Sawtooth Wilderness Leadership Expedition Presentation
October 27, 2026 07:00 PM to 08:30 PM
Barrington Student Union, Fireside Lounge
https://potsdam.campuslabs.com/engage/event/12900237
Join us for an evening of adventure, reflection, and leadership.
This past summer, Wilderness Leadership 2 students embarked on an ambitious expedition to Idaho’s Sawtooth Wilderness, the culmination of their journey as students in the Wilderness Education Program. Their adventure began with a cross-country drive and led to two weeks of backpacking through the rugged and remote backcountry of the Sawtooth Mountains.
More than an adventure, this expedition represented a defining milestone in the students’ development as wilderness leaders. Throughout their journey in the Wilderness Education Program, they studied leadership principles, developed technical skills, and gained valuable experience in the outdoors. In the Sawtooths, they put their learning into practice, drawing on their knowledge and experiences to lead, adapt, and make decisions in a dynamic and often unpredictable wilderness environment.
From navigating challenging terrain and managing group dynamics to responding to unexpected obstacles and making critical decisions, students were challenged to put their leadership to the test. Through successes, setbacks, and moments of uncertainty, they learned to trust themselves and one another, take responsibility, and lead with confidence, competence, and compassion. The expedition provided a powerful opportunity to apply what they had learned, reflect on their strengths and limitations, and discover what it truly means to lead.
Join the students as they share the story of bringing this expedition to life, the challenges they encountered, the failures that taught them the most, and the successes that made it all worthwhile. Most importantly, they’ll reflect on how this culminating experience shaped their growth as leaders and individuals, marking an important milestone in their development as thoughtful, capable, and responsible wilderness educators.
Come celebrate their accomplishments, hear the lessons learned along the way, and discover the transformative power of wilderness, teamwork, and experiential learning.