From zero to hero all in one go.
Ready to level-up your skills and dive deep into becoming a wilderness leader?
Want to go deep with God and see how wilderness ministry can change a life?
If so, the Wilderness Leadership Minor could be for you! This minor is an intensive summer semester that packages all the key courses you need to become a wilderness leader and a wilderness ministry professional. It will be an extended time in deep wilderness settings with a vibrant, authentic community – creating bonds that are deep and true.
As a team you will begin with following in the footsteps of Jesus and spend 40 Days and 40 Nights in the wilderness. Next you will take a pause to rest and reflect as you prepare for the Wilderness Ministry Professional Course. The WMPC begins with the Transformational Leadership Class to take you deeper into emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and your identity. By late spring you will head out to backpack in the desert for two weeks to focus on growing as a leader being equipped as a professional wilderness guide. And finally, completing your hard skills arsenal, you will take Rock Instructor I and gain the skills and expertise to safely lead groups rock climbing and rappelling. It won’t be easy but it will be worth it. Are you ready?
DETAILS
June 15, 2025 – June 18, 2026*
Arrive: 8 am | Depart: 5 pm
*Dates are tentative
Scholarships also available from Leave No Trace. (Must be enrolled to apply)
Age
20+
Duration
80 DAYS
START & END BASE
LOCATION(S)
Vedauwoo, Snowy Range Mountains, Wind River Range, Grand Canyon NP
Academic Credit
Essential Eligibility
There are no prerequisites for this course except a desire to learn and grow. We will teach you the skills of rock climbing and backpacking, including the essential backcountry skills of gourmet cooking and using the bathroom in the wilderness.
Physical Ability:
- Carry a backpack 40-60% of your body weight, hiking 4-8 miles a day on the backpacking section
- Hike and camp at elevations of 8,000 ft. and up
- Long days, often up at 6am and in bed at 9pm
We understand the physical requirements may be overwhelming, but we find most people can train and do great. We provide a training plan to help you be physically prepared for your trip so you can succeed and have the most fun.
Major Skills Learned
TALK TO AN ADVENTURE SPECIALIST
We would be happy to chat. Call (307) 755-0642 or email admissions@srom.org.
Itinerary
ARRIVAL
Section 1 // Rock Climbing
With packs packed, you’ll head out to a world-class venue for rock climbing in Laramie Peaks and Vedauwoo Recreation Area. Here you will start your time in community, learning to exercise trust and acquiring tools for overcoming fear. You will learn basic climbing knots, how to belay a climber, and climbing techniques.
Each day will have a spiritual theme with family time in the evenings that often includes worship, teaching and discussion. Your leaders will also model for you what it means to be a leader of the day (LOD) and then you will get a chance to be a leader of the day for at least one of the days on course.
A Typical Rock Climbing Day:
(times are estimates and will vary)
6:00 AM – Breakfast: cook breakfast with your cook group
8:30 AM: Gear packed for a day of rock climbing
Noon – Lunch: Eat while out climbing
3:30 PM: Head back to base camp
4:00 PM: Time Alone with God (TAG), typically 1hr, and/or teaching.
5:00 PM – Dinner: Make dinner with your cook group
7:00 PM: Family Time – debrief day, worship, and devotional/teaching
9:00 PM: Bedtime
Section 2 // Mountaineering
From your climbing section you will be shuttled to the Snowy Range Mountains where you will undergo Mountaineering training and Snow Rescue school. Here you will continue your time in community, learning to exercise trust and acquiring tools for overcoming fear. You will learn basic climbing knots, how to self arrest, and climbing techniques.
Each day will have a spiritual theme with family time in the evenings that often includes worship, teaching and discussion. Your leaders will also model for you what it means to be a leader of the day (LOD) and then you will get a chance to be a leader of the day for at least one of the days on course.
A Typical Day:
(times are estimates and will vary)
6:00 AM – Breakfast: cook breakfast with your cook group
8:30 AM: Gear packed for snow school
Noon – Lunch: Eat while on the snow
3:30 PM: Head back to base camp
4:00 PM: Time Alone with God (TAG), typically 1hr, and/or teaching.
5:00 PM – Dinner: Make dinner with your cook group
7:00 PM: Family Time – debrief day, worship, and devotional/teaching
9:00 PM: Bedtime
Section 3 // Backpacking
You will head deeper into the Wind River Range. There you will see towering peaks, beautiful alpine lakes and streams, meadows of wildflowers, and incredible starlit skies in some of the finest wilderness areas in North America. We will teach you the technical outdoor skills to thrive in the mountains, learning things such as campsite selection, route finding, and navigation.
