Our Approach.

SOLES’ Outdoor Leadership program is a yearlong commitment serving high school women (including non-binary and queer) youth through the following components:

  • Outdoor Adventure

    Each cohort of 10-12 "sisters" engages in an 8-10 day summer backpacking trip, a winter avalanche education program, and a desert camping excursion in the spring.

  • Environmental Stewardship

    SOLES teams up with Mountain Studies Institute and the Forest Service for a bi-annual environmental restoration project.

  • Student Mentorship

    Instructors meet 1-on-1 with SOLE Sisters to provide consistent mentoring and leadership coaching.

  • Community Development

    Our group meets on a monthly basis for community dinners and workshops.

Phase 1: Summer Backpacking Trip

SOLE “Sisters” begin this year-round program with a backpacking expedition through the San Juan Mountains in the summer. Each cohort is comprised of a group of 10-12 local high school students committed to developing wilderness and leadership skills, self-awareness, and healthy lifestyle choices. While on expedition, participants will develop basic competence in wilderness navigation and travel, as well as the leadership skills necessary to more confidently address life’s challenges. At the same time, sisters will build a strong internal community pivotal to their success both in and beyond the backcountry portion of their SOLES experience. Our educational approach will focus on moving through the four dimensions of learning -- awareness, analysis, integration and application.

Phase II: Yearlong Community Building

Upon returning from the backcountry, San Juan Mountain SOLES works with participants to transfer the skills and awareness gained on the expedition to their daily lives. Sisters work with adult mentors to set goals and develop a plan for how to continue to live healthy lives, build on our leadership and be active and engaged citizens. To support the work, our group will continue to meet monthly for dinners where we’ll have workshops related to SOLES’ core outcomes and co-plan our other outdoor adventure expeditions. SOLE Sisters will also engage in environmental stewardship projects with the Forest Service and MSI, and regularly meet with their mentors for leadership coaching.

As sisters progress through the program, they will have the opportunity to become peer mentors for our younger participants. Upon graduation from high school, SOLES alumni may return as instructors-in-training.

Each year, between June and May, SOLE Sister cohorts plan and embark on at least 3 outdoor adventures including the kick-off summer backpacking trip, a winter hut trip, and a spring desert adventure!

Why choose SOLES?

At Sisters on Leadership Expeditions (SOLES) we believe that outdoor adventure, leadership development and mentorship are critical ingredients in helping high school women, including non-binary and queer folks, find their voice and live their best selves.
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We also know that wild places have a way of changing us from the inside out, moving us to action. With SOLES, high school youth have access to wilderness expeditions, mentors, training and community support to help shape leadership skills, passion for environmental justice, and hearts and minds for service.