Bme 2013 program brochure

Program Guide2013-2014

1123 Montreat Road. Black Mountain, NC 28711828-669-8766

www.blackmountainexpeditions.com

“To teach is to create a space in which obedience to truth is prac-ticed”

Parker Palmer

Through adventure and experiential education, we work with our partner schools to create learning experiences that lead to discov-ery and growth in the areas of one’s head, hands and heart.

Black Mountain Expeditions is a member of Camp Merri-Mac for girls and Camp Timberlake for boys. BME provides experiences that are purpose-filled, character-shaping and committed to young adults. Our programs do this through adventure, service, creative program designs and international travel.

T.S. Elliot writes, “I had the experience but missed the meaning.” It is our goal that our groups have the experience and discover the meaning.

Black Mountain Expeditions will work with you to design an adven-ture or service learning experience that meets the goals of your group.BME is equipped to facilitate groups in team building, leadership development, and custom adventure programs.

Possible Program Areas

• Your school• Camp Merri-Mac & Timberlake• Joshua Tree, CA• Pisgah National Forrest, NC• New River Gorge, NC• North Cascades, WA• Red River Gorge, KY• Florida Everglades, FL• Canyonlands, Utah• Bolivia• France

Duration: Programs lengths may range from half a day to 21 days.

• Day trips• Weekend trips• Fall break• Winter break• January term• Spring break• Summer break

1123 Montreat RoadBlack Mountain, NC 28711828.669.8766www.blackmountainexpeditions.com

Custom Programs for Schools

First Year Transition program: (2-10 Days)

This program goal is to aid in the transition to a new program, school, or grade (i.e. Middle school to High school for incoming 9th graders). Schools and administrators are discovering that these programs help stu-dents develop strong relationships in the most important days of the transition process. This increases, indi-vidual ownership, retention and pride in the institution!

School Retreat

School wide and group specific retreats provide valuable opportunities for a group of individuals to develop a sense of cohesiveness. School wide retreats are ideal settings for a student body to embrace and own the vi-sion and mission of the school. We use a wide spectrum of experiences and methods in designing your retreat depending on the goals and objectives. Activities may include team building, service, games, adventure trips, meals, play and facilitated discussions.

Custom Adventure Experience for Credit

We can work with your faculty to design an educational program that enhances an existing course or subject.

Examples

• Marine Biology: Sea kayaking in the Florida Everglades• Geology: Backpacking in Coyote Gulch Canyon in Utah• Spanish immersion: Costa Rica or Bolivia

Custom Adventure Experience (half day-21 days)

Experiences focus on, technical skill development, leadership development, team building, and communication. Activities may include: backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, sea kayaking, moun-taineering, canyoneering, winter camping, back country skiing, and service.


Programs

Travel on the “edge” in a land of contrasts: between tropic and semi tropic, between land and sea, between salt wa-ter and fresh water, wilderness surrounded by high popu-lation concentration, between the ancient and modern world. Put your heads together to decipher charts and find your way through the maze-like mangrove islands. Along with paddling skills, you’ll experience a wilderness area that is famous worldwide for its unique eco-system. Learn about its value to our global environment and the hazards that threaten it, especially in light of the recent gulf oil disaster.

The Ten Thousand Islands are a chain of mangrove is-lands off the coast of southwest Florida. This refuge is part of one of the largest expanses of mangrove estuary in North America. Approximately 30 percent (8,000 acres) is mangrove forest, 16,000 acres marine water, 11,000 acres freshwater marshland and other habitat. This spec-tacular area is an aquatic preserve and is home to a variety of wildlife including dolphins, manatees, sea turtles and numerous wading birds.

We will paddle from Island to island and through the mangroves working together to find our way, set up camp, cook our own meals and learn Leave No Trace techniques to minimize impact on the land. There will also be ample time for reflection and play and rest while on the trip.

Highlights

• Thirty-six species designated as threatened or protected live in the park, including the Florida panther, the Ameri-can crocodile, and the West Indian manatee.

