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RIVER SCHOLARS
 

RIVER SCHOLARS

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

CAMPBELL SCHOLARS PROGRAM​

 

GATES OF LODORE RIVER TRIP

 UTAH’S GREEN RIVER

Our Capstone Adventure will provide a cohort of BHGH scholars with a weeklong experience in the summer between their junior and senior years of high school. The goal is to have this adventure serve three outcomes:

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  1. Reward the scholar’s hard work with an awe-inspiring travel experience that will expand their belief systems about what is possible in life

  2. Instill a sense of global citizenship

  3. Utilize the documentary storytelling arts to prepare each student to write a compelling college essay, or personal life statement upon their return home.

2023 SCHEDULE

Spring Pre-Trip Seminars

  • In the spring leading into the 2023 Capstone Adventure, Open Roads delivers three hybrid, pre-trip seminars focused on instilling a foundation of storytelling, and preparing the scholars for the expectations and opportunities our adventure will hold.

Sunday, July 23rd

  • Arrive at the Salt Lake City Airport

  • Begin travel as a group to Vernal, Utah

  • Set up camp at Dinosaur National Park

Monday, July 24th

  • Explore Dinosaur National Park's prehistoric landscape

  • Meet Holiday River Guides for a basic introduction to river travel and to pick up gear

  • Pack for the adventure ahead

  • Set intentions for values focus, photography, and writing

Tuesday, July 25th

  • Depart for the river!

  • Watch for raptors and pronghorns on the three-hour drive from Vernal to the put-in at Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge

  • Enter the canyon through the impressive Gates of Lodore and imagine you’re entering the great unknown

  • This day offers the first major rapids we’ll navigate

  • Spend the night sleeping under the moon and stars with an epic chance to see the night sky as never before

Wednesday, July 26th

  • The “Gates” marks the beginning of high desert country (the Colorado Plateau) in what is deemed an ecological transition-zone: a landscape teeming with wildlife

  • As the canyon narrows, more rapids emerge, and we have the chance to discover a secluded waterfall

Thursday, July 27th

  • At the confluence of the Green and Yampa rivers at Echo Park, the canyon widens and the river circles Steamboat Rock

  • Beyond this, the river cuts through the dramatic Mitten Park Fault and then enters Whirlpool Canyon

  • The afternoon may be spent at Jones Hole Creek, a blue-ribbon trout stream with side canyon petroglyphs and a waterfall

Friday, July 28th

  • Enjoy a peaceful morning in Island and Rainbow parks before entering another massive gorge

  • The Green’s powerful forces cut laterally through Split Mountain’s uplifted and colorful core

  • Slide into the take-out at approximately 2:00 p.m. Our expected time of arrival back at our headquarters is 4:00 p.m.

  • Drive to Salt Lake City for a final banquet and prepare for return home

Saturday, July 29th

  • All participants fly home from SLC, departing before noon

Post-Trip Follow Up

  • In the fall following our adventure, Open Roads will work in partnership with BHGH to help the participants take the next step with the storytelling work that began on the adventure, and apply it to the writing of the college essays or personal statements.

Participant Forms


Please complete all forms below. Holiday River Expedition Forms are to be completed via the links. If you have any questions please email sam@openroads.org.

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