Summer Courses
Since 2004, ARC has been facilitating meaningful immersive summer programming for high school students in the Sierra Nevada mountains. All of our summer courses are built around our four pillars of learning, leadership, community, and the outdoors. Students are challenged academically, physically, and emotionally as they learn and grow from each other and our dedicated staff. They complete their summer experiences as more inspired and empowered versions of themselves.
Our four pillars:
- Learning: Students work on their literacy skills and confidence by practicing reading, writing, and public speaking in various ways throughout their course. Students will complete at least one writing project – a metaphorical poem, a reflective essay, or a personal manifesto. We also facilitate learning in environmental science and outdoor living skills.
- Leadership: Students practice leadership and followership with training and support from staff and peers.
- Community: Each course will have up to 10 students and 4 staff; we work together to create an inclusive, supportive team. Building positive relationships is at the heart of ARC.
- Outdoors: Our courses take place in the Tahoe or Yosemite areas. Students explore forests, visit cascading waterfalls, swim in alpine lakes, and take in views from the tops of peaks. Our core activity is backpacking and each course also includes one or more adventure activities like rock climbing, whitewater rafting, or a ropes course.
Course Structure
We alternate multi-day backpacking trips with time at our basecamps. Backpacking is where we bring everything we need into the wilderness with us, walk all day, and sleep outside. Basecamp has inside spaces, showers, kitchen and laundry facilities, as well as individual tents for each student.
Testimonials
Read what past summer course participants had to say about their experiences:
Watch a summer course in action:
Tuition
ARC’s courses are offered on a sliding scale based on family income, and most students pay less than $100 for their participation. We supply all transportation, gear, and food. To see our sliding scale, click here.
Course Types
Immersive Courses include three multi-day backpacking trips and three basecamp components, as well as rock climbing and/or white water rafting. Immersive Course students will write a metaphorical poem and a reflection essay. They will also interview a community member, make a short science video, and participate in a final run challenge.
Stepping Stone Courses include one multi-day backpacking trip and one basecamp component, as well as one adventure activity. Stepping Stone Course students will write a personal manifesto.
We recommend current 9th grade students consider our Stepping Stone Courses and current 10th and 11th graders consider our Immersive Courses. ARC staff will help guide students in their choice based on the dates and the length of commitment. On a case by case basis, we may accept current 8th or 12th graders.
First-generation students, English-language learners, and all students who are motivated to experience a transformational outdoor and academic adventure are encouraged to apply.
To find out about our 2024 Summer Courses and to apply, click here.
If you have any questions about our summer courses, please email info@adventureriskchallenge.org