• The everglades are the most significant breeding ground for tropical wading birds in North America

• More than 350 species of birds, 300 species of fresh and saltwater fish, 40 species of mammals, and 50 species of reptiles live within Everglades National Park

Season: November - March

Duration

5 -14 days

Group Size

8 people Minimum, 20 max people

(If the group size reaches 14 we will divide to two groups)

Price

$$

Includes:

• 2 Professional guides

• Canoes or Kayaks

• Meals while on the program

• Equipment: (tents, stoves, backpacks, sleeping bags, climbing gear, paddling gear)

• Camp Site and park fees during course

• Curriculum Design and implementation

Florida Everglades

To Secure BME Expedition:

Upon your decision to secure this expedition, I will send a contract and will require a 10% deposit of the total from the minimum number of participant.

Please contact me with Questions:Ryan B. [email protected] Montreat rd.Black Mountain, NC 28711828.669.8766www.blackmountainexpeditions.com

1123 Montreat Road. Black Mountain, NC 28711 828.669.876 • www.blackmountainexpeditions.com

Location

Explore the spectacular Wind River range of Wyoming. These moun-tains are the most rugged and pristine mountains in the conti-nental US.

Leadership

Expedition members will take active roles in leadership while on the expedition. Participants will learn decision-making skills, leadership styles and necessary technical skills, which have real consequences and real rewards. This experience provides opportunity for authentic risk-taking along with a safety net.

Mountaineering

Traverse soaring ridges, negotiate dramatic passes, and even play in the snow in August! On this expedition you will increase your outdoor leadership knowledge. At the culmination of the expedition, you will test your wilderness skills with a technical summit attempt of a 13,000 foot snow-covered peak.

Duration: 7-21 days

Cost: $$$

Includes:

• Professional guide

• Training in outdoor skills needed to thrive in the wil-derness

• Training in alpine climbing

• Potential summit attempt

• All camping and climbing equipment

• Food during the course

Mountaineering &

Leadership

Leadership: exploringing it’s meaning and mak-ing it practical

We will be rock climbing and hiking in the world class climbing destination, Joshua Tree National Park. The focus of the course is grounded in developing basic outdoor leadership skills while rock climbing and hiking. While on the course we will be exploring the rich history of people that have journeyed to the desert and wilder-ness, such as Edward Abbey, John Muir, and other Nature writers & philosophers.

This course includes an option for the LNT Trainer certificate. This involves discussion, practice, and teaching of the seven Leave No Trace principles. Outdoor educators carry with them the responsi-bility to protect the wild lands we live and work in. The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics has helped create basic principals which can be taught to the general public in order to greatly reduce user impacts.

Logistics:

We will meet at one of the following: the Los Angeles international (LAX), Palm Springs, San Diego, or Las Vegas, NV airports. We will drive to Joshua Tree on the day that you arrive. We will camp at a National Park campground for the duration of our stay at Joshua Tree. The Next five days will be filled with climbing J-tree’s classic lines and exploring the desert landscape. There also could be an optional afternoon at the beach if your group fly’s into San Diego or Palm Springs.

Your Guide:

With certifications and trainings from the American Alpine Institute, Wilderness Education Association, SOLO, WMA, WMI, Leave No Trace, American Mountain Guide Association, Professional Climbing Guides Association, and American Canoe Association, Ryan has led numerous alpine expeditions to the summit of mountains in, Wyo-ming, California, New Hampshire, and Bolivia. Outdoor education is Ryan’s passion, and he has taught kayaking, canoeing, rock climb-ing, caving, backpacking, and outdoor leadership for over a decade.

1123 Montreat rd.Black Mountain, NC 28711828.669.8766www.blackmountainexpeditions.com

Joshua Tree: Rock Climbing and Desert Trekking

Includes:

• Professional Guide

• Transportation to and from Airport

• All camping and climbing equipment

• Food (except fast food on the road)

• Permit & Camping Fees

• Lodging prior to depar-ture

• Safety Equipment

• Facilitated Curriculum

• Professional Guide

• 4:1 Client to guide ratio

Does not include:

• Clothing

• Airfare

• Travel food

• Lodging before and after the trip

T.S. Elliot says, “Had the experience, but missed the meaning.” It is a privilege to present the opportunity for Camp Merri-Mac and Timber-lake CIT’s to encounter meaning in this rich wilderness experience, filled with discoveries about self, others and the world around us. The expedition is focused on developing students philosophy of leadership and understanding their leadership skills.

