15 Days. Unlimited Adventure.

Grades 7-8 (ages 13-14) | June 22 – July 6 | 15 days | 24 Service Hours | $2650*

*includes all mountain biking equipment

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 15 days, Deer Hill style, along with the rare opportunity to contribute to a project that is important to the traditional Navajo way of life.

* Spot coyotes and bighorn sheep on the steep canyon wall from your inflatable kayak.
* Build an arbor or traditional ‘loafing shed’ for the sheep and goats of elderly Navajo ranchers.
* Shred the world-famous singletrack of Southwest Colorado on a mountain bike.

Inflatable kayak expedition on the Dolores River

Begin your adventure floating down the Dolores River, one of the West’s finest river trips, offering more miles of unbroken wilderness scenery than almost any other river in the U.S. Swim in the mellow flat water, laugh through the rapids, and build awesome campsites on sandy beaches. Explore the dwelling places of the Ancestral Puebloans, and find ancient petroglyphs etched in the cliffs. Learn to maneuver your ducky safely through the rapids with the help of your expert Deer Hill guides.

Cross-cultural service with the Navajo in Arizona

When you’ve had your fill of good times on the river, 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.

Mountain biking camp in Southwest Colorado

Ever cruised through an aspen grove on your bike at 10,000 feet? The next phase of your expedition takes you to the swooping singletrack of Southwest Colorado. Learn to handle your high-end mountain bike skillfully both uphill and downhill on a choice of trails ranging from mellow to gnarly! Enjoy cooking high-altitude pizza, with a stunning mountain view.

Rock Climbing near Durango, Colorado

There’s still time for one more activity. Complete your expedition with a day of rock climbing on an outcrop above the bustling and picturesque town of Durango. 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. Finally it’s back to Basecamp for a culminating sweat lodge experience and a barbeque banquet.

“The most meaningful experience to me would be every day of the trip! It seemed that every day brought a new experience and a new meaning. I loved all of it. Getting to know a new culture that I was not aware of was amazing. The native dance is something I will never forget.” Veronica, Napa, CA

“Deer Hill is an awesome place, from the new friends I made to the expedition activities. It was a blast and the highlight of my summer!” Dylan, Chagrin Falls, OH

“I loved helping out Earl and Sadie, working on the fence and painting the porch of one of the local elders. After leaving their place, I felt like I really had something to be proud about.” Caelan, Denver, CO