Reflections from the American Alpine Institute on the Joys of Working with Young People

The American Alpine Institute shares their thoughts and experiences on the importance and rewards of working with Wilderness Ventures students on the slopes of Mount Baker in northwestern Washington.  Every summer, Wilderness Ventures students experience rock climbing for the first time in a fun, safe, constructive and meaningful environment with the world’s most renowned guides on some of the most exciting and beautiful summits imaginable. Here are the reflections of one American Alpine Institute Guide. You can find the original text here.

This past July I had the chance to work with these budding young climbers. The trip was fantastic. The Baker portion of the Wilderness Ventures program is a way to offer the students a mountaineering crescendo to a month long North West backpacking trip. The students come into our program primed from a few weeks of backpacking in the Paseytan wilderness. By the time they reach AAI, the students are well versed with living from their backpacks. They are happy, fit and working together as a cohesive team. All of these qualities make for the most ideal group of mountaineers that a guide could ask for. The three trips that I have done with the wilderness ventures organization have been fun and very memorable.

On this particular trip the students were very eager about the adventures that wait ahead. Most had little to no experience with mountaineering, but that did not stop the excitement that was oozing out of them. With simple blind faith, they could not wait to plunge into our mountain adventure. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and I too felt a new spark of energy about a mountain that I have climbed too many times to keep track of.

A few days were spent on instruction near the edge of the glacier to get the students prepared to climb. We reviewed the climbing gear and basic skills needed to climb the mountain. The students learned to walk in the snow, use a mountain axe, self-arrest, glissade, and even ice climb. The day before summit day, we moved camp to about 8,ooo feet to sleep on the glacier. That night we practiced crevasse rescue and each student had a chance to jump into a giant gaping hole. We were now totally prepared for the summit, which we planned to go for the following morning.

Summit day was a beautiful day. We awoke well before the sun. The weather was better than we could of asked for. The climb went smoothly. The route was in perfect conditions and the students were bursting with elation. At the summit, one student known as Chuckles said, ” this is my first mountain, and it will not be my last.” It was this attitude and appreciation for the day that inspired me as well.

We descended back to high camp. The descent down the head wall went smoothly, even though the student’s anxiety about the degree of steepness was evident. Once back at camp we took a short break. Joy was in the air as everyone looked back toward the route. The conversation kept turning back to, “I can’t believe we were up there.”

This trip was a great adventure. The summit of Mount Baker on a bluebird summer day was the perfect way for the students to complete a month in the Cascades. The excitement that the students had for this trip was awesome. Their gratitude was overwhelming. It was the overall attitude of elation and accomplishment that I found so contagious. I too found myself inspired. I hope too have passed the climbing spark and the love of the mountains onto at least one student. I look forward to seeing each of these young mountaineers out in the field again someday.

Wilderness Ventures is the oldest and most experienced outdoor adventure travel program for teenagers. To learn more about the Washington Mountaineering Expedition and all of our opportunities to learn rock climbing skills in world-class environments, click here.

Welcome To The New WildernessVentures.com

The most experienced student outdoor adventure program launches a dynamic new website.

We’ve just launched a new website that expands on the resources and information in our 2010 summer catalog. With features like interactive maps and enhanced trip search functions, the new WildernessVentures.com helps users browse and explore our many Leadership and Service Adventures, some of which still have select availability for the upcoming summer season.

“With so many distractions competing for the teenage attention span, we wanted the new site to convey both the fun and the substance of our programs,” says Wilderness Ventures Founder and Program Director Mike Cottingham, “The new site enables parents and perspective students to better learn about the best adventure travel opportunities available to today’s young men and women.”

About Wilderness Ventures:

In 1973, decades before the internet became the staple of communication that it is today, we began providing fun, leadership- and service-oriented adventure opportunities for young people. Since then, for the past 37 years, we’ve grown, mostly through word of mouth referrals, to offer active outdoor adventures in 12 states, 15 countries and 65 of the best and most beautifully preserved outdoor environments on the globe. We attract fantastic students (age 12 - 20, grouped according to age) who are excited about experiencing new environments and activities with great groups of young people in the most fun and immersive ways possible.