Location

Explore North Carolina’s High Country in Pisgah national forest. The birth place of the National forest These mountains are the oldest in the world and filled with the rich cultural history of Appalachia. The Blue Ridge Mountains are filled with treasures like Looking Glass, Lin-ville Gorge, and Shining Rock Wilderness

Backpacking

Pisgah National Forrest is home to some of the best wilderness in the country. Pisgah is known for it’s countless waterfalls, it’s high bald knobs, exposed ridge lines, granite domes and even the highest peak east of the Mississippi. We will be venturing through these gems of western NC, exploring the mountain, rivers and valleys. We may en-counter a 100’ waterfall, the granite eyebrows of Looking glass rock or the notorious Art Loeb trail.

Leadership

Expedition members will take active roles in leadership while on the expedition. Participants will learn decision-making skills, leadership styles and necessary technical skills, all of which have real conse-quences and real rewards. Participants will have the opportunity to be leader of the day: responsible for decision making, planning the route and being attentive to the group needs. This will be an opportunity to test and apply the teaching on leadership styles, philosophy and skills. Participants lead with the guidance of the instructors. The crux of these opportunities is the feedback and reflection. Each individual will receive feedback from instructors and peers.

Duration: 5-21 days

Cost: $$

Includes:

Professional guide

All camping and climbing equipment

Food

Permit & camping fees

Facilitated curriculum

NC High Country

Ryan B. [email protected] Montreat rd.Black Mountain, NC 28711828.669.8766www.blackmountainexpeditions.com

Travel on the “edge” in a land of contrasts: between tropic and desert, between land and sea, between salt water and fresh water, wilderness surrounded by high population concentration, between the ancient and modern world. You’ll experience a wil-derness area that is famous worldwide for its unique eco-system. Learn about its value to our global environment and the hazards that threaten it.

The Napali cost is renown for the The Kalalau Trail which pro-vides the only land access, traversing 11 miles along 2000’ cliffs while crossing five major valleys before reaching Kalalau Beach at the base of Kalalau Valley. The Waimea Canyon is considered the Grand Canyon of the pacific and Koke’ is considered the rainiest place on earth!

Students should come with a strong commitment to enjoy a fun and exciting course but also to tackle the physical challenges of backpacking and camping as well as the mental challenges of living with and traveling in a group. Successful completion of your course demands mastery of skills, trust, fitness, confidence, tenacity, leadership, initiative and compassion. No experience is necessary.

There may be opportunities to:Snorkel the diverse Pacific coastal watersSurf or Body board Local service projectExperience an authentic Luau

Season: January - March

Group Size

10 people (8 minimum)

Price

$$$$

Includes:

2 Professional guides

Meals while on the program

Equipment: (tents, stoves, back-packs, sleeping bags, climbing gear, paddling gear)

Camp Site and park fees during course

Curriculum Design and imple-mentation

Transportatiion upon arrival to Honolulu

Final night in Hotel


Kaua’i, Hawaii

To Secure BME Expedition:

Upon your decision to secure this expedition, I will send a contract and will require a 10% deposit of the total from the minimum number of partici-pant.

Please contact me with Questions:Ryan B. [email protected] Montreat rd.Black Mountain, NC 28711828.669.8766www.blackmountainexpeditions.com

for more information, contact: [email protected]

The world is our playground! BME international programs may be just what you’re looking for. A chance to engage with different cultures, dis-cover the granduer of far off lands, test your limits, meet from around the world as equals, and to get to know and learn from each other.

Bolivia

The Cordillera Real of Bolivia is one of the world’s major mountain ranges and offers some of the finest and most varied alpine climbing, but it is probably the least known and least climbed range among comparable mountain groups. This is due to the country’s remoteness and its lack of any traditional tourism.

Activities May include: Trekking, Alpine Climbing, Kayaking, Home Stays, Language study

Costa Rica

We will surf, kayak, backpack, raft, and rappel while visiting the village of Piedras Blancas and volunteering with the local community. The itinerary may includes exploring remote caves, rappelling down a waterfall, making sugar from sugar cane using a “trapiche”, rafting down the Savegre River, and surfing the waves of Manuel Antonio.

