EXPERIENCE FULL
Village Outdoor Leadership School
CONCENTRATION
EGL
LOCATION
Mammoth Lakes, CA
DATES
January 19, 2026 - January 23, 2026
EXPERIENCE CONTACT
Kelcie Mandl
ESTIMATED COST
$1,500
DESCRIPTION
Explore Mammoth, climb and ski mountains, and expand your confidence as you learn leadership and outdoor skills from professional mountain guides.
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Deposit Amount: $100 (non-refundable)
Deposits are due at the time of enrollment.
Registration will be completed through Camp Brain.
BRIDGING GOD'S CREATION AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Village Outdoor Leadership School (VOLS) gives students the chance to step out of their comfort zones and into the adventure of the Sierra Nevada.
Partnering with Valhalla Mountain Guides—one of the top guiding teams in the Sierras—students are mentored by world-class professionals who combine technical expertise with a heart for teaching young people.
Over the course of five days, students experience three unforgettable pillars of adventure: backcountry exploration, mountain snow sports, and community connection. In the backcountry, professional guides introduce students to snowshoeing, backcountry skiing and snowboarding, avalanche safety, wilderness navigation, and snow shelter building. At Mammoth Mountain, students spend a full day skiing and snowboarding, applying what they’ve learned in a world-class alpine setting. Evenings are spent together around shared meals, nightly devotions, and fun activities that create lasting bonds.
Our hope is that this program will inspire students with greater confidence, resilience, and a deeper appreciation for the beauty of creation.
DAY ONE | Monday, Jan 19 | Travel & Orientation
Travel together from Los Angeles to Mammoth, settle into the lodge, and enjoy some fun in the snow. Evening devotion and group activities kick off the week.
DAY TWO | Tuesday, Jan 20 | Backcountry Education I
With Valhalla Mountain Guides, students begin learning avalanche safety, snow travel skills like snowshoeing, and wilderness navigation, followed by dinner, devotion, and night activities.
DAY THREE | Wednesday, Jan 21 | Backcountry Education II
Students advance their skills in backcountry skiing or snowboarding, snow science, and snow-shelter building, while practicing leadership and teamwork in the outdoors.
DAY FOUR | Thursday, Jan 22 | Mammoth Mountain Ski & Snowboard Day
A full day on the slopes at Mammoth Mountain, with guided lessons, group skiing and snowboarding, and an evening celebration dinner with closing devotion.
DAY FIVE | Friday, Jan 23 | Reflection & Travel Home
Students pack up, share reflections from the week, and return to Los Angeles with new outdoor skills, friendships, and confidence.
