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When we founded Wilderness Ventures 38 years ago, our program was a new and unique concept.
Because of our extraordinary success, we soon became a model for others. While we are flattered
that so many programs have attempted to duplicate a Wilderness Ventures experience, we are proud
that we still remain the most widely recognized and respected program in this field because of the
following very important features:
 Our Family Atmosphere
Though we offer a great variety of summer experiences for young adults, we remain a small, family-
owned and operated program. As owners-directors, we have more personal "hands on" experience
than any directors of other similar-appearing programs. We personally led our trips for 9 years
between 1973 and 1981, and our 2 sons have participated in a total of 10 different trips. As parents of
teenagers, we are acutely aware of what other parents expect of us and our staff. Each student who
enrolls receives the same personal attention we have given our own sons.
Our Personal Attention
Our personal attention to each student and expedition group is unmatched in this field. As founders,
owners, and directors of Wilderness Ventures for the past 37 years, we are proud of the fact that we
have personally met nearly all of our families and students through our travels each winter to over 40
cities across the country. During these visits, we spend a large part
of our time getting to know each student and family and making
sure that each individual enrolls in the most suitable expedition for
his or her particular needs.
Since 1973, we have personally greeted nearly every trip group
upon its arrival. We have met most groups during the summer and
have personally spent the final evening with many of our groups,
sharing their successes during their final banquets. In short, we
have invested 37 years of our lives making Wilderness Ventures
the finest outdoor adventure travel program for young adults.
Our Unmatched Experience
No other program has had more experience than Wilderness
Ventures conducting safe and successful outdoor adventure travel
experiences for young adults. Over the past 37 years, more than
18,500 young people have participated in nearly 1,800 trip groups.
This vast experience has enabled us to plan our trips to avoid potential problems
and to guarantee a smoothly running summer for all.
Our Unequalled Safety Record
We have continuously set the standards in this field for conducting safe and
successful programming, and we are proud that our safety record is unmatched.
After 37 years, with over 18,500 students, we have never experienced a serious
injury requiring extended hospitalization. This record is a result of our strict
staff selection process, our thorough pre-summer training, our highly detailed
procedures for conducting safe adventures, and our very low student-to-staff
ratios. In addition to their many other qualifications, all of our staff members
are fully trained in first aid and emergency procedures. Most of our staff
have over 180 hours of wilderness first aid training and many are emergency
medical technicians. While extensive, formal first aid training is helpful, it
can never take the place of highly experienced and trained leaders who make
appropriate and safe decisions. Our carefully selected staff members and high
standards are responsible for our enviable safety record, which exceeds that of
all other outdoor adventure travel programs and outdoor leadership schools.
No one has more experience conducting safe outdoor travel expeditions than
Wilderness Ventures.
Our Small Compatible Groups
Our expeditions are conducted in groups of 10 to 15 students with 2 to 3 leaders,
always maintaining our low student-to-staff ratio. Our technical climbing and
whitewater components are conducted with the highest level of safety by
the addition of professional specialists such as world-renowned climber Lou
Whittaker to augment our groups, usually resulting in a student-to-staff
ratio of 2 to 1.
We believe strongly in placing our participants together in groups of comparable
age, and we will not group 13-year-olds with 16- and 17-year-olds in order to fill
an expedition. We spend a great deal of time balancing trips by age, gender, and
maturity in order to ensure the best possible individual and group experience.
Our Exceptional and Exclusive Destinations
Where we are allowed to operate on federal lands clearly separates Wilderness
Ventures from all similar-appearing programs. Our domestic wilderness trips are
conducted in the finest remaining wilderness locations in the United States and
canada, which enables us to conduct far superior programs.
Our Limited Vehicle Travel
Adventurous young adults don't want to spend their summers looking at scenery
from a vehicle window. Because of our extensive federal permits
we are able to conduct our domestic programs in smaller geographical areas with
far less time-consuming vehicle travel than any other similar-appearing program.
Less driving time means more adventure, learning, and fun.
Our Enthusiastic Participants
The key to a great trip is a group of students who are highly motivated to
participate. Wilderness Ventures is not the type of program where students
are sent against their own will. We only accept students who express a strong
desire to join our expeditions and contribute positively, which assures everyone
of having the best possible group experience.
Our Minimal Use of Sub-Contractors
While we have chosen to sub-contract with highly professional guiding services
for all of our technical whitewater and climbing program components, it has
been a priority since 1973 to conduct all of our other domestic programming
with our own professional leaders under our own federal permits. By minimizing
the use of subcontractors for all of our domestic wilderness experiences, we are
able to offer excellent leadership continuity and attract the finest professional
staff who want to lead young adults themselves. This assures us that our students
are led only by our own trained and dedicated leaders who are philosophically
compatible with our program goals, ideals, and high moral standards. No other
similar-appearing program has as much control over the people who lead their
students than does Wilderness Ventures.
Our Outstanding Leaders
Our ability to attract the finest, most qualified outdoor leaders
is the result of our years of unmatched experience, our professional reputation,
our minimal use of sub-contractors, and our amazing, federally-permitted
destinations Only 1 out of 6 applicants receives a job offer from
us, and we are always their first choice.
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