HBC Wilderness Program

The Wilderness Program provides wilderness education, both in the classroom and in the field, to develop an interdisciplinary educational approach to the natural world, and to foster a respect for the environment. The Wilderness Program also provides a variety of opportunities for students to develop leadership and teamwork skills while developing minimum impact camping skills, navigation, and improving their self-esteem. Since it's inception in 2004, students have participated on bi-weekly day hikes, stewardship projects, rafting trips, and backpacking trips into remote wilderness areas throughout California.Our wilderness program is up and running. We take several trips every year. Would you like to join us? If so, please come and talk with Mr. Curtis or Mr. Evanson.


The Wilderness Program provides our students with a variety of opportunities to experience the natural world.104_1531.JPG

Backpacking 

Since the first trip in September 2005 the backpacking program has expanded from three trips per year to six. In addition to developing wilderness skills in leadership, navigation, natural history identification, and minimum impact camping skills, the Wilderness Program now facilitates and supports two trips each year with the Phoenix Program, our drug and alcohol recovery program.

The Backpacking Program has taken students to the following locations:

Ansel Adam Wilderness Area

Carson-Iceburg Wilderness Area

Desolations Wilderness Area

Emigrant Wilderness Area

Henry Coe State Park

John Muir Wilderness Area

Meiss Country Roadless Area, South Lake Tahoe

Mount Lassen National Park

Pinnacles National Monument

Point Reyes National Seashore

Snow Mountain Wilderness Area

Ventana Wilderness Area

Yolla-Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness Area

Yosemite National Park

Day Hikes

Stewarship

Archbishop Hanna High School students have participated on a variety of stewardship service projects. Students have worked on planting native plants, irrigation systems, organic farms, and trail maintenance.

Our school has worked with the following organizations:

  • Point Reyes Bird Observatory:
    Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed (STRAW)
  • California State Parks
  • Green String Institute, Petaluma, CA
  • Sonoma Ecology Center, Sonoma, CA
  • Bouverie Preservse, Glen Ellen, CA

Rafting

  • Started in June 2008 in partnership with Inner City Outings, a volunteer division of the Sierra Club
  • 6 to 12 students participate in every June
  • Students have visited the American River, Carson River, and Kings River