To learn more about our exciting teen adventure programs (and potential availability for the 2010 summer season), call 800-533-2281 or visit the new WildernessVentures.com.

This summer, take an unbelievable opportunity to explore the sights and locations of the 2010 Olympic Games.

With the Winter Olympics recently completed, this summer is your best, once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit and experience beautiful British Columbia. Nestled between glaciated mountains and lush forests, this is the perfect location to enjoy rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, mountain biking and fantastic summer skiing.

Our British Columbia Adventure offers summer skiing and snowboarding opportunities on Blackcomb glacier, coastal rock climbing of the second largest granite monolith in the world, mountain biking on the famous trails of Whistler Resort and a whitewater kayaking school on the exciting Cheakamus River. To see photos of this past summer’s British Columbia Adventure, visit facebook.com/wildernessventures.

About Wilderness Ventures:
We are the oldest and most experienced outdoor adventure program for teenagers. We have provided fantastic adventures in the upper Pacific Northwest since 1973; as a result we know all of the best and most beautiful places to visit and explore. After 37 years leading the highest quality experiences for young people, we remain a small, family owned and operated program with the highest level of individual attention to each student and family. Visit WildernessVentures.com to learn about the British Columbia Adventure or any of these other fantastic opportunities in the Pacific Northwest.

To learn more about our summer adventure opportunities for young people, please visit WildernessVentures.com or call 800-533-2281

Visit Vancouver, Whistler and the Site of the 2010 Olympics

The Winter Olympics are well underway and this summer, you can take a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to visit the location of the 2010 winter games. While it may be the central source for action during the 2010 Winter Olympics, Whistler also offers unparalleled adventure opportunities for the summer explorer. Nestled between glaciated mountains and lush forests, this is the perfect location to base our multi-sport adventure.

Aside from being a premiere winter destination, Whistler is known for summer skiing camps and mountain biking camps. And the sea-to-sky corridor between Vancouver and Whistler offers unprecedented whitewater kayaking and teen rock climbing opportunities, all of which we’ll take advantage of during our 16-day British Columbia Adventure.

Taking advantage of the grounds of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler, we’ll mountain bike these magnificent slopes. Famous worldwide for its “North Shore” style riding opportunities, Whistler has become the most coveted downhill mountain biking destination in the world. The riding opportunities on our adventure are sure to delight and challenge both beginning and experienced cyclists. We’ll spend a day learning basic bike handling skills from local instructors and then take to the summer trails, enjoying the freedom of rolling down these exciting paths, specially built for maximum mountain biking enjoyment.

Rising to the top of  the lift-accessible Blackcomb and Spearhead glaciers, we’ll take to these sunny summer slopes on the bust Whistler summer ski camp in British Columbia. Providing year-round skiing and snowboarding opportunities for our adventure, the summits of both glaciers are accessible via the lifts of Whistler Blackcomb ski resort — an excellent location for us to learn, practice and enjoy summer skiing and snowboarding in Whistler.

You can learn about our Whistler summer skiing camp and Whistler mountain bike camps by checking out our British Columbia Adventure on the internet, or by calling 800-533-2281.

America’s Cup Sets Sail — and so can you.

Starting Monday, the world’s most prominent sailing race departs from the Spanish coast. With electronic controls and rigid vertical airfoils (replacing cloth sails) that exceed the wingspan of a 747 giving the competing craft unprecedented mechanical advantages, this year’s race has been criticized for replacing seamanship and athleticism with technology.

This summer, you can learn authentic sailing skills in one of our live-and-learn-aboard boats off the coasts of Hawaii, Belize, Australia, Fiji or New Zealand. There’s no experience like learning to sail your own tall ship. Here are four summer adventure opportunities that put you on the water and in control of your own vessel.

Hawaii Kauai: While learning to sail off the Kona Coast, we’ll have opportunities to see amazing, shallow-water coral reefs, a myriad of colorful tropical fish, and giant sea turtles.

