Ambassadors for Wilderness

A hiker at rest takes in the view down the glacially-carved Sand Creek basin.

NPS Photo

 

Go wild this summer at the Great Sand Dunes! Learn skills, develop leadership, have a blast, and be a part of the Great Sand Dunes family for life.

 

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  Ambassadors for Wilderness - What It's All About

  See for yourself what our summer trips offer -- exploration, skills, leadership, fun, and friends!

  Credit / Author:

  NPS

  Date created:

  2011-09-01

  Download Original File:

  grsa-AFW-Summer-2011.mov
  288360 KB

 

2013 Ambassadors For Wilderness Applications - deadline extended to May 1st!

• Participant Application 2013 (.pdf, 112K)
• Participant Application 2013 Online (secure form administered by Google, no registration required)
• Advanced Session 2013 - for returnees only (.pdf, 120K)
• Student Instructor Application 2013 due March 15th (.pdf, 153K)
• Youth Outdoor Education Internship Application 2013 Adams State College students only, due February 15th (.pdf, 412K)
  

New in 2013! Community Wilderness Education session for adults

Great Sand Dunes now offers its award-winning Ambassadors for Wilderness program to adults. Join the instructor team for a 3-day overnight session in the park's wilderness to learn about:

• Outdoor skills
• Risk management
• Logistics and planning
• Group dynamics
• Fostering stewardship of outdoor spaces

Arrive 12pm on May 31st, depart 5pm on June 2nd. All activities will take place in the campground and the wilderness areas of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Come prepared for weather! The Gear List can be found below.

Apply Online (secure form administered by Google, no registration required)

 

Summer 2013 Trip Dates

• Junior High School Session A: June 16-20
• Junior High School Session B: June 23-27
• High School Session A: July 7-13
• High School Session B: July 17-23
• Advanced Session (returnees only): August 6-10th

Eligibility

• Junior High School Sessions: Must have completed 7 or 8th grade.
• High School Sessions: Must have completed 9th, 10th, or 11th grade. Sorry, no seniors!
• Advanced Session: Must have previously participated in an AFW session (JH or HS). No upper age limit.

 

Look for these brochures in your counselor's office or community center.

Helpful Documents

• Ambassadors for Wilderness brochure 2013 (.pdf, 465K)
• FAQs (.pdf, 87k)
• Gear List (.pdf, 98k)

Email or phone the Education Specialist at 719-378-6344 for more information.

 

In addition to traditional map and compass skills, participants are exposed to modern navigational technologies.

NPS Photo

National Park Service rangers will lead participants in activities surrounding the themes of outdoor skills, Leave No Trace, leadership, field science, and park management. The majority of session time will take place in remote areas of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, including high alpine zones, forests, and remote stretches of the dunefield. When students return back to school, they will complete a project of their own design to educate others about their wilderness experience and about the resources of the Great Sand Dunes.

 

"...an unconfined and primitive type of recreation..." - Wilderness Act 1964

NPS Photo

The Ambassadors for Wilderness program charges no fees. Food, gear, and entrance fees are paid for by the program. The participant is responsible only for his or her own personal clothing and transportation to the park. Students going into grades 8 or 9 are eligible for the junior high school sessions, while students going into grades 10-12 may apply for high school sessions. Students who complete their summer session and the Ambassador project will receive take-home camping swag and volunteer service hours.