Colorado Plateau Challenge

17 Days. Unlimited Adventure.

Grades 7-8 (ages 13-14) | June 28 – July 14 | 17 days | 24 Service Hours | $3150*

If there’s one thing we’ve learned from 7th and 8th graders, it’s that life is best lived at full speed. This program packs plenty of action into 17 days, Deer Hill style – which means you spend very little time in the van, and a lot of time having adventures. You will also spend a few days contributing to a project that is connected to the traditional Navajo way of life.

Spot coyotes and bighorn sheep on the steep canyon wall from your raft.

Build an arbor or traditional ‘loafing shed’ for the sheep and goats of elderly Navajo ranchers.

Climb the sandstone cliffs and shred the world-famous singletrack of Moab on a mountain bike.

Hike Arches National Park!

Raft the Colorado River

Journey with us deep into the canyon of the legendary Colorado River, as it carves through the geological marvel of the Colorado Plateau. Paddle your raft or inflatable kayak in perfect unison through its spectacular folds and faults. Steer through a class II rapid. Camp on a sandy beach with a dramatic view, spotting kingfishers, coyotes, even bald eagles. Cook up a dutch oven feast for dinner: lasagna and chocolate brownies! See the places where frontier dreams flourished and foundered.

Mountain biking and rock-climbing camp in Moab, Utah

Ever ride world-famous slickrock on a cliff high above the Colorado River? The next phase of your expedition takes you to the rocky trails of Moab, Utah, one of the premier destinations for mountain biking in the world. Learn to handle your high-end mountain bike skillfully both uphill and downhill on a choice of trails ranging from mellow to gnarly! Camping alongside the river, refuel with tasty meals like backcountry pizza, then sleep under the stars.

Continue your expedition with a day of rock climbing at the famous Ice Cream Parlor Wall. With careful supervision, you can belay your buddies, and try your hand on a variety of routes. Hand jams, cruxes, smearing, laybacks – learn the language and skills of the rock face. Reaching the top of a challenging climb is a feeling you will remember for a long time.

Visit Arches National Park

Our final day in the Moab area will be spent exploring the rugged terrain of Arches National Park, learning about the geology of the area, and viewing the spectacular rock formations, like Delicate Arch, that make this one of the most unique landscapes in the world.

Cross-cultural service with the Navajo in Arizona

When you’ve had your fill of good times in the desert, it’s time to head south to our camp on a Navajo homestead among the ponderosa pines of Arizona’s Chuska Mountains. The family welcomes you onto their land, sharing their traditional skills, food and stories with you. In return you help them with your labor. Imagine your friends’ faces if you told them you had helped herd or even shear sheep up on a mesa, built an arbor or ‘shade house’ for the animals, or listened to Navajo lore around a campfire. Enjoy a fascinating sand painting workshop, and create your own work of art to take home with you. Finally it’s back to Basecamp for a culminating sweat lodge experience and a barbeque banquet.