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High School
Joshua Tree Backpack & Rock Climb
Backpack through the rolling expanses of the Mojave Desert, climb the boulders and tangled granite that rise from the earth, and gaze at starry skies above as you build community with your peers.
Scholarships
Savings Plan
Open 
California
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About This Course
Activity
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Backpacking -
Rock Climbing
Setting & Location
- Desert
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Course Start Location: Palm Springs Airport -
Course End Location: Palm Springs Airport
Students Can Earn
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College Credit
Session Details
3 sessions are available for this course
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What You’ll Learn
Forge an epic adventure! On Outward Bound courses for high schoolers, you’ll make new friends and face exciting new challenges together while building communication and leadership skills that help your group soar to new heights!
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What You'll Do
Explore remote desert areas and climb world-famous granite - no experience necessary! Few places match the beauty of desert backpacking, where you'll travel on and off trail, belay, and top rope climb with your crew.
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Where You'll Be
Joshua Tree’s rugged canyons, unique plants, and surreal rock formations create a one-of-a-kind desert landscape. As an International Dark Sky Park, enjoy incredible stargazing while exploring remote backcountry areas rarely visited by others.
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Why It Matters
High school is hard work – take a break and do something memorable! You’ll explore new places, make friends, and learn skills that will expand your belief in what’s possible. We are crew, not passengers which means you’ll share responsibility for your crew’s success through teamwork, communication, and leadership. Let’s go!
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Classic Courses for High School
What if you had space to feel more connected to yourself, to others, and to the challenging world around you?
One Week Courses
You and your crew will try adventurous things and practice new ways of being in a connected group. You’ll discover your unique contributions to the group as you take on challenges together, weighing healthy risks and considering other people’s perspectives to find success!
Us. But Better.
You and your crew will learn how to support each other’s success, boldly tackling challenges and persevering together through epic adventures! Our skilled instructors protect the time and space students need to both recognize your strengths and consider the strengths of others.
Connection and Care
Focusing on building a connected group where each student’s unique personality is valued, you and your crew will practice the communication skills you need to feel safe, cared for, and pay forward that care for each other as you go adventuring!
Shared Success
You’ll start to learn how to be thoughtful about your own actions, your words, and the impact of both on other people. You will practice holding all of this at once while you just how magical facing challenges and succeeding as a team can be!
Life on Course
Venture off the beaten path in Joshua Tree, see unique plants and animals, climb epic granite and make unforgettable memories with your crew of friends.
Ruggedly beautiful Joshua Tree National Park receives more than a million visitors each year, but only a handful venture more than a mile from the parking lot. With this immersive experience you’ll make deep connections with other teens and enjoy vast starry skies. Beyond the namesake Joshua Tree, the park is home to many birds, animals, cholla cactus and palms. This demanding and beautiful desert offers the opportunity to challenge your personal limits, form connections with your group, and develop leadership skills in a very unique environment.
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Sample Itinerary
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.
7-Day Course
| Day 1 | Course Start, introductory lessons in “camp craft” |
| Day 2 | Lessons on top-roping and belaying |
| Day 3 | Climbing, Rappelling |
| Day 4 | Backpacking |
| Day 5 | Backpacking, Solo |
| Day 6 | Backpacking, De-issue, Graduation |
| Day 7 | Depart for airport |
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FAQs
Do I need any prior backpacking or climbing experience?
No experience is necessary. Instructors will teach you everything you need to know—from setting up camp to reading maps to climbing safely. Just come ready to learn and be challenged.
What is the solo experience like?
Solo is a chance to rest, reflect, and recharge on your own in a designated area near your group. You’ll have shelter, food, water, and support nearby. It’s not about isolation—it’s about insight.
What kind of gear will I need to bring?
We provide most technical gear, including backpacks, sleeping bags, and climbing equipment. You’ll bring your own clothing and personal items. A detailed packing list is sent after enrollment.
At what altitude does the course take place?
Joshua Tree is a lower elevation course area for OBCA. The highest peaks are just under 6,000 feet, making this a great destination for anyone with altitude concerns.
What will the weather be like in Joshua Tree?
The Mojave Desert’s sunny fall, winter and spring weather is perfect for a week on the trail or basecamping below the next climb. Temperatures can vary, averaging 50-70 degrees during the day to a cool 30 or lower at night. Weather in the park is generally dry and rainfall is sparse, though unpredictable, and sometimes windy conditions or thunderstorms do occur. Rare winter snow is possible and it is a unique experience to see this commonly dry environment blanketed in white.
If there’s no water source in Joshua Tree, how do I stay hydrated?
Travel in the desert takes careful planning to ensure an ample water supply. Logistics staff place water and food caches around the park to enable extended backcountry travel in this unique wilderness.