Hawaii Service: Sailing aboard a two-hulled catamaran we’ll travel to unique snorkeling sites where we’ll have opportunities to see amazing coral reefs, tropical fish and giant sea turtles. Our evenings will be spent witnessing spectacular sunsets during dinner, and then sleeping on white sand beaches.

Costa Rica Belize: Aboard our private chartered sailboats, we’ll spend several days sailing and snorkeling amidst hundreds of sandy cays in this quiet paradise of turquoise waters, coconut palms, expansive beaches, and tiny fishing villages. We will anchor each night on deserted islands, feast on a variety of seafood, and explore a marine reserve frequented by manatees, dolphins, and hawksbill turtles.

Fiji Service: we’ll board our live-aboard sailboat for 2 days of exploring the tiny Yasawa and Mamanuca Islands. Along our journey, we’ll learn about Fijian customs, culture, and traditions while acquiring basic sailing skills.

Australia: Our 4-day sail through the sun-drenched archipelago of the Whitsunday Islands aboard our private sailboats is a mariner’s dream. Dozens of coconut palm-laden islands with white sand beaches beckon us to drop anchor for snorkeling each day. We’ll learn sailing skills, marine biology, and maritime history while keeping a lookout for dolphins and humpback whales.

Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand: Aboard 2 private sailboats, we’ll sail the amazing islands of New Zealand, steeped in whaling history and Kiwi lore. We’ll learn how to sail, tie knots, and navigate from our native skipper. We’ll likely see playful dolphins alongside our boat each day, while we gaze at the Southern Cross and a canopy of stars at night. Next we’ll spend 4 days sailing aboard our private sailboat to some of the most remote and beautiful islands to be found anywhere. Snorkeling will be excellent, and we’ll partake in a traditional Fijian meal at a local village, where we’ll be welcomed by Fijian Chiefs and entertained by village dancers.

WV Students Sailing On Our Hawaii Service Adventure

Thoughts from WV Leaders

The Haute Route

Streatching between Chamonix, France and Zermatt, Switzerland, the Haute Raute is one of the world’s premiere treks. Hiking from alpine hut to alpine hut along this famous but remote path, Wilderness Ventures’ groups have the opportunity to experience one of world’s most breathtakingly beautiful environments while sleeping in the traditional high alpine huts operated by the French and Swiss Alpine Clubs. Many people wait their entire lives to have the chance to complete the Haute Route trek, and Wilderness Ventures students are lucky enough to have this amazing opportunity in their teenage years.

Unlike the high alpine environments of North America’s Rocky Mountains, people have been living and working in the highland environments of the Swiss Alps since the origins of European civilization. This human presence brings cultural enrichment to the Haute Route Trek and this European summer camp as a whole. At the same time, this pristine environment offers plenty of unspoiled alpine scenery — craggy spires, ancient glaciers, alpine meadows and breathtaking peaks — to make a scenery lover of each of our students.

Each day, this European summer camp will hike along the ancient high alpine routes, over breathtaking mountain passes and through pastoral fields before resting each night indoors in picturesque Swiss Huts, many perched above tree line with a terrace that overlooks the top of Europe. Each evening, our wilderness adventure students will dine on a hearty Swiss dinner before crawling into bed. Because we sleep indoors and eat breakfast and dinner inside these huts in the company of other travelers, we are able to travel light, covering more ground during each day.

The Haute Route is a 13-day component to our 21-day European Alps International Adventure, one of the many fun and substantive European adventure camps that combine natural exploration with cultural immersion. Aside from completing the Haute Route, Teens on our European Alps international teen adventure camp also climb the famous Breithorn and experience the international splendor of Geneva, the French Commune of Chamonix (bordering both Mont Blanc and Switzerland) and Zermatt, long considered Europe’s foremost ski destination.

For more information on the Haute Route, any of our European summer camps or our teen adventure camps, please contact Wilderness Ventures: 800-533-2281.

