Horse Caretaker Project

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The Horse Caretaker Project is a unique course that is made possible through a special collaboration between the Cottonwood Institute and Sundance Lodge. During this course, you will have the opportunity to head to the hills for adventure, survival, and horseback riding! During this course, you will practice essential camping and wilderness survival skills, including friction fire and natural shelter building skills, participate in an interactive survival scenario, practice basic horseback riding skills and techniques, and will work together as a group to complete much-needed horse caretaking Action Projects, including: assisting as junior wranglers, grooming horses, and cleaning tack.

Through our experience outdoors, we will learn how to reduce our environmental footprint and identify environmental issues we can address in our communities to help change the world. While the days will be action packed, there will be plenty of time in the evenings for relaxing around the fire, hanging out, and philosophizing. You will be able to work on projects at your own pace, so make this experience as mild or as wild as you want. Spaces for this course are limited and fill up early so register today!

To register for this course, please click the Register For A Course Today! link or call us at 303.447.1076.

COURSE ITINERARY:

Day 1 – And We’re Off: The first day we will meet together at a central location to check equipment and travel to Sundance Lodge in Nederland, Colorado. When we arrive at Sundance Lodge we will set up our base camp and get to know each other. We will meet our
host, Cindy McCollum, and get a quick orientation about what to expect for the week. We will begin to learn about the history and ecology of the area and awaken our awareness skills.

Day 2 - 3 Horseback Riding Adventure and Introduction to Wilderness Survival: We will then pack up our gear and embark on a 2-day horseback riding adventure to explore the mountains of Colorado. We will learn about the history of horses and civilization, care for the horses by feeding, watering, and brushing them, make and break camp each day, and practice the skills of our high riding heroes of the past and present.

We will begin the week by practicing essential camping and wilderness survival skills. We will experience first hand how we used to live, thrive, and survive in the natural world by learning and practicing primitive and modern survival skills. We will focus on shelter, fire, water location, food, and rescue while we participate in an interactive survival scenario.

Day 4 - 5 Action Projects, Movie Night, Night Hike: During each Cottonwood Institute course, we will complete an Action Project to address a local environmental issue, to walk our talk, and to give back to the land. When we come back from our horseback riding adventure we will work with Sundance Lodge to complete much-needed horse caretaking service projects, including: assisting as junior wranglers, grooming horses, and cleaning tack for the horses. During the afternoons, we will continue to practice wilderness survival skills including primitive and modern fire methods, water location and procurement, and rescue techniques. We will pick a night to have a movie night to watch movies about horses and if the conditions are right we may also find time for a night hike.

Day 6 – Survival Challenge: We will break up into small groups and complete a survival challenge together to apply some of the skills we have learned throughout the week. We won’t tell you too much about this challenge ahead of time, but take comfort in the fact that you will have the support of your teammates and you will have access to your gear and supplies if you need it. The survival challenge is a fun and memorable part of your Cottonwood Institute experience and will consist of a series of survival activities and you will be rewarded after completing each task.

Day 7 – Final Celebration, Depart: During our last full day, we will have our final breakfast together, reflect on all that we have learned and accomplished during the week, and celebrate. Participants will also set the intention to reduce their ecological footprint at home. Finally, we will pack up our gear, final clean up, and depart.

To register for this course, please click the Register For A Course Today! link or call us at 303.447.1076.

NUTS AND BOLTS:

• Host Organization: Sundance Lodge
• Location: Nederland, Colorado
• Date: June 24 - 30, 2009
• Course Code: HC-9
• Age: 13 - 16 years old.
• Price: $995.
• Scholarships: To find out how to receive a Cottonwood Institute Scholarship, Click Here!
• Difficulty: Be prepared to hike a few miles at altitude and work up
  a sweat with practicing survival skills and completing the horse caretaker projects listed above.
• Average Temperatures: High 85ºF / Low 50ºF Be prepared for a variety of weather conditions and temperatures.
• Beginners welcome!
• Recommended Books: TBA

To register for this course, please click the Register For A Course Today! link or call us at 303.447.1076.

IMPORTANT LINKS:

• To check out photos from the 2008 Horse Caretaker Project, Click Here.
• To read a Blog Post from the 2008 Horse Caretaker Project, Click Here.

AFTER COMPLETING THIS COURSE, YOU WILL:

• Get out of the house this summer for an unforgettable adventure.
• Practice wilderness survival skills, including: shelter, fire, water location, food, and rescue techniques.
• Practice basic horseback riding skills and techniques.
• Complete much needed horse caretaker projects to benefit the horses and Sundance Lodge.
• Learn how to reduce your environmental footprint.
• Explore future careers in education, horse wrangling, and sustainable living.
• Knock out high school and/or college credit.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Where will we sleep? As with all Cottonwood Institute courses, we recommend that students sleep under low-tech poncho shelters, which can be set up individually or with other students to make a larger group shelter. We will spend the first day learning the necessary knots and techniques for setting up a bomber poncho shelter. Students are learning the classic A-frame poncho shelter in this photo! It is ok to bring a tent on this course.

Where do we go to the bathroom? This is one thing that causes the most anxiety for beginners. Take comfort in the fact that human beings have been going to the bathroom in the woods for thousands of years. On the first day of the course, we will go through minimum impact camping considerations and techniques (yes, there are techniques and best practices!) for going to bathroom in the backcountry.

How hard is this course? This obviously depends on each individual. Expect to go on
2-3 mile day/night hikes throughout the week, to work up a sweat building natural shelters and practicing friction fire, and to work on a variety of service projects that can be physically demanding. We strongly encourage students to go at their own pace to make their course as mild or as wild as they feel comfortable pushing themselves.

I am traveling from out of state, how should I get to Colorado? We have had students from California, Wyoming, Ohio, New York, and New Orleans. If you are traveling from out of state, you need to coordinate your travel arrangements so you fly to Denver International Airport (DIA) one day before your course starts and plan to leave the day after your course ends. You will need to arrange lodging the night before your course starts and the night your course ends. A Cottonwood Institute representative will pick you up from your hotel the morning your course starts and take you to our course start location. When you register for this course, you will receive a detailed registration packet outlining all of the travel logistics. (Photo Credit: Denver International Airport).

To register for this course, please click the Register For A Course Today! link or call us at 303.447.1076.

HELP SPREAD THE WORD:

Please Click Here to download a copy of our 2009 Summer Course Schedule. We are a small grassroots organization, so if you would be willing to email a copy of this flyer to your friends or print a few copies to post at your school, office, or favorite coffee shop, we would absolutely love it!