BOSS Backpacking
Brave Outdoor Self Series
East / April / Backpacking
If you were a little bit braver, what would you have the courage to do?
Backpacking - April 6-10, 2020 - Asheville, NC
Join 9 other camp pros and your facilitators Ruby and Ange for a four-night, five-day backpack in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Carolinas. This experience is designed for female-identifying camp directors and outdoor professionals in their first four years of their current role. Build community with other #camppros, grow your outdoor skills, and discover your brave-est self. Embedded in this course are opportunities for deep conversation about the highlights and challenges of the work camp people do as well as the opportunity for guided meditation and reflection. Each day features coursework covering best practices in communication, supervision, marketing, storytelling, and management. Participants also explore project and task management through practicing outdoor ethics and camping skills while relating these hands-on experiences to their leadership work at camp.
Meet Your Instructors
Ruby Compton - Lead Instructor (East) - Ruby has over 15 years of camp and outdoor program experience in day, overnight, and school-year programming. As a planning team member of the Women in Camp Summit and faculty member for Go Camp Pro, Ruby has come to cherish her time spent gathering with other heart-centered leaders and supporting folks who are doing important work, especially in the summer camp field. Ruby also believes the Blue Ridge Mountains have a particularly healing and reflective power about them. She is passionate about sharing her “home mountains” with others and assisting camp pros with establishing smart work habits, nature connection, and finding pathways to growth in their lives. Learn more about Ruby’s adventures and work at https://rubyoutdoors.com or on Instagram @rubyoutdoors.
Ange Atkinson - Lead Instructor (West) - Ange is a summer camp pro, self-care warrior, and soulful leadership & lifestyle coach. In the past decade of camp directing Ange’s personal healing journey inspired her to provide personal development to all the camp director warriors out there. Ange is also a 200-hr RYT Yoga Instructor, Reiki healer, and Embody Love Movement facilitator, and she weaves these modalities with experiential education to guide people to be fully present in their bodies so they can lead from their authentic hearts - reminding all of us that the way we care for ourselves is the way we teach and facilitate. You can hear more from Ange on her podcast Brave Director and follow her on instagram @ange.atkinson for daily wisdom nuggets.
What’s included in your course tuition?
Shuttle to and from the Asheville NC or Greenville SC airports for participants who fly
Parking for participants who drive and shuttles to and from trailheads
All meals from Monday dinner to Friday lunch
Small-group, facilitated workshops covering communication, supervision, marketing, storytelling, management, self-care
Leave No Trace Trainer course
Use of group gear (shelters, backpacking stoves, kitchen pots/pans, bear canisters, first aid kit, etc)
One-on-one time with speakers Ruby Compton and Ange Atkinson
Unforgettable views, conversation, and community
Course ObjectivesBy the end of this course, each participant will
receive one-on-one coaching and feedback on teaching skills.
grow and practice communication skills to speak compassionately and assertively with partners, parents, and staff.
examine day-to-day work habits and practice researched time management and project management skills for getting tasks done whether working independently or cooperatively.
be recognized as Leave No Trace Trainer by LNT Center for Outdoor Ethics.
experience restorative nature time leaving participants rejuvenated, excited, and inspired by the work that they are returning home to.
increase self-confidence in navigating the camping industry as well as in management and storytelling skills so participants may work more autonomously and professionally in all aspects of their roles.
F. A. Q.
What if I have never backpacked? Can I go on this trip?
Email Ruby and let’s chat! This backpack is not designed as an introduction to backpacking course; however, it is designed as a relatively easy route with skill-building (including outdoor skills) in the curriculum. It is encouraged that folks who attend this course have camped before, including sleeping outdoors in a tent/shelter/tarp/etc (basically anything outside of a car or camper). Don’t not apply because you haven’t ever backpacked. Email Ruby first and we’ll work through the criteria first! You. Can. Do. This.
If backpacking isn’t your thing, check back for more details on the BOSS West retreat happening late summer/early fall 2020. More details coming soon.
I don’t have or don’t know that I have the appropriate backpacking gear. OR I have backpacking gear, but I don’t want to fly across the country with it. Help!
If you need backpacking gear, that’s okay! We are partnering with a local outdoor education program, Inside Out, to rent personal gear that is needed. Part of the first day of the program will be checking and fitting gear for everyone and supplementing everyone’s personal gear with group gear that will be shared among participants. Inside Out has graciously offered a rental package for anyone who needs it whether it is because you don’t own the gear or don’t have a way or don’t want to haul it to the course.
I have a food allergy/dietary restriction. Can you accommodate?
All meals have a vegetarian alternative/preparation option. Gluten, egg, dairy, and nut allergy substitutes are provided upon request. Additional allergies/dietary restrictions can be accommodated on a case-by-case basis. Please email Ruby with questions. Check back for a menu for the program (coming soon!)
