Safety

As parents we share your commitment to safety; our own children participate in our programs. Regardless of how beneficial a program could be, it is worthless unless an effective safety system is in place and implemented by knowledgeable staff. This attention to safety determines how we design our expeditions, who we hire as instructors, and what decisions we make in the field.

Our programs are accredited by the American Camp Association (link). Additionally, instructors are certified as Wilderness First Responders and certified or recognized by the industry standard setting organizations in their respective activity areas of leadership. The safety of a great expedition will depend on the experience and professionalism of the directors and their instructors.

Each expedition is committed to the following:

Intentionally Designed Expeditions: Each expedition has been carefully designed so that participants have ownership in the safety of the group.

Outstanding Christian Leadership: Black Mountain Expeditions leaders are experienced and proven not only in the technical skills but in discipleship, judgment, decision making, teaching and ultimately in caring for the participants in the expedition.

Industry Standard: We actively pursue involvement with the industry standard-setting organizations in the field. These include The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, the American Mountain Guide Association, the Professional Climbing Instructors Association, the American Canoe Association, the American Camp Association, and the Wilderness Education Association.

Small Expedition Size: Depending on the nature of the expedition, group size will vary between 7 and 12 participants with 2 or 3 instructors.

Group Contract: Participants are required to share a commitment to their own and the group’s safety. The group commits to care for each other’s physical, emotional and spiritual safety.

Professional Development: Prior to our summer expeditions, instructors will participate in an intensive 10-day evaluation.

The right participant for the right expedition: Black Mountain Expeditions is committed to each expedition having the right people. This includes the right instructor and the right participants. Each instructor goes through an intensive application and interview process and we check each reference. Each participant also has an extensive application with reference checks.