8-Day Green River Expedition – Desolation and Gray Canyons
Prepared for Whatcom Hills Waldorf School
Proposed Dates, Late May/ Early June 2017 (ideally, June 4); 10 Participants and 2 Adults
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_color=”#1f414e” scene_position=”center” text_color=”light” text_align=”left” bottom_padding=”25″ top_padding=”25″][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Dear Nora,
Thank you for contacting me about arranging a custom-designed program to support your class at this important point in their journey. Deer Hill Expeditions has over 30 years of experience guiding young people on wilderness expeditions and service projects in the Southwest, our home and backyard, and over 25 years experience guiding on the Green River in Utah.
While fun and adventure, such as paddling through a Class 2 or 3 rapid, is built into every program, it is Deer Hill’s mission to guide young people to find their unique place in their community. To this end, discussion and reflection about participants’ experiences are major components of Deer Hill’s approach. Typically, Deer Hill staff facilitates this learning process through what we call Circle—honest and candid conversations in which individuals share their hopes, fears, thoughts, and reflections in an occasion where non-judgment and acceptance have been established as the ground rules. Additionally, in order for participants to carry their newfound insights back into their everyday lives, Deer Hill staff facilitates a closing ceremony or activity as is fitting to your group. These elements add depth to the fun and adventure of a Deer Hill trip.
Based on our communications so far, I have prepared an outline of an expedition for your class that I believe will meet your stated goal of a genuine rite of passage experience through a river expedition in the wilderness of the Colorado Plateau.
Please review this proposal for descriptions of the program components, for dates and costs, and for details specific to Deer Hill. This proposal serves to provide an outline for further refinement in the development of a contract between your school and Deer Hill. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Yours sincerely,
Gabriel Bernier
Outreach Director
Green River Rafting Expedition – Desolation and Gray Canyons
Deer Hill leads expeditions through Desolation and Gray Canyons of the Green River. This is an 84-mile stretch through one of the West’s great rivers. At points, Desolation Canyon is actually deeper than the Grand Canyon. The expedition begins in gentle waters with opportunities to explore ancestral Puebloan ruins and rock art, as well as glimpses of pioneer history, while further downstream, the canyon walls offer opportunities for rock climbing.
Over the course of the expedition, with instruction from your guides and active participation, you will learn to navigate increasingly challenging rapids. They begin as gentle Class 1 bumps and increase in fun and challenge to a Class 3+ rating toward the end of the expedition. Your guides will also teach students about the delicate nature of desert landscapes, as well as the plants and animals that call the Green River home, and how we can use “Leave No Trace” techniques to minimize our impact while we explore the wilderness.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_gallery type=”flexslider_style” interval=”3″ images=”7230,7232,7138,7080,7079,7078,7073,7012,7018,6917,6918,6913,7144,7143,7142,7141,7136″ layout=”3″ gallery_style=”1″ onclick=”link_image” custom_links_target=”_self” img_size=”600×400″][vc_column_text]
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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” bg_position=”left top” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_color=”#ffffff” scene_position=”center” text_color=”light” text_align=”center” top_padding=”30″ bottom_padding=”15″][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Itinerary
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” bg_position=”left top” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_color=”#1f414e” scene_position=”center” text_color=”light” text_align=”center” top_padding=”30″ bottom_padding=”15″][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Day 1
Times to be determined: Fly into Salt Lake City, UT airport as early as possible in the morning. Deer Hill program leaders will meet you in Wellington, UT, and escort you to the river launch site.
Day 2
Morning: After breakfast, you’ll break camp and launch on the river.
Afternoon: Float the river, enjoying the scenery and learning how to navigate the river.
Evening: You will decide as a group where to make camp, and collectively participate in making meals and setting up your campsite.
Days 3-7
On the River: River days include time for exploring side canyons and archaeological, geological, ecological and historic sites along the way. Additionally, there is a site for rock climbing, if the weather allows for it.
Day 8
Morning: Take out from the river in Green River, UT.
Afternoon: Your rental vans will be waiting for you at the take-out site.
