AE Blog
Adventure Education

Remember the “Gorilla Experiment”? If not, it goes like this: participants are asked to watch a video of a group passing a ball back and forth while counting the number of times the ball is passed. All of a sudden, a person in a gorilla suit saunters through the scene. In the end, when asked if they noticed anything strange during the ball passing, a surprising number of observers...

While both accompany us to far-flung places, let’s appreciate the differences between a smart device and our adventure buddies. Having a consistent, solid partner (or squad) with whom we get after it is the White Whale of adventure pursuits. There is no substitute for a person or posse who, when facing a landscape of unknowns, we trust to be wholly oriented in the same direction....

When it comes to mixing things up, making changes, and shifting gears (a big topic for a new year), we’re all about big disruptions. Making radical changes in how we do things mirrors the full-throttle, just-do-it approach fueling social media and supporting influencer culture. January always brings all sorts of “Go big or go home” messaging as we rethink our habits.

FLC students working through new Snow and Avalanche Studies certificate (The Durango Herald) 

Students earn a bachelor’s degree in Adventure Education, the FLC Snow & Avalanche Studies certificate, and four of the industry’s most widely recognized certifications from the American Institute for Avalanche Research & Education.

Ever feel like you’re drowning? Being involved in a submersion accident isn’t a threat most of us face (though this spring looks to be bringing an epic runoff to western rivers), but we often feel overwhelmed and subsumed by our to-do list. 

Tolerance for adversity and uncertainty  is a cornerstone of the Adventure Education (AE) Department’s leadership curriculum with broad applicability.

Skiing is the economic lynchpin for many Colorado communities, providing capital to local businesses and opportunities for further economic development. The industry produces $4.8 billion in revenue in the state and provides 46,000 year-round jobs. The ski industry is also an integral part of the United States economy, generating $20 billion in economic output annually.   

This spring, Adventure Education is piloting a new course called Mindfulness: How to Do Better at Everything (AE 290).

The San Juan Mountains are a paradise for winter adventure seekers. Peaks and slopes, capped with blankets of snow, create an invitingly gorgeous and undeniably intimidating landscape. The snow can be several feet deep, forming drifts that defy gravity. It’s a wild area that beckons thrill seekers and scientists across the nation.