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Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions

Knowledge through Wilderness Adventure

How It All Works

For both expeditions and stays at Base Camp, Cottonwood Gulch provides the camping equipment, instructional staff, transportation and food throughout the course. Cottonwood Gulch can also provide a variety of programming — see program description for details.

Flying & Transportation

School groups arrange for their own travel to and from the starting point. The typical starting point is Albuquerque, NM, although some schools provide their own transportation all the way to Base Camp. Depending on the area covered by the course, we may use other starting points such as Phoenix, Tucson, or Salt Lake City. Cottonwood Gulch will arrange to pick up groups at the airport or another location. Once the group arrives, all transportation is provided by Cottonwood Gulch throughout the duration of the trip.

Rates

Rates are specific to the course and range from $35-$120 per student per day, depending on activities chosen by the school. We are pleased to provide you with a price quote. Following the Foundation's mission as an educational not-for-profit 501(c)(3), our rate packages are extremely competitive and we will work with you to fit within your school's budget. A non-refundable deposit of 20% is required to book the trip with the balance due six weeks before the start date.

Communications

We know communication on field trips is key and we strive to meet the needs and comfort levels of the students, parents, and the school. Our instructors carry cell phones and the Foundation operates a permanent office with a toll-free number and email access to facilitate easy communications. All participants should understand that a key component of a successful wilderness experience is finding the solitude and self-reliance not normally afforded in daily life. Toward this end, our programs do not allow for personal cell phones, pagers, or other electronic devices. We can provide a specific sheet of instructions and expectations for emergency and other communications during the trip.

Accommodations

Schools and students participating on a Cottonwood Gulch program understand that 'roughing it' is a central part of the experience. This is a relative term, though, and we offer a sliding scale or a few options. The most rustic choice is to camp in tents every night. We provide the tents and show your students how to set them up and care for them. Our tents are backpacking-style tents (2 to 4 person tents) and are inspected regularly and replaced every three years. The Southwest's climate and proper site selection can often yield a wonderful night's sleep outside underneath the stars as well. While at Base Camp, students have access to our permanent cabins (designed in the 1930s by Kurt Vonnegut Sr. to pay Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s tuition). The cabins sleep up to six people in open-air bunks, with mattresses, and do not have electricity or plumbing. For traveling courses, we can also arrange a stay at a hotel for a few nights at the end of the trip before students return home. All options require sleeping in a sleeping bag.

Facilities at Base Camp include a few centralized flush toilets, composting pit toilets, and a pool and communal shower house with hot water (open seasonally May to September only). When traveling on the road, facilities include portable camp toilets and access to public facilities, including toilets, showers, and laundry when necessary and as agreed upon between Cottonwood Gulch and the school.

Equipment, Staff, and Insurance Coverage

Program charges cover all normal expenses while the school group is on the trip, including food, transportation, professional guides and staffing, special events, all group camping equipment, wilderness first aid supplies, any program materials, and access to our library and custom equipment for art and science. Cottonwood Gulch does not cover professional medical treatment and schools should be ready to provide insurance information and to secure medical treatment for their students, according to their school's policies.

Safety

Cottonwood Gulch's record of safety has set the standard for outdoor education in the Southwest. Our staff instructors are professional educators and guides. Instructors have extensive experience with students in the backcountry and hold current certifications in Wilderness First Aid, rock climbing, and challenge course facilitation, as needed. Since 1926, the Foundation has a history of safe explorations and this experience helps us maintain a proper margin of safety and a high level of preventative medicine in all our activities.

Food

We pride ourselves on eating well, both at our base camp and in the backcountry. Our staff enjoy cooking and we plan menus that use fresh fruits and vegetables and change frequently. We carry coolers to store the produce, dairy, and meat. Special dietary needs are not a problem. We regularly provide vegetarian options and can accommodate food allergies (peanuts, gluten, lactose, etc.) as well. When traveling, staff prepare meals in our mobile kitchen. At base camp, meals are prepared in our fully-equipped kitchen by our staff and eaten family-style at tables that can seat 12.

The Role of Teachers

Teachers provide their students with an important perspective and link between what happens at the school and during the trip. We encourage teachers to take whatever role they are most comfortable filling during the trip. Some teachers are outdoor or environmental enthusiasts and choose to become participatory members of our staff groups, as fits their experience. Other teachers choose to fill the traditional role of a chaperone and our instructors are ready to help teachers support their own students in this way. We understand that teachers can be unique allies for students, helping them grow and learn from the challenges, often on a personal 'behind the scenes' level. Our preference is to work closely with the accompanying teachers, meeting each night for a joint faculty meeting to review the day and confer on the next day's plan.

Pre-Trip Planning & School Visits

We are committed to a personalized planning process and know that attention to detail and thorough preparation well before the departure date are the surest ways to improve the quality of your school's trip. We will work to accommodate an in-person visit to your school to talk directly with teachers, parents, and students about what to expect. Inquire with us about setting up a school visit.