Financial Information
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” bg_position=”left top” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_color=”#1f414e” scene_position=”center” text_color=”light” text_align=”center” top_padding=”45″ bottom_padding=”15″][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Estimated Price: $1375 (per participant)
Quotes are conditional on final group numbers, activities and travel arrangements. We require a minimum of 10 paying participants to run the program. Final pricing will be confirmed in a contract. However, final price is subject to change based on adjustments to program, travel arrangements, arrival and departure times. A 25% deposit is due to reserve your group.
Program price includes:
- The teacher/trip organizer will attend free of charge with the group. Additional adults will be charged the participant rate
- All meals, snacks and drinks from lunch on Day 1 through lunch on the final day (depending on arrival and departure times),
- All guiding activities, service materials, and group equipment (rafting gear, cooking gear, tents, service tools, etc.)
- Permits, fees and insurance
- Personal gear (sleeping bags, pads, etc.) and clothing items (e.g. rain gear and fleece) is not included. These items may be rented from the Deer Hill outfitting store at a very reasonable cost. We will provide you with the price list for rental items along with detailed information after contracting. We require a per-student cash deposit, or credit card, to cover participant rental gear.
Food and Accommodations
On the river and at the service site, we will be camping in 3-4 person, single-gender shelters. Deer Hill provides healthy and balanced meals and can accommodate a wide variety of dietary needs and preferences.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” parallax_bg=”true” scene_position=”center” text_color=”light” text_align=”left” bg_color=”#ffffff” bottom_padding=”50″ top_padding=”15″][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Additional Information
- Tentative travel plans are that your group flies to Salt Lake City, Utah, rents vans, and meets your program leaders in Wellington, Utah.
- Rock climbing is a weather dependent activity and can not be guaranteed.
Click the edit button to add your testimonial.
[/testimonial][testimonial title=”Testimonial” id=”1475266977537-0-6″ name=”Lisa Archer, Teacher, Tucson Waldorf School” quote=”Thank you again for a memorable trip. As I’ve told everyone, a class trip with Deer Hill is so much more than just rafting or camping with a tour group. You make the trip meaningful with marvelous guides who facilitate nightly ‘Circles’, solo time, and closing ceremonies that make the trip so much better. Deer Hill is more than a trip, you are creating connections with people.”] [/testimonial][testimonial title=”Testimonial” id=”1475267043440-0-7″ name=”Jeff Jackson, Cedar Springs Waldorf School” quote=”Thank you so much for organizing this wonderful trip for us. Your leaders were incredible. The trip REALLY met all our needs and effected a genuine transformation in my students.”] [/testimonial][/testimonial_slider][/vc_column][/vc_row][full_width_section bg_pos=”Left Top” bg_repeat=”No-Repeat” text_color=”custom” top_padding=”60″ bottom_padding=”50″ background_color=”#c2b59b” type=”full_width_background” text_align=”left” custom_text_color=”#352300″][vc_column width=”1/1″][gravityform id=”47″ title=”false” description=”false” ajax=”false”][/vc_column][/full_width_section][vc_row type=”full_width_background” bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” parallax_bg=”true” bg_color=”#ffffff” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” bottom_padding=”25″ text_align=”left”][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]Service at Deer Hill
Most of Deer Hill’s service projects get you working alongside Hopi, Navajo and Zuni families on projects that they have proposed. Oftentimes, host families will share cultural knowledge, stories, and arts with participants. Other service projects are conservation oriented, and arranged with the US Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management. Service projects in summer expeditions will earn you between 20 and 56 service credit hours.
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Wilderness Adventure
Deer Hill’s programs offer young people a chance to connect with nature in some of the world’s most remarkable landscapes. They also push individuals to overcome challenges and learn new skills to stay safe when enjoying the backcountry. Deer Hill’s wilderness adventures typically include a combination of white water rafting and canoeing, canyoneering, rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking and backpacking.
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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]About Deer Hill
Deer Hill Expeditions was founded in 1984 by Doug and Beverly Capelin, who still own and operate the Mancos, Colorado-based company. Since 2005 Deer Hill has designed custom programs for school and community groups to provide fun, meaningful, and memorable culminating experiences, retreats, and educational expeditions. Deer Hill is accredited by the Association of Experiential Education, and maintains an impeccable safety record.
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