In this section, you will also get an extended time to reflect and spend time alone with God on a solo. The lessons will build upon each other, putting it all to the test with your final peak attempt.
A Typical Backpacking Day:
(times are estimates and will vary)
6:00 AM – Breakfast: cook breakfast with your cook group
8:30 AM: Pack-up camp and head to your next campsite
Noon – Lunch: Enjoy lunch at a scenic spot on the trail
3:00 PM: Get to your new campsite and setup camp
4:00 PM: Time Alone with God (TAG), typically 1hr, and/or teaching.
5:00 PM – Dinner: Make a tasty dinner with your cook group
7:00 PM: Family Time – debrief day, worship, and devotional/teaching
9:00 PM: Bedtime
Special Days:
- Solo
- Peak Attempt
- Student Led Travel
Section 4 // TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP CLASS
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Self-Awarnesss
Emotional intelligence and self-awareness have the power to change our relationships and our community in profound ways. Through applying interpersonal neurobiology and understanding the importance of our identity within our relationships, we will come to a richer connection with others, the world, and our self.
We will be doing this by diving into and beginning to intentionally explore the intricateness of how we have been created and how to apply this in the way we facilitate and grow healthy communities. This includes, but is not limited to, exploring the interconnectedness of attachment, attunement, boundaries, impact and repair, story, and power.
This is a course, if you allow it, that will challenge you to explore relationships and yourself in ways that have the power to transform you. If you are ready for such a challenge, we invite you to join this course.
Taught by:
Andrew Arnold, Executive Director of Solid Rock Outdoor Ministries (SROM)
Chelsea Van Essen, LCSW, Clinical Director of Logos Wilderness Therapy & SROM’s Mental Health Advisor
Jessica Roberts, Director of Operations for Logos Wilderness Therapy
Section 5 // Wilderness ministry professionals course
Once your 40 day portion of your Minor concludes you will head into the wilderness for a 14 day intenssive instructor training course that equips you with a deeper understanding of SROM ciriculum as well as continual building upon what you have learned during your summer on both your WFR and 40 day course. This section is backpacking only and reflects the same type of schedule as the backpacking section. This course is required for anyone who has interest in instructing for SROM.
Special Days:
- Solo
- Peak Attempt
- Student Led Travel
Section 6 // Rock Instructor 1
The final section of the WLM is our 7 day Rock Instructor course which utilizes learning introductory climbing, lead climbing, top rope setting and rappeling. This course is a required pre requiset if you have interest in instructing for SROM for the rock climbing portions of our courses.
Students do not base camp during this course. Nor does SROM provide meals. Please plan accordingly.
A Typical Instruction Day:
(times are estimates and will vary)
7:00 AM – Arrive to begin the day
8:30 AM: Drive to the crag
Noon – Lunch: Eat while out climbing
5:30 PM – Arrive back at HQ
Departure
*This meal is not covered by SROM as it is outside of the official course. However, it is a good thing to plan for.
PHOTOS & VIDEO
Testimonies of Transformation
I didn’t expect how much God would use this time away from the world’s distractions to speak tenderly to my soul. Though this time, scripture, books and conversation, I learned about many areas of my life where I desperately needed my Abba, Father – someone! I’ve never really connected to God. I also learned about the power of naming my fears, and how I can pay more attention to my emotions and grow in expressing them and learning what God is showing me through them.
Overall, Jesus used these days in the wilderness just as Hosea 2:14 promises: “Therefore I will allure her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. I will turn her valleys of trouble into doors of hope.”
Early
Applications before March 1st- The regular price of $12200 per person
Early Bird
Applications before January 1st- The regular price of $12200 per person
Regular
Applications March 1st - 60 days priorBring a friend and you'll both save $50!
Questions About Covid-19
What if SROM has to cancel the course?
You will receive a full refund if we need to cancel the course.
Should I get travel insurance?
Yes, we highly recommend getting travel insurance and checking to see if it covers Covid-19 or not.
Not only is travel insurance helpful for a potential change in plans or a course closure, some travel insurance plans will also cover if you needed to be evacuated from a course for a medical emergency.
QUESTIONS?
What is Wilderness Ministry?
Get a FREE mailed catalog to learn about our philosophy of wilderness ministry that we have developed over 40 years. Topics include:
- Why Wilderness?
- Creation Deficit Disorder
- The Reward of Risk
- Leadership Development
- Philosophy of Education
- and much more!