First Ascent Youth Leadership Program
June 22-27, 2025
Learn to be a leader!
Spend a fun week at CMC Spring Valley at Glenwood Springs making new friends while learning practical leadership skills through outdoor activities. Experience five days on a college campus and return home with new confidence in your abilities as a leader. The best news? It's free!
Get outside while learning new skills!
During the program, you'll get to:
- Team-build and gain leadership skills
- Rock climb in Rifle Mountain Park
- Raft the Colorado River
- Hike the Roaring Fork Valley
This free program is available to current (spring 2025) 8th and 9th grade students from our CMC in-district schools in these in-district counties: Pitkin, Garfield, Summit, Lake, Eagle, Chaffee, and Routt. This is a competitive program, spots are limited.
Each year, four participants from the prior year come back to act as peer counselors, taking the learning a step further. One former participant is chosen each year to assist the facilitator. Once they turn 18, past participants can come back as staff counselors. Acting as mentors for a new group students brings the lessons full circle.
Applications are closed for 2025.
Have Questions?
If you have any questions about the First Ascent program or application process, please reach out to:
Alejandro Jaquez-Caro
Hablo español
ajaquez-caro@coloradomtn.edu
970-947-8329
Sign up to be notified when applications open next year!