Co-founders say teens want authenticity in their educational experiences
Deer Hill Expedition participants backpack along trails near Engineer Mountain. (Courtesy of Deer Hill Expeditions)
Deer Hill Expeditions may be Southwest Colorado's best-kept secret.
At least that's what many alumni joke, according to co-founder Doug Capelin.
The Mancos-based outdoor education program is still going strong after 40 years.
Deer Hill started in 1984 under the direction of Capelin and his wife, Beverly. This program allows students to join her on three-week expeditions into the great outdoors and learn in an experiential-based model.
Over the years, Shishamo has built strong relationships with families and community leaders in the Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni pueblos. The Capelins were longtime educators in Silverton and Grand Junction.
“I took elementary school values and translated them into a form that young people could relate to,” Capelin said.
Students learn how to connect what is taught in the classroom with real-life experiences, such as field expeditions.
Expeditions typically consist of a week of rafting, several days of community service or cultural exchange projects, and a backpacking trip. During the three-week expedition, students return to base camp between segments to shower and pick up more supplies.
The Capelin Tribe strives to teach teens how to use ethics and take personal responsibility.
“At the end of the day, a lot of fundamental things matter,” Doug Capelin said. “Do you care about others? Are you listening? Do you have the courage to do something you've never done before? Are you willing to take risks? Leave your home and explore an unfamiliar environment like the great outdoors. Is it okay if I stay?”
For the community service and cultural exchange portion of the program, students stay with host families from the Navajo or Hopi and Zuni pueblos.
Capelin said part of it will depend on what kind of support the tribe needs. It could be preparing for a kachina dance, or rebuilding a bread oven or a sheep farm.
“The key is to share, connect and do things together,” Capelin says.
Young people are hungry for authenticity, Capelin said. This is something he and his wife have discovered over the past 40 years of running outdoor education programs.
“They instinctively know what's real – who's been serious with them and who's just blowing smoke,” he says. “Kids can tell if you're being honest with them or if you're just chasing them around and want to be somewhere else.”
Capelin is the executive director of the Deer Hill Foundation. The Deer Hill Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing scholarships for students to participate in field trips.
Deer Hill Expeditions is now under the ownership of his two sons-in-law. Co-owner John Palmer said the cost of a single expedition can range from $3,100 to $6,000.
However, Palmer said 60% of participants are participating in the expedition on full scholarships. That is why it is important for the Foundation to seek financial relief for those who wish to participate in the trip.
Deer Hill originally began as a summer program. But in 2008, he expanded into school programming, which runs from spring through fall.
“There's a lot of self-discovery, connection to yourself, connection to place, connection to others that happens through expeditions,” Palmer said.
Cell phones may not be used while students are participating in expeditions or other programs at Deer Hill. It's about helping children better connect with the outdoors.
Palmer said students' perceptions of cell phones and social media have changed over the past few years.
“Young people today are more aware than ever of the harms of social media,” Palmer said.
Many students enjoy time away from screens. It wasn't always like that. Palmer said staying away from phones and other electronic devices will reduce stress and mental health issues brought on by constant use of social media.
“They appreciate that we give you a reprieve and that you don't have to worry about things like that,” he said.
This reprieve comes from knowing that you can form genuine connections with other participants on your expedition. Palmer said Deer Hill is invested in combining Deer Hill Expeditions and the Deer Hill Foundation into one nonprofit organization.
He said it will help manage Deer Hill's mission for the next 40 years.
“We are a program that helps young people reach their potential,” Capelin said. “The nature and service we do is how we do it.”
tbrown@durangoherald.com
