This expedition includes:
- Mountain backpacking
- Peak ascents
- Native American Service Learning
Spend 5 days backpacking through the aspen and spruce forests to the alpine tundra of the San Juan National Forest. You’ll learn to navigate some of the most coveted mountain terrain in Colorado while making new friends and connecting with the land. Afterwards, head to the Navajo Nation for an enriching service and cultural learning experience with one of our host families.
“My experiences at Deer Hill were life changing because I found myself in the middle of nowhere, but that middle of nowhere was beautiful, stress-free and real.” – Jocelyne, participant
Arrive at Basecamp
Days 1-2
Participants arrive at Basecamp throughout the first afternoon. Their expedition leaders help them become acquainted with Deer Hill, as participants meet each other and the group begins to form. In addition to playing games, and eating home-cooked meals, the group will pack group and personal gear for their trip.
Backpacking in the San Juan Mountains
Days 3-7
Participants will enter the beautiful San Juan Mountains carrying their homes on their backs, sleeping under tarps, cooking on backpacking stoves, and getting to know some of the most pristine backcountry wilderness in the lower 48 states. The group will form close bonds while they hike, camp, and enjoy the trail together.
Service on the Navajo Nation
Days 8-12
Participants live and work with their Navajo hosts on a beautiful property on the Navajo Nation. They will work on projects such as mending the fences around ancestral farmlands, tending to livestock, or rebuilding a shade arbor. The group will learn about Navajo traditions and lifestyles, and what an ancient culture can look like in a modern world.
Return to Basecamp
Days 13-14
Participants return to Basecamp for program closure. The group cleans equipment, returns it to its storage locations at Basecamp, and returns any rental items to the Deer Hill Store. The group holds a closing ceremony to conclude their experience and enjoys a cookout and slideshow on the final evening. On the last day of the program, expedition leaders drive participants to the Durango airport to return home.
Ages 15-17*
July 19 – August 1, 2025
14 Days
24 Service Hours
$4,500
*For questions about age or grade level, call us at 970.533.7492.
Start and End at Basecamp
The expedition is bookended with time at Deer Hill’s Basecamp in Mancos, CO. From Days 1 to 3, participants get to know each other as they pack group and personal gear for their time in the mountains. At the end of their expedition, the group returns to Basecamp for hot showers and home-cooked meals. The final full day will include a closing ceremony and celebration with a cookout and slideshow.
Arrival and Departure:
Durango Airport (DRO) or
Deer Hill Basecamp, Mancos, Colorado.
Arrive July 19, 11-3 pm; Depart August 1, 8:30am-2pm
.