinerary:
Saturday- Arrival at OWA Base Camp (or at the Denver International Airport- transportation to Base Camp provided by OWA); move into yurts; hike and group initiatives; supper; goal setting campfire.

Sunday- Breakfast; group organization models; backcountry protocols; route finding; lunch; gear organization and packing; bouldering/spotting; supper; first aid skills; campfire

Monday- Friday- On the trail exploring the Tarryall Mountains/Lost Creek Wilderness; team members stay in small tents with 2 or 3/tent and prepare their own meals in cooking groups of about 4. Travel will be both on and off trail through a variety of terrain including dense forest, rocky slopes and alpine summits up to 12,500’. The route will ultimately be a loop departing from and returning to the OWA Base Camp.

Saturday- Break camp early and return to Base Camp early afternoon; clean-up and organize gear; relax; supper; final campfire to process the entire expedition/program.

Sunday- AM departure from Base Camp or airport.