France

The Tour du Mont Blanc is a 105-mile journey through the snow-peaked mountains of the Alps. With a total elevation gain and loss of 32,000 feet, the trail passes through 11 valleys and mountain passes in three coun-tries: France, Switzerland and Italy. We will travel a selection of the more scenic sections of this route, sometimes called the Petit Tour. You will hike a world-renowned trail through the Alps and be guided through a physical journey by two experts trained in adventure education.

Locations

Bolivia

Costa Rica

France

Puerto Rico

Ireland

Others upon request

Activities

Trekking

Cultural Immersion

Climbing

Alpine Climbing

Rafting

Surfing

Kayaking

Biking

1123 Montreat rd.Black Mountain, NC 28711828.669.8766www.blackmountainexpeditions.com

International Programs

The Cordillera Real of Bolivia is one of the world’s major ranges and offers some of the finest and most varied alpine climbing, but it is probably the least known and least climbed range among comparable mountain groups. This is due to the country’s remoteness and its lack of any traditional tour-ism.

The first several days of the expeditions will consist of an acclimatization period to prepare us to attempt to climb 17,000’ to 20,000’ peaks. Dur-ing this period we will visit Lake Titicaca, the the world’s highest navigable waterway, and from its waters we enjoy memorable views of the scores of seventeen to twenty-thousand-foot peaks that make up the Cordillera Real. This range has great vertical relief, and the steep faces of ice that charac-terize its peaks rise up in dramatic contrast to the broad and undulating altiplano.

Days 1-3 Acclimatization

La Paz

Lake Titicaca

Days 4-11

Climbing in the Condoriri region of the Cordarilla real:

Peaks: Piramide Blanca, 17,153; Pequeno Alpamayo, 17,643; Huana Potosi, 19,974.

To Secure BME Expedition:contact: [email protected]

Please contact me with any questions:

Ryan B. [email protected] Montreat Rd.Black Mountain, NC 28711828.669.8766www.blackmountainexpeditions.com

Dates: May -September

Cost: $$$$

Includes:

• Professional guide and mountaineering in-struction

• All camping and climb-ing equipment

• Food (while in back-country)

• Permit & camping fees

• Lodging prior to depar-ture

Does not include:

• Clothing

• Food while traveling on the road

• Transportation to Bo-livia


BoliviaAlpine Summits

Season: Jan - Dec

Duration: 7 - 21 days

Price: $$$$

Includes:

• Professional guides

• All Necessary equipment

• Food (except fast food on the road)

• Permit & camping fees

• Lodging prior to departure

• Facilitated teaching & curriculum

• Travel, food, & lodging once your group arrives in Costa Rica

Does not include:

• Flight to Costa Rica

Activitie

• Trekking

• Service

• White Water Rafting

• Kayaking

• Surfing

• Home Stay

• Spanish language


Costa RicaT.S. Elliot says, “Had the experience, but missed the meaning.” It is a privilege to present an opportunity to encounter meaning in a rich cultural experience

The Costa Rica expedition is a fun-filledadventure. Groups will jour-ney through a Costa Rican rain forest, experience and serve the homes of a indigenous village, raft world class white water and surf world renown waves off the coast. While visiting the village of Piedras Blancas and volunteering with the local community, students will have the opportunity to expand their world view.

The itinerary may include exploring remote caves, rappelling down a waterfall, making sugar from sugar cane using a “trapiche”, rafting downtheSavegreRiver,andsurfingthewavesofManuelAntonio.Over the course of the expedition participants will grow in leadership and develop appreciation for Costa Rican culture.

Expedition members will take active roles in leadership while on the expedition. Participants will engage in decision-making skills, leader-ship styles and necessary technical skills, all of which have real con-sequences and real rewards. Participants will have the opportunity to be leader of the day: responsible for decision making, planning the route and being attentive to the group needs. This will be an oppor-tunity to test and apply the teaching on leadership styles, philosophy and skills. Participants lead with the guidance of the instructors. The cruxoftheseopportunitiesisthefeedbackandreflection.

