The field staff to student ratio of 1:4 provides the opportunity to develop a fun and positive environment. Skills are taught that help enhance the uniqueness of each expedition. In this rewarding environment, mentorships and friendships are formed that change lives for a lifetime.

You don't need previous experience, and you can rent all the equipment you need from our outfitting store. As long as you are physically fit and eager to be part of a dynamic group, you'll have the adventure of a lifetime.

Travel into the Wild
The canyons, rivers, and mountains of the American Southwest, and the beaches and rainforests of Costa Rica are some of the most dramatic landscapes on Earth. We invite you to explore redrock canyons, hike along the Continental Divide, paddle on a river in a rainforest, and sleep under the stars. Share the joys of living in the natural world as an integral member of a group facing challenges together.

Interact with Native Cultures

Central to almost all of Deer Hill's programs is interaction with a native culture, be it the Navajo or Hopi people in Arizona, the Zuni in New Mexico, or the Tico people in rural villages of Costa Rica.

You and your Deer Hill leaders stay with native host families, working on service projects that support their traditional way of life. Helping with community projects leaves long-lasting impressions on you and the families with whom you work.

Conservation Service
Some Deer Hill programs aid the U.S. Forest Service in the conservation of wilderness lands. During these service projects, you may maintain a footbridge or improve trails vital to backcountry access. You work alongside Forest Service rangers and other volunteers to protect and preserve these pristine lands.

"Find Yourself in the Middle of Nowhere"

In the course of several weeks, separated from modern conveniences, hectic metropolitan lives and busy school agendas, something begins to happen. Living in the wilderness with a small group of new friends, you communicate and share with each other on a new and deeper level. Backcountry travel presents real challenges, which you meet as a group. Lasting bonds of friendship are forged.

Living and working with people of native cultures, you become immersed in another way of life. As you lend a hand, your he art opens. These experiences deepen your connection with yourself and the broader community in which we all live.

What you get out of an expedition depends upon what you bring to it, but almost every Deer Hill p art icipant has more than an unforgettable summer adventure - they have transforming experiences that shape and guide their entire lives.