Transform Your Leadership and Teaching Skills in One of America’s Most Iconic Wilderness Areas

Looking to turn your passion for the outdoors into something bigger? Spend 31 days in the rugged Wind River Range building the skills and experience to pursue a career in outdoor education.

You’ll spend the first 20 days backpacking and mountaineering in the Winds, learning what it takes to travel safely in high-alpine environments. Groups will practice rope-team travel across glaciers, self-arrest techniques, and technical movement on steep slopes. Depending on conditions and group readiness, you might summit Gannett Peak—Wyoming’s tallest mountain at 13,809 feet. This challenging route is more technical than the Grand Teton and demands strong decision-making and trust in your team—skills you’ll practice throughout the course.

Photo credit: Jack Stevens

The last 10 days shift to rock climbing at a frontcountry crag. You’ll learn belaying, anchor building, gear placement, and how to manage a climbing site with novices who’ve never touched rock before.

Photo credit: Will Harrison

What sets this course apart: you’ll also teach. Each student presents their own class, practices facilitating group discussions, and learns what it takes to manage a group when you’re miles from anywhere.

This course is built for people considering careers in outdoor education or guiding. You’ll leave with a Leave No Trace Level 2 Instructor certification and the teaching skills to lead trips, not just participate in them.