Wilderness Skills & Outdoor Leadership Camp
A Six-Day, Hands-On Outdoor Preparedness Camp
June 27 - July 2, 2026 | Waterville,Maine
Days 1–2: Wilderness First Aid
Students complete a 16-hour Wilderness First Aid course through SOLO Schools, preparing them to respond to injuries and medical emergencies in remote settings. The course emphasizes patient assessment, emergency response, and decision-making when professional medical care is not immediately available. Topics include injury management, environmental emergencies, wound care, and common medical conditions encountered outdoors. Instruction is hands-on and scenario-based.
Certification earned: SOLO Wilderness First Aid Optional add-on: American Heart Association CPR
Days 3–4: Map & Compass Navigation
Students learn to navigate confidently using maps, compasses, and natural landscape features. Instruction covers reading topographic maps, understanding scale and contour lines, using a compass to take and follow bearings, and combining map and compass skills for accurate navigation. Students also explore natural navigation techniques by learning to “read” terrain and environmental cues.
Reference text: The Essential Wilderness Navigator by David Seidman and Paul Cleveland.
Day 5: Shelter Building, Fire & Outdoor Cooking
Students apply survival principles by building shelters, managing fire safely, and preparing meals outdoors. The day focuses on choosing appropriate shelter locations, constructing shelters with various materials, understanding fire use and safety, and cooking with both stoves and open fire. Students finish the day by preparing and sharing a meal they’ve cooked outdoors.
Day 6: Leave No Trace & Environmental Stewardship
Students learn and apply the principles of Leave No Trace, the nationally recognized framework for responsible outdoor use. Through instruction and peer-led teaching, students demonstrate understanding of how to minimize impact, respect wildlife, and care for shared natural spaces. The day reinforces stewardship, ethics, and leadership in outdoor environments.
Costs:
- Day Camp Option: $800.00
- Overnight Camp:
- 4 Payments: $300 each
- 2 Payments: $600 each
- Full Payment: $1,200
- Paid-In-Full Date: June 15, 2026
- No refunds will be issued once camp begins
Overnight Cost includes: housing in the dorms and meals in the campus cafeteria for the week.
Day Camp Cost includes daily lunch and two snacks.
Certifications Earned Include:
- SOLO Wilderness First Aid
- American Heart Association CPR
- Leave No Trace (LNT) Awareness
Who Should Attend?
This camp is designed for high school students ages 16–18 who are curious about any of the following:
- Wilderness skills, outdoor leadership, and adventure-based learning
- Emergency medicine, first response, and hands-on medical training
- Environmental science and conservation
- Navigation, survival skills, and self-reliance
- Teamwork, decision-making, and leadership development
- Careers in outdoor recreation, guiding, military service, public safety, environmental stewardship, or emergency response
No prior experience is required
The Alfond Community Pool Complex is a premier local swimming facility where campers can cool off, swim, and have fun in a safe and supervised environment. With spacious pools, splash areas, and plenty of room for games and water activities, it’s the perfect destination for summer adventures. Campers will enjoy swimming sessions, water challenges, and time to relax while making friends and enjoying the summer sun.
Explore the great outdoors at Quarry Road Trails, a beautiful 200-acre trail network just minutes from our camp. Campers can hike, walk, or bike winding forest and meadow paths, enjoy scenic views along Messalonskee Stream, and experience nature up close. With trails for all skill levels and plenty of space to run, play, and explore, Quarry Road Trails is the perfect off campus adventure for outdoor fun and fresh air during your summer experience.
Campers will have a blast at Gifford’s Mini Golf & Ice Cream in Waterville! Tee off with friends on the fun mini golf course, then cool down with a scoop (or two) of Gifford’s famous ice cream. It’s the perfect mix of friendly competition, laughter, and sweet treats—a classic summer adventure that everyone will remember.
Campers will enjoy an exciting outing to a Portland Sea Dogs baseball game at Hadlock Field in Portland, Maine. The Sea Dogs are a Double-A professional team affiliated with the Boston Red Sox, and their games are known for fun, family friendly entertainment in a classic ballpark atmosphere. At the game, campers can cheer on the players, enjoy ballpark snacks, take part in inbetween inning activities, and experience the thrill of live baseball under the summer sky — a perfect mix of sporty excitement and outdoor fun.
Campers will enjoy a fun-filled trip to a local movie theater, where they can relax, laugh, and watch the latest blockbuster on the big screen. It’s a perfect way to unwind, share snacks, and spend time with friends after a day full of activities, making memories, and enjoying a classic summer outing.
Campers will experience a classic Maine lobster bake, enjoying freshly cooked lobster, corn on the cob, and other traditional sides in a fun, outdoor setting. This tasty adventure is a perfect way to celebrate summer, try a local favorite, and make lasting memories with friends.
Students leave with:
- Practical outdoor and emergency skills
- Recognized certifications
- Increased confidence in decision-making
- A strong foundation in environmental responsibility.
The program emphasizes learning by doing, teamwork, and leadership in real-world outdoor settings.
Phone Numbers
- Cathy Dumont: 207-859-1211
- Darren Forkey: 207-859-1370
- Information Services: 207-859-1204
- Mail Room: 207-859-1103
- Physical Plant: 207-859-1250
- Registrar: 207-859-1108
- Safety & Security: 207-859-1399