Started in 1971 by a small group of faculty members dedicated to the value of experiential education, the August Wilderness Program at Earlham College is one of the oldest and most respected programs of its kind in the country. It has been featured in a book on the history of outdoor education and several college review publications including a recent story in US News and World Report. August Wilderness is also listed as one of the "Best of Earlham College" by collegeprowler.com.

The program is managed by the Center for Environmental Action at Earlham which is dedicated to enhancing field-based, experiential teaching and learning on environmental issues throughout the college. Students interested in continuing with outdoor, experiential, and environmental education are encouraged to take courses and participate in the Outdoor Education program at Earlham.

We have several core principles that guide August Wilderness and its educational mission.

• The Adventuresome Spirit
  Viewing obstacles as challenges to be overcome. Actively seeking out opportunities to learn and to push oneself outside the "comfort zone." Living life in a "positive state of non-expectancy" — allowing for appreciation of the trail magic that can come from being present and aware of the adventuresome potential of each moment.
• Sense of Place
  A connection to the land we are traveling through such that we are not just tourists or passersby but, rather, we become changed by our relationship with the land and its stories. As modern life increasingly separates us from such relationships, the principle of gaining a "sense of place" on wilderness trips reminds us that this value is critical toward the creation of a personal and a larger community-based environmental ethic.
• Servant Leadership
  Servant leadership is defined as the ability to think of others through the acquired skills of listening, observation, awareness, empathy, acceptance and foresight. It is the difference between caring "about" something or someone and "caring for" it. It is an active behavior that happens in lots of little ways. A servant leader constantly thinks about how to help his or her group in small and big ways. A servant leader is also aware of "giving back" in small and big ways to the people and the places he or she experiences. Finally, a servant leader understands that knowledge and experiences acquired have moral consequences and leaves changed as well as committed to working toward putting that change into service.
• The Contemplative Spirit
  Kurt Hahn, the founder of Outward Bound and one of the central figures in the field of outdoor and experiential education created the 7 Laws of Salem which were his goals for operating his first school in England. One of his 7 laws was to "provide periods of silence, following the great precedent of the Quakers. Unless the present day generation acquires early habits of quiet and reflection, it will be speedily and prematurely used up by the nerve-exhausting and distracting civilization of today." Hahn wrote that in the 1920's. The art of contemplation and reflection is what brings meaning to our lives. It is also fundamental to the kind of deep and rigorous observation and scholarship we value at Earlham. On course, there will be many opportunities to practice the contemplative spirit.There will be "small" moments, for example, it is common to begin major meals with a moment of silence. There will also be "larger" ones like silent paddles and hikes, reflective solo's, and observation activities.
• Simplicity
  Simplicity and simple living is comprised of two parts: inward simplicity and outward simplicity. The two are, of course, connected. Inward simplicity can be defined by the priorities and goals that you have in your life and how you make decisions about them. Outward simplicity is how you manifest those priorities and goals to the world. Wilderness courses are all about simple living- both inwardly and outwardly. You carry everything you need on your back or in your canoe. You eat simply but heartily. You will have a minimum of possessions and "modern" distractions. This outward simplicity, we hope, will encourage inward simplicity- allowing you to reflect on what is truly important to you and how you want to go about "walking joyfully on this earth" as George Fox, founder of the Religious Society of Friends" once famously said.