Last weekend, eighty students set out in advisory-based groups for Steamboat Mountain School’s annual Orientation Expedition (OE), a cornerstone of our outdoor education program. Supported by faculty trip leaders, students explored routes from Bear Lakes and the Flattops to Buff Pass and the Mount Zirkel Wilderness. Over three days, groups covered approximately 10 to 19 miles, carried everything needed for life on the trail, and learned to navigate changing weather, long hikes, camp chores, and the daily decisions of backcountry travel.

For students seeking an experiential school, experiences like OE show how experiential learning can build confidence, resilience, and connection. At SMS, the outdoors is not simply an extracurricular activity, it is a meaningful part of how students learn. During the expedition, students developed practical wilderness skills, including packing and caring for gear, purifying water, using camp stoves, navigating, selecting campsites, and practicing Leave No Trace principles.

They also practiced leadership and teamwork in real time: sharing group gear, encouraging one another on the trail, preparing meals in cook groups, and contributing to evening campfires and reflections. These shared responsibilities help students become capable, thoughtful members of a community.

For many students, the expedition was their first extended opportunity to connect with classmates outside the routines of campus. A challenging stretch of trail, a shared meal, or the work of setting up camp became an opportunity to build trust, discover new strengths, and learn where support or growth may be needed.

For new students, Orientation Expedition offered an especially meaningful introduction to life at Steamboat Mountain School. They arrived on campus and quickly became part of a team and gained a sense of belonging that will carry into the school year ahead.