Our southwest Colorado camp is located between Cortez and Durango in the La Plata Mountains. The Durango airport is the most convenient to our camp. Pick-up and drop-off can be arranged for a fee.
For those who are driving, we are:
16 miles to Durango, CO
103 miles to Moab, UT
215 miles to Grand Junction, CO
285 miles to Albuquerque, NM
335 miles to Salt Lake City, UT
Going east or west on Colorado Hwy 160 between Cortez and Durango, turn N. at La Plata Canyon and proceed about 6 miles to the camp. Our camp is on the right just beyond the National Forest’s Kroeger campground.
A typical day of training might look like this:
- Wake up around 7 am. Take time for personal devotions.
- Group worship will start at 7:30 while the kitchen crew prepares breakfast
- Breakfast will begin about 8 a.m. Students will do the clean up afterwards.
- Following breakfast, we practice survival and SAR skills for the rest of the day. Training takes place in camp or somewhere else nearby, or both. We take snacks and sack lunches for chow.
- Supper is served between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m.
- We finish the day with evening worship together.
There is time throughout the day to take care of personal tasks.
Weather
The weather in southwest Colorado is marked by 300 days of annual sunshine, mild temperatures and record snowfalls in the mountains. Our La Plata Canyon camp is situated at an altitude of approximately 8500 ft. so summers can still be comfortably cool, but chilly at night. Please keep in mind that the weather in Colorado can change rapidly. Rain or snow showers are possible and temperatures can vary from 25 degrees to 80 degrees on a day in May through August. This means that wool and synthetic blends are preferred over cotton clothing. Try to bring “layering” clothes that include both cotton and wool/synthetic. The following chart shows average temperatures for Durango, our closest town, but the camp might have temperatures 10 degrees cooler than this.
Average High and Low temperatures for Durango, CO:
| Summer: | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep |
| 61/26 | 71/33 | 83/41 | 87/49 | 84/47 | 76/39 | |
| Winter: | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar |
| 65/29 | 51/20 | 41/10 | 38/6 | 44/13 | 52/20 |
Lodging
Students who choose to do their training in Colorado will have their base camp in the picturesque La Plata Mountains near Durango. This camp is centrally located to access 14,000 ft. mountain peaks, excellent climbing and rappelling sites, and challenging river experiences. Students will be housed in their own tents.
Meals
Because many of our programs are customized, sometimes the group wishes to take care of their own meals, in which case WWA can provide cooking gear only (stoves, pots/pans, etc) and the students can do the rest.
If WWA provides your meals, we ask for $15/day to cover food costs. Healthy, tasty vegetarian meals are served for breakfast and dinner. Students are normally in training away from camp during the lunch hour, so students pack their lunches after breakfast and take them to the training site. Fresh fruit and vegetables are prepared several times throughout the week, and we strive to keep dishes low in sugar and processed foods. Typical ingredients include rice, beans, pasta, potatoes, whole-grain breads, nuts, cheese, granola and oats, along with an assortment of fresh vegetables and fruits. Please let us know in advance if you have any dietary restrictions. We will be happy to accommodate you.
Dress Code
We are a Christian ministry and believe all students should dress modestly. Because we are training in the outdoors, closed-toe shoes or boots, long pants or shorts and shirts are the ideal clothing. We ask that you not wear tank tops, bikinis or short shorts.
WWA will provide all training equipment including: ropes, climbing hardware, harnesses, helmets, PFDs, and rafts. Download a What to Bring pdf file HERE.
General Summer Student Equipment List:
__ Compact Bible |
__ Sweater, wool or fleece For those participating in water courses: |
* The best pocket knife has 1) a locking 3-inch blade without serrated teeth, and 2) a wood saw. The Swiss Army Trekker by Victorinox is a perfect example.
**WWA sells an excellent metal match for $10. It can be purchased during class. REI also sells a slightly smaller version for $11 (plus tax and shipping): Light My Fire
***Wetsuits can be rented from WWA for $25 (first come, first served)
College Student Summer Equipment List
Everything listed above on the General List, plus the following:
| __Compass, Silva or equivalent (floating needle with rotating dish) __Signaling mirror, with reflective aiming aid* __Water Purifier, chemical or pump |
__Walkie-talkie radio, 2-way FM __GPS (optional) |
*REI sells an excellent Signal Mirror.
What NOT to Bring
| __Television __Computer __CD player __Walkman __Radio |
__Electronic games __Fireworks __Weapons __alcohol __drugs (except prescribed by a physician) |
