A 14 day backpacking and climbing course in the Sierra National Forest and John Muir Wilderness in the Sierra Nevada mountains. While living together in a self designed community that reflects the values chosen by the group, there is the opportunity to explore concepts such as trust, social justice, identity, and leadership in depth. Backpacking provides the format and structure for the development of physical, emotional, and social tools that will help both successfully complete this course and interaction with families, schools and other groups. 1 person tents each night will be provided and paarticipants will take turns cooking nutritious meals for each other. Students will learn the importance of Leave No Trace Ethics, and the connection between the natural world and people. Students will take on different leadership roles each day and guide the daily activities for their peers, with instructor support. Students will have the opportunity to take all sorts of risks in a safe environment and be prepared to discover new parts of themselves, to ask questions, to support others and to try new activities.