What You Can Expect

Each KW West group will be comprised of 10 students, and 2 staff members.
On a day-to-day basis, students will not
only be physically challenged as we hike from one place to another, but also
intellectually engaged. Each day, students will travel through the mountains
both on and off trail. Once in “camp,” students will be responsible for setting
up their own campsite out of sight and sound of all the other tarps, cooking
their meals, and all other basic wilderness living skills. Finally, students can
expect to travel and live in the wilderness and also to learn in the field. Each
day, either in the morning or evening, there will be classes in which students
learn a wide range of technical and interpersonal skills described below. The
students will also be responsible for teaching some classes and for developing
their wilderness teaching skills. Finally, students can expect time to reflect on
their experiences and become close friends with the other students on their
course. All in all, students can expect each day to be long—but diverse and
fulfilling—in the Pacific Northwest.

Technical Skills

One of the goals of KW West is to develop the outdoor skills of our future
counselors. We hope they develop not only stellar habits, but also the
knowledge of why these habits are the best ways to travel. The Kieve counselor
will teach backcountry classes such as how to set up a
tarp, baking, Leave No Trace, sanitation, and fly-fishing. There will also be a
focus on mountain travel skills such as map reading, route finding, and river
crossing. The rock climbing section of the trip will introduce the students to other
wilderness skills that are commonly used at Kieve and Wavus.

Interpersonal Skills

The other main goal of KW West is to foster strong leadership skills that will
benefit these young men and women when they return to Kieve or Wavus to
become camp counselors. Using Kieve_Wavus' well-established leadership curriculum,
we will have many classes on communication, leadership, and group dynamics.
Students will also take turns being leaders of the day for thw whole group.
In this situation they will practice their leadership skills and
receive feedback from other students and instructors in a formal setting.
Students will also gain experience as outdoor educators. Each student will be
responsible for teaching one 30-minute class on one aspect of the curriculum.
They will receive both support and oral feedback on their classes. The KW
counselor will also lead several discussions about how to manage some of the
challenges of being a camp counselor. Finally, students will be asked to keep a
leadership journal and do several readings from a diverse selection of sources.
This will allow students to reflect on what they are doing and learning from day
to day and read about the experience of others who have ventured into the
wilderness.

Risk Management

Challenge is at the heart of the KW West experience, and with this challenge
comes inherent risk. KW's counselor have wilderness medical training, and are
typically certified Wilderness First Responders with 80 hours of Wilderness First
Aid and CPR training. Kieve strives to develop creative and challenging
programming and endeavors to manage risks responsibly,
knowing they cannot eliminate those risks. Students learn that they share in the
responsibility for their own well-being and the well-being of others on the
program.

Finally, non-prescription drugs (including tobacco) and alcohol are not
allowed on any part of the KW West experience. A student found using such
substances will be immediately removed from the field and sent home at their
family’s expense — a zero tolerance policy.

Evaluation

Evaluation is a critical part of any learning experience. For this reason the
students will receive both oral and written feedback both during and after the
trip. Halfway through the backpacking section and at the end of the expedition,
students will be evaluated on their wilderness travel, outdoor living, First Aid,
and leadership skills. They will receive feedback in detailed comments. These
evaluations are meant solely to help the student improve their own wilderness
travel both during and after the KW West expedition.