What is the cost for the semester?
The full cost for the semester is $5,800 and covers lodging, travel, camping, gear, activities, seven day mission trip to Honduras, and meals. Students are encouraged to bring along extra money for personal items, entertainment, and days off (approx. 8-10)
What is the cost for the week long courses?
One Week Rate: $285 – includes meals, lodging, recreation, equipment, and transportation
Do I need to have some experience before I come to OLD School?
You may be expecting an easy stroll through flat woods, or you may be expecting Everest. It is always hard to gauge the difficulty level of an area of wilderness you’ve never visited, or activities you’ve never participated in. If you are in good shape, keep it up. If you have been enjoying your couch at home for large portions of the day, you need to get up and start some conditioning for your course. Semester sections involve carrying 50-60lbs for large portions of the day, up hills and over rocks. This physical activity begins on day one, so you need to be in shape when you get here. While physical strength does play a factor in your fitness, you would do well to focus on your cardiovascular endurance for this course. It is recommended that you exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week. For help on a pre-semester fitness plan, please give us a call. You don’t have to be in peak athletic shape for your course, but huffing and puffing always makes your day less enjoyable. We require every semester student to provide proof of a doctor’s physical examination prior to this course.
What type of food do we eat during an OLD School course?
Your diet in the backcountry will showcase your creativity. We will provide the ingredients and help you to learn how to cook some amazing dishes using camp stoves and cookware. You’ll use pasta, rice, flour, cheese, tortillas, vegetables, and many other things to whip up your culinary masterpiece.
Where will we stay when we’re not on a “section”?
During “in-town” portions of the course, students will stay at Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters (SWO) in the staff cabins. These are heated cabins, with access to nearby bathrooms/showers. All meals will be provided, except on days off (approx. 8-10 during the semester only).
Is there a separate semester for guys and girls?
Male and female students (18-25) will be together for the majority of the semester. There will be several days in a given section where the guys and girls are separate. However, the majority of the semester the entire group will function together. In co-ed portions, you will be in girl only or guy only tent/room groups and every effort will be made to protect your privacy and purity. We ask for this same effort on your part as well.
What if a student gets hurt on the trail or parents need to get in touch with a student because of an emergency situation at home?
Our staff is certified to handle most injuries or unexpected incidents while on the trail. O.L.D. School trips are never more than 30 minutes away from a main road and are met by a replenishing team throughout their trip. All trip leaders are certified in CPR and First Aid, and many have more extensive medical training.
What about college credit?
Students can earn up to 12 hours of college credit through the Baptist College of Florida (BCF). BCF is a SACS accredited school, meaning your credits can transfer easily. Tuition by credit hour is in addition to course cost and is determined by BCF, but should be somewhere around $270/credit hour. Financial aid is available through both FAFSA and BCF, and may cover not only your tuition, but part of your course cost as well. Click here to see a course description. You can contact Spencer and your school to see how BCF/OLD School credits may transfer for you.
One can also earn an additional 3 hours of college credit via the Wilderness First Responder training, bringing the total possible credit hours to 15! Please contact Spencer@swoutfitters.com to see how the WFR credits may work out for you.