Ryan B. Carlson- Director Of Black Mountain [email protected] Montreat rd.Black Mountain, NC 28711828.669.8766www.blackmountainexpeditions.com


Sample Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive at the Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO). Travel to San Jose Centro and stay at hostel. Meet your guides, pack, orientation, and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime!

Day 2 – Departure from San Jose to Las Reyes driving. Eat breakfast on the way and a rive at trail head. Begin hike in rainforest to arrive at La Flecha for the first night camp-ing in the rainforest. This hike will be approximately 5 hours long.

Day 3 – Hike 3 ½ hours to La Casa de Orlando to enjoy some great homemade Costa Rican food and beautiful views of the valley of Piedras Blancas.

Day 4 – Hike for 1 hour to the main Lopez Family house in Piedras Blancas. Upon ar-rival, enjoy Doña Flor’s excellent cooking and Don Hormidas’ great hospitality.

• Rappel down the 120 foot waterfall for a view you will not forget of the rainforest!• Learn how to homemade tortillas with Doña Flor

Day 5– Jump in the river of Piedras Blancas and check out surrounding area of the village of Piedras Blancas.

• Make sugar out of sugarcane using traditional system of the ‘Trapiche’.• Explore a 900 feet deep cave in the rainforest where you’ll see stalactites and sta-lagmites.

Day 6 – After eating Gallo Pinto for breakfast, we hike to the Fonsecas Family Eco-Lodge alongside the Savegre River. Take in the beautiful views of the Savegre River and enjoy the natural gardens that surround this area.

• Experience a traditional sweat lodge.• Learn about medicinal plants native to the area.

Day 7– 1 ½ hike to Brujo to arrive at the Rio Savegre to begin our 16 mile rafting trip! Eat lunch alongside the river and enjoy the beautiful waterfalls.

Day 8 - Surf’s up! We will spend a day on the Pacific taking surfing lessons and catch-ing some waves

Day 9 – Travel to airport for flight departure.

The Rivers

Rio Savegre

Experience the Rio Savegre. We offer three starting points depending upon your experi-ence and interest! A fun river with dynamic rapids, the Rio Savegre is both accessible yet adventurous. This river is one of the cleanest rivers in all of the Americas!

Rio Guabo

The Rio Guabo has an excellent combination of both stunning scenery and fun rapids. The clear water and the beautiful canyons make this river the perfect escape for the adventur-ous nature lovers! Keep your eyes open for monkeys, toucans, and river otters that fre-quent this river.

Rio Genera

Rush down the Rio General and the class 2 and 3 rapids in this river known for its large, roll-ing rapids. A popular destination for both kayak and rafting enthusiasts, this river will keep you focused on the rapids to come the entire way down!

Costa Rica - KayakingTake your kayak skills to the next level with Camp Merri-Mac and Timberlake in Costa Rica!

While frequently compared physically to the size of West Virginia, Costa Rica has three times the annual rain-fall and mountains that reach heights of 12,000 feet.

Unique to Costa Rica are the accents of tropical flora and fauna, exotic wildlife and cascading waterfalls found only in a rainforest setting, and a culture that embraces you as a visitor.

A wide variety of rivers are accessible through this timeframe from Class I runs to Class III+. Our trip itinerar-ies is flexible depending on water levels and group skill levels. For those coming out of winter climates, you will enjoy the weather, which averages 70 to 85 degrees during the day and 60 to 70 degrees at night. A short sleeve paddle jacket is typically all that is required on the river!

Merri- Mac and Timberlake expert guides will be working with world class kayak instructors in Costa Rica as our local guide and host. We will have be staying at hostels, hotels and maybe even a local home stay to expe-rience the local culture.

9

1123 Montreat Road. Black Mountain, NC 28711

Date: December - March

Cost: $$$$

Skill Level: Intermediate - advanced (must have your combat roll 50% and kayaked class II - III white water)

(does not include flight to Costa Rica)

Includes:

From the moment you step out of the San Jose airport and meet your guides, all of your worldly needs are met, so you can focus on having fun in paradise. Bed and breakfast style lodging , freshly prepared meals, private transpor-tation, quality equipment, and professional Black Mountain Expeditions staff will exceed your expectations

• Professional guides

• Food, & lodging once you arrives in Costa Rica

• All adventure activities and equipment

• Airport pick-up and drop-off

• Private ground transportation

• Entrance fees and permits

Does not include:

• International airfare to San Jose – Costa Rica

• Travel insurance

• Airport departure tax ($26 USD payable in cash or credit)

• Items of personal needs (snacks, laundry, souvenirs, etc.).

