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Middle School
Colorado Rockies – Girls – Alpine Backpack
Alongside fellow brave and adventurous girls, you’ll hike among alpine lakes and fields of wildflowers. At every step of the way, you’ll build your confidence and learn to love exploring in the mountains.
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Colorado Rockies
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About This Course
Activity
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Backpacking -
Ropes Course
Setting & Location
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Forest -
Mountains -
Course Start Location: Denver -
Course End Location: Denver
Session Details
1 session are available for this course
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What You'll Learn
On Outward Bound courses designed for middle schoolers, you’ll do exciting things with new friends, build confidence, and discover you’re capable of more than you know! You’ll have fun, work on your willpower and crush right-sized challenges – together.
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What You'll Do
Each day, wake up to the sunrise, pack your bags and hike through stunning mountain forests. You’ll take breaks along the way for snacks, learning moments, and enjoying the views. Each night you’ll grow closer with your crew as you cook meals, laugh, and spot shooting stars together.
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Where You'll Be
Fields of wildflowers, alpine lakes, endless mountain views, and mountain goats. The Colorado Rockies are known as some of the most awe-inspiring mountains in the United States. You have to see it to believe it!
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Why It Matters
You belong here! Outward Bound is a unique place to try new things, make friends, and discover your strengths. Building community – and new skills – through adventure is what we’re all about. Find your crew here!
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Confidence Starts Here
What if you learned how to face obstacles head-on while feeling brave, included, and proud of who you are?
One Week Courses for Middle School
Try exciting things and practice new ways of connecting with your group. You’ll take on challenges, weigh healthy risks and work together with your crew to find success! Are you ready for adventure? Let’s go!
Bravery Meets Belonging
Uncover your own bravery with support from your crew. Meet challenges designed to activate your strengths, develop persistence, and show you what you’re made of—even when things get tough
Skills for Life
You’ll practice key skills like communication, taking initiative, and problem-solving with purpose. You’ll be given space to make choices – and take responsibility for them. Through trial and error, learn how to face obstacles head-on—growing more capable with every step.
Stronger Together
You won’t go it alone—crew is everything. You’ll explore common ground with your crew while also learning how to acknowledge each other’s uniqueness in a group where every voice matters. You will learn how to face challenges as a supportive team, forging strong friendships.
Life on Course
Each day will be a chance to have fun and build confidence in the outdoors. You’ll learn to pack a backpack, hike on high mountain trails, and cook and camp as a crew. As you grow your new skills, you’ll take on more leadership to chart your daily path. Near the end of your expedition, you’ll get to take on a big challenge – like attempting to summit a mountain peak. Among adventure-filled days will be time for slowing down to connect with nature and your crewmates.
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Sample Itinerary
Hike mountains, laugh often, sleep under stars, repeat!
Here’s an example of what your course itinerary might look like. The actual plan will depend on permits, weather, group skills, and instructor evaluation.
Swipe on table below to view more.
Let's Go
| Course Start | Start your journey by meeting your crew, repacking your gear, and getting familiar with the course area. Instructors will guide you through what to expect, what you will learn, and introduce skills to keep you comfortable in the backcountry. |
| Ropes Course & Team Building | Start building trust and connection with your new crew through challenges on our high and low ropes courses. These activities help break the ice, strengthen communication, and lay the foundation for working together in the backcountry. |
| Backpacking | Learn the essentials of backcountry travel as you navigate through beautiful mountain landscapes and set up camp in new locations each night; learning essential skills in camp craft, navigation, and hiking as a group. You’ll take on "Leader of the Day" roles, helping guide your crew through each day’s goals. |
| Solo & Final Challenge | Embark on a personalized final group challenge designed to test the skills you’ve learned in teamwork, leadership and outdoor adventure. You also might have the chance for a Solo experience, quiet time spent relaxing on your own, with Instructors nearby for support. |
| Course End | Celebrate your accomplishments during a final pin ceremony. Share what you’ve learned and experienced before heading home with new skills, friendships, and memories. |
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FAQs
Will I have my phone on course?
This course is a totally phone-free adventure! Although some students are hesitant about this at first, many reflect on their experience as a well-needed break from screens and social media. No phones means more time to be present with nature and your crewmates too.
What kind of food will I eat?
Every day you’ll be eating something different and meals will always be full of the carbs and nutrients needed to fuel long days of adventuring. Think oatmeal with dried fruit for breakfast, salami and hummus tortillas for lunch, chili for dinner, and lots of snacks along the way! If you have questions about dietary accommodations, reach out to our customer success team.
Do I need to have experience camping or backpacking?
Nope! We’ll teach you everything you need to know, from packing to cooking and setting up your sleep shelter. You don’t need to be an all-star athlete to thrive on this course either. Having enthusiasm for trying new things and stepping outside your comfort zone are the most important things you can bring to course.
