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High School
High Sierra – LGBTQ+ – Alpine Backpack
Backpack the High Sierra with other LGBTQ+ teens on this sliding scale course! Build community, gain skills, grow as a leader and make lifelong friends in the outdoors.
This course has a reduced deposit of $150 and a sliding scale tuition model to increase access to the outdoors.
Scholarships
Savings Plan
Open 
California
About This Course
Activity
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Backpacking
Setting & Location
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Forest -
Mountains -
Course Start Location: Fresno Yosemite Airport -
Course End Location: Fresno Yosemite Airport
Students Can Earn
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College Credit
Session Details
1 session are available for this course
What You’ll Learn
On Outward Bound courses for older high-schoolers, students do exciting things with new friends, focusing on having an unforgettable adventure. You’ll refine skills like teamwork, leadership, and navigation that expand beyond your time on course. Try new things, remember what you’re made of, and return revitalized and ready for what’s next.
What You'll Do
Alpine backpacking courses travel off established trails across talus, boulder fields, and sometimes snow. Peaks climbed don’t require ropes but may need hands for balance. Expect creek crossings without bridges, adding to the adventure and challenge.
Where You'll Be
Hike through the Sierra Nevada—a premier destination with frequent sun, glacially carved valleys, lush meadows, alpine lakes, and starry night skies. An awe-inspiring landscape to explore, reflect, and connect with nature.
Why It Matters
Outward Bound courses are a great way to disrupt your routine, connect with new people and activities, and gain clarity about who you are and what you want to do next. Navigating challenges with a supportive crew gives you space to explore your strengths, recognize your contributions, and celebrate your wins.
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Ready For Anything
What if you learned how to develop strong communities with peers while confidently forging your own sense of self?
Two Week Courses for Ages 16-18
You and your crew will participate in unique activities, forging skills to thrive! Sounding your own voices – and considering others’ – you’ll have time to try new ways of working together in a supportive environment. Connecting in moments of harmony and productive struggle, you and your crew will get to ask yourselves big questions like: “Who am I; who are YOU; and how can we best get along?”
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 your need to both recognize your strengths and consider the strengths of others.
Prepare to Launch!
Whether you’re getting ready for a big life transition or you have another year or two before you turn the page into a new chapter, you will leave your Outward Bound course having practiced important life skills to help you be successful in both this adventure and the next!
Reflective Relationship Building
This is an opportunity for you and your crew to focus on being thoughtful about your actions, words, and the impact of each on other people. You’ll work together and on your own to practice new reflection skills that’ll help you make sense of the world and build dynamic relationships within your active crew, and beyond.
Life on Course
Backpack wild places, build LGBTQ+ community, gain skills, grow as a leader, and make lifelong friends in a fun, inclusive, and brave space.
Join a classic Outward Bound backpacking expedition with a focus on building LGBTQ+ community, confidence, and connection. You’ll explore stunning alpine landscapes while learning technical skills like navigation and backcountry cooking, and grow your leadership through teamwork and shared challenges. Led by supportive instructors, this course offers a brave, inclusive space to reflect, make lifelong friends, and embrace the power of nature and crew. You belong here—let’s adventure together!
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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.
14-Day Course
| Day 1 | Course start |
| Day 2-6 | Training backpacking expedition: Introduction to backpacking lessons; navigation and campcraft |
| Day 7 | Front country resupply of food and gear and service project |
| Day 8-10 | Main backpacking expedition, solo |
| Day 11-12 | Final backpacking expedition |
| Day 13 | Personal challenge event, clean and de-issue gear, graduation ceremony |
| Day 14 | Course end and transportation to the airport |
FAQs
What does “sliding scale” mean? Will I qualify?
In an effort to reduce barriers of access, and thanks to generous donations, this affinity course has significantly more scholarship funding available than other courses and OBCA is able to offer a “pay what you can” pricing model. Please reflect on what amount of tuition is accessible for you, and know that we strive to meet 100% of financial need requests on this course.
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.
What kind of food will we eat?
While on course you will be eating nutritious and portable food—grains, pasta, cheese, vegetables, fruit and nuts—designed to meet high-energy demands for your program. Typical meals include burritos, macaroni and cheese, and peanut butter and jelly. The diet may differ from what you are accustomed to at home. To prepare, we suggest you cut down on soft drinks, coffee and junk food.
Where is the Sierra Nevada? Where am I going?
The Sierra Nevada range is California’s backyard and wonderland of wilderness, waterfalls, lakes and peaks. It’s an enormous range – spanning more than 400 miles from north to south, and 70 miles east to west. Courses take place in the southern and western parts of the Sierra: Emigrant Wilderness, Ansel Adams Wilderness, Yosemite National Park and Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park.
