Colorado: 2025 Climate Leaders Fellowship Summit

Our retreat center is located in nature far from the city, and is more like a hostel or college dormitory than a hotel. You’ll be sleeping in a gender-specific dormitory with 15 bunk beds and a shared bathroom. The facility will also have comfortable common spaces to hang out, including a large kitchen, living spaces, and plenty of outdoor and communal areas to relax and connect with the group.

We are partnering with local community leaders and organizations to identify and prioritize the needs of each community. Please note that while we try our best to ensure we provide our advertised projects, some changes may occur due to the communities and project partners we work with.

This program involves adventure activities and volunteer work that require students to be physically active. We may go on a 6-mile hike or do a ropes course or ride a zip line, so be ready to be active.

Your program leaders will be preparing most of our meals at the retreat center, and meals will be simple yet nourishing (such as cereal, yogurt, fruit for breakfast; sandwiches for lunch; pasta or burgers with salad for dinner). Students will help to prepare meals as a team with their leaders on some days.

Dietary Requirements/Food Allergies: We can usually accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other common dietary requirements/ allergies on this program. Please make sure to include this in your medical form so that our staff can prepare and we always recommend bringing along some of your own favorite snacks!

The tap water is safe to drink! Don’t forget your reusable water bottle!

Temperatures will typically range between the mid 40s (at night) and low 80s (during the day) Rain is also not unusual, so pack a rain coat.

Flights: Students will fly in and out of Denver International Airport (DEN), where our team will be there to meet your student at the airport. Please ensure flights align with the following arrival and departure windows:
 
—Students must book a flight arriving on August 4th before 12:30 pm Mountain Time.

—Students must book a flight departing on August 7th after 2:30 pm Mountain Time.

Visas: Students traveling with Rustic Pathways on passports not issued by the United States are responsible for determining their own visa requirements.

Internal Travel: There are no internal flights on this program.

We encourage students to disconnect while at the CLF Summit. We will provide photo updates to families every day through your My Rustic portal. That being said, we understand that students and parents may want to stay in touch throughout the program. Students will have regular access to cell service, and the retreat center has wifi but it is quite slow (which is more reason to try to disconnect from your device).

Personal gifts, internet, phone calls, and snacks are not included. All other costs (accommodation, meals, in-country transportation, and activities) are included in the program price.

We recommend $100 to cover souvenirs and incidentals.

Laundry will not be provided on this program unless in an emergency. Please pack accordingly.

For all daytime activities (community service, meetings, hiking), students should wear layers, like hiking pants or shorts and light weight shirts with additional layers (like a lightweight long-sleeve shirt or thin sweatshirt). While we are at the retreat center during the evening, we recommend casual and comfortable clothes.

Ensuring the safety of your teen as they travel with Rustic Pathways is a top priority. Please review our Health and Safety measures.

Our Travel Protection Plan helps protect our participants, their belongings, and their travel investment in those unforeseen circumstances that may arise during travel. Learn more about the plan offered through our partner.