COLORADO: TAILS OF KINDNESS

This middle school program combines adventure exploration through the plains of Wyoming and Colorado with service work at an animal sanctuary with a dedicated mission to rehabilitate laboratory animals and find them their forever homes. Enjoy hiking, climbing, rafting, camping, and immersing yourself in nature as we explore the adventurous scenery of the local national parks. Then get your hands dirty as we help dogs, cats, pigs, horses, and other animals at Kindness Ranch, gaining service hours as we support the incredible work they do.

Activities

• Explore: Rocky Mountain National Park

• Whitewater Rafting: Cache la Poudre River

• Climbing: Estes Park

• Paddleboard: Horsetooth Reservoir

• Hike: Emerald Lake, Guernsey State Park

• Learn: Animal Care, Sustainable Farming

Service

A Certificate of Community Service indicating the total number of hours worked and a group Presidential Volunteer Service Award will be issued upon successful completion of the program. Service work could include some of the following:

• Animal enrichment socializing cats and dogs

• Moving hay and firewood

• Helping restore fencing by building, sanding, and painting

• Other basic construction to support the sanctuary maintenance

WHAT IS INCLUDED AND EXCLUDED IN TRIP TUITION

The trip tuition listed above includes accommodations, activities, meals, and group gear. The tuition does not include personal gear and clothing, travel insurance, spending money, and travel expenses such as airfare to and from the start and end of the program, unaccompanied minor fees, and baggage fees.

Accommodations and showering

Accommodations are private housing (Airbnb-style) for 4 nights in Fort Collins, and tent camping for 9 nights in Rocky Mountain National Park and at Kindness Ranch. Bedrooms in the private home will be divided by gender and participants will sleep slumber party-style – in sleeping bags, rotating available beds nightly, and sharing beds as needed. For tent camping, we aim for it to be 2 participants in a 3-person tent or 3 participants in a 4-person tent with luggage.

Bathrooms and showers can be rustic so please be prepared. In an effort to save time and conserve water resources in the areas we are traveling, participants will have access to showers every 3-4 days even when showers are readily available in private housing accommodations. Bathrooms are a mix between flush toilets and latrines.

FOOD

Participants on this trip will plan, prepare, and eat meals as a group. Split up into smaller cook crews, each crew will have the chance to prepare a meal approximately once per day. This process is supervised by staff who offer advice on nutrition, and menu planning, and ensure safe food storage, preparation, and handling.

Meals are prepared on back-country-style camp stoves. Meals are nutritious and filling, but the back-country nature of the program often necessitates a simpler menu than a restaurant or home cook might allow. Some meals are prepared in Airbnb-style accommodations with access to a full kitchen.

We are able to accommodate all dietary requirements and preferences.

TRAVEL

Families are individually responsible for booking their own airfare or making their own travel arrangements to get their student from home to Denver (DEN) on the first day of the trip, and from Denver (DEN) to home on the last day of the trip. RLT will provide exact windows of time that we require all students to arrive and depart within. It is imperative that no one make any travel arrangements until RLT directs them to do so.

TRAVEL INSURANCE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Road Less Traveled does not provide its own insurance nor do we require travel insurance for domestic trips. However, travel insurance can protect your investment in your participant's trip from the risk of unexpected expenses from last-minute cancellations or early trip departure. If you are interested in more details regarding travel insurance, please visit our FAQ page or you may contact a member of our team at info@theroadlesstraveled.com or 773-342-5200.

TECHNOLOGY

As part of the RLT experience, our trips are electronic-free. While it is encouraged to travel with cell phones, leaders will collect phones and any other personal devices after all participants arrive on the first day. It can feel tough initially to not have access to your phone, but it really helps everyone in the group to connect and have a really great trip experience. This includes phones, iPods, tablets, gaming devices, music devices, smartwatches, etc. All electronics will be held by RLT leaders, kept safe and dry for the duration of the trip, and returned at the end of the program. All cameras, go pros, etc. are acceptable and can be kept with you! If you do not have a camera, please note that leaders will also be taking photos throughout the program, and these photos will be shared through an online gallery.