The Community Organizer

[Published January, 2010, Mountain Bike Magazine]

By Pete Rognli

Back in the ’90s, Fritzinger was teaching math at Berkeley High when he posted a flyer advertising a cycling club. He had a road-riding group in mind, but he quickly switched to dirt when he realized one fundamental truth: Teenagers love mountain biking. Fritzinger has since grown that club into the NorCal and SoCal MB racing leagues, and launched the NICA this past October.

Is mountain bike racing safe for kids?
Statistically you see more injuries in football than in mountain biking. And there are other sports, like cross-country running, where kids aren’t supervised 100 percent of the time. We have a best-practices manual for coaches, and we’ll soon be implementing a licensing program.

Will a coaching licensor from the NICA help schools with risk management?
Liability is something schools are going to have to grow comfortable with. The real issue we’re talking about is creating a societal shift toward accepting a new sport. Imagine trying to sell football as a brand-new sport: ‘We’re going to dress a bunch of boys in gladiator-like pads and helmets and allow them to wage war on a grassy field. It will be a mono-gender sport, but we’ll let girls in miniskirts jump up and down from the sidelines.’ It would never fly. And I have no issues with football. But I also feel confident and unapologetic about promoting mountain biking to schools and coaches. It’s good for kids. It’s good for schools, for families and—when you think about promoting an activity that can ultimately reduce the carbon footprint of the U.S.—it’s good for society. That should be an easy sell for administrators and parents.

Any aspirations to move into downhill?
Downhill racing is venue dependent. In most communities there isn’t a place where you can set up a legal practice course. We’re enjoying a tremendous amount of success with cross-country. I don’t want to dilute that by adding a sport that isn’t accessible to most schools. At the same time we honor and support kids with downhill ambitions. Same goes for road racing. Many league racers go on to become world-class athletes across the disciplines.

There are currently 40 teams in NorCal and 14 in SoCal. What’s the next step?
We’ve just launched a Colorado league. I estimate having at least 100 riders in Colorado this first season. By 2015, the plan is to have leagues up and running in 10 states, including Washington, Arizona, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Utah.

What’s your office like?
We just moved into a new 2,000-square-foot facility. We’re overworked and understaffed.

So does that mean you’re hiring?
I wouldn’t put that in the magazine.

How can I get involved?
Three ways: Attend one of our conferences in Southern and Northern California, Washington or Colorado on best practices for youth cycling; email matt@nationalmtb.org for dates. Second, you could create a committee to help form teams and a league in your home state; email me for support. Finally, the NICA is a nonprofit and depends on the continued support of passionate cyclists who want their sport to become as accessible as soccer, baseball and football; visit nationalmtb.org for donation information.

What can racing teach about life?
Mountain biking builds a connection between kids, the outdoors and their community. Putting young people in a position of responsibility for their own machine while making them part of a team teaches both self-reliance and teamwork. It teaches kids to think beyond themselves.

Slideshow season is off to a great success. If you haven’t yet attended one of our informative and entertaining summer opportunity slide presentations, we have many events planned throughout the country during the second half of January. Please give us a call for directions, details or to RSVP.

Slideshows Off To A Great Start

One of the greatest parts of our winter months is visiting the thousands of alumni across the country. This week alone, we’re visiting Georgia, Massachusetts, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, New York, North Carolina, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Maine, Michigan and Washington, DC.

Attending one of our brief presentations will allow you to learn why our wilderness adventures have been such a unique and special experience for so many young adults for the past 37 years.

Here are a list of our teen adventure camp slide presentations for this week.

Parents and students are welcome to addend our presentations and learn about our teen summer camps!

Slideshow reservations are appreciated: Please RSVP to our Jackson Hole adventure camp office at (800) 533-2281 or info@wildernessventures.com.

References: Please also call for a detailed listing of wilderness adventures references in your area.

Availability: Most of our teen adventure camps will have availability through the month of January. Some trip dates will fill earlier and others may have selected openings into the spring.

Equipment Rental Packages: Wilderness Ventures offers an equipment rental program for most of our teen adventure camps.

Please call our office for details. Further Questions: (800) 533-2281 & www.wildernessventures.com.