Safety Not Outsourced
Unique to Deer Hill, our staff are both the leaders and the guides. At Deer Hill, you will not be shuffled from one outfitter to another for each activity. We do not rely on another company's notion of safety and staff expertise. At Deer Hill, you will be guided only by your Deer Hill leaders, from start to finish. They are the river guides, the mountaineering leaders, and the rock climbing instructors. They have the skills and take the time to teach you how to become competent in each Deer Hill activity.


Leaders Trained in Safety
All of our leaders have at least CPR and Wilderness First Responder training (requiring a minimum of 80 hours of training and bi-annual recertification). Additionally, many of our leaders are EMT certified. Each year we review and reinforce their relevant outdoor and interpersonal skills with 10 days of in-the-field training. While in the backcountry, each Deer Hill group also carries a powerful satellite phone to initiate emergency procedures if needed.


Risks and Personal Responsibility
Participants and their parents should understand that Deer Hill Expeditions, like all other outdoor recreation programs, involve an active, outdoor experience, and with that comes inherent risks. Inherent risks cannot necessarily be predicted or controlled. Moreover, removal of these risks would change the very nature and beneficial aspects of the Deer Hill program. Despite our organization's and staff's attention to minimizing risks, we cannot guarantee total safety. On each Deer Hill expedition, however, we discuss how participants can make intelligent decisions and look out for their own safety, as well as the safety of others.


Accreditation
Deer Hill is one of a very select group of expedition programs accredited by the Association for Experiential Education (AEE). AEE is the same organization that accredits Outward Bound, the National Outdoor Leadership School, and other leaders in the industry of outdoor education.