To register:

Call Ryan Carlson at Camp Merri-Mac and Timberlake at: 828- 669-8766

or email

[email protected]

Professional Climbing Instructors AssociationBase Managed Climbing Instructor (BMCI) Certification

Base Managed Climbing Instructor

The majority of outdoor top rope climbing instruction takes place at bottom managed sites. Recognizing this the PCIA has created a fo-cused course and optional certification exam that addresses base man-aged climbs. The Base Managed Climbing Instructor™ course (BMCI) provides instructors and potential instructors with an in depth and standardized understanding of the skills essential to teaching climbing in an outdoor setting. Like other PCIA courses, the course reinforces the importance of teaching technically accurate information and de-bunks many common climbing myths. The emphasis is on refining core skills and improving educational delivery of material. The thirty hour (3 day) course builds upon the existing skills of competent recreational climbers and takes an in depth look at site selection, equipment, knot selection, anchor construction, rope systems, Leave No Trace practices, rescue and assistance skills as well as key instructional skills. Most importantly the course stresses blending these skills together to form a more seamless and efficient climbing experience for participants. Upon successful completion of all course components participants are consid-ered PCIA Assistant Instructors. Assistant Instructors may elect to take an optional certification exam to achieve Base Managed Climbing In-structor™ Certification. The one day examination stresses efficient site and gear utilization, client and instructor safety, site management and educational delivery. The exam may be taken any time after complet-ing all course components. This course may be taken as stand alone course or coupled together with the Top Managed Climbing Instructor and Single Pitch Instructor Module.

Base Managed Climbing Instructor Exam

Upon successful completion of the BMCI course components an individ-ual may elect to take a one day certification exam. A skill consolidation period after the course is recommend but not required. The examina-tion is a one day field exam that evaluates both core technical skills and educational delivery. The target goal for the certification standard is for candidates to be able to generalize learned information - in other words to be able to utilize various principles to create solutions for problems at hand. Generalization is considered the fourth learning stage following memorization, comprehension, and application.

Dates

April 14 - 17

Location

Areas in the Asheville NC region:

• Looking Glass

• Rumbling Bald

• Linville Gorge

Course Rates

Base Managed Climbing Instructor

(3 days)

$400.00 -$500.00

Base Managed Climbing Instructor™ Certification

(1 day)

$150 - $200.00

* includes 1 year membership with the PCIA

To register:

contact Ryan Carlsonryan@blackmountainexpeditions.com828-669-8766www.blackmountainexpeditions.com

1123 Montreat RoadBlack Mountain, NC 28711828.669.8766www.blackmountainexpeditions.comhttp://pcia.us/newpro/

The Director: Ryan B. Carlson

After earning his B.S. in Outdoor Education, Ryan worked in wilderness education for five years at Ohio Wesleyan University as the director of the wilderness program. With certifica-tions and trainings from the American Alpine Institute, Wilderness Education Association, SOLO, WMA, WMI, Leave No Trace, American Mountain Guide Association, Professional Climbing Guides Association, and American Canoe Association, Ryan has led numerous alpine expeditions to the summit of mountains in Washington, Wyoming, California, New Hamp-shire, and Bolivia. Outdoor education is Ryan’s passion, and he has taught kayaking, canoe-ing, rock climbing, caving, backpacking, and outdoor leadership for over a decade. Ryan believes there is purpose in wilderness and adventure experiences:” Exploring the wilderness together through adventure brings amazing new discoveries. I seek to facilitate purpose-ful adventures for individuals, families and groups who desire deeper fulfillment from their experiences.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call.

Thank You,

Ryan B. Carlson, Director of Black Mountain Expeditions

[email protected]

828-669-8766


Documents

Bme 2013 program brochure