Call of the Wild our 17-day community service learning program that takes place in the mountains of Colorado partners with a wolf refuge on a number of important conservation efforts, including observation and documentation, care and feeding of the 40 resident wolves. We top off the program with a fantastic whitewater rafting the Arkansas River and rock climbing along the Continental Divide with14,000 foot peaks as our backdrop. Click Read More to learn more about Call of the Wild, our summer program for teenagers that combines a passion for service and veterinary studies with a love of animals and a desire to spend a summer making a difference in the beautiful Wild West.

Each student who completes a service program with us will receive a Presidential Volunteer Service Award.

All of the lectures, films, photos and books combined do not compare to an eye-to-eye personal encounter with a live wolf. In the intensity of a single gaze, we catch a glimpse of the untamed beauty, power and mystery of the wild. To touch, feel, smell, hear and experience these wild creatures helps not only the wolves, but also us, the people who want to understand and contribute to their fragile future.

We head to the Great Sand Dunes National Park, home of the tallest dunes in North America. For two days, the sand waves are our playground as we get acclimated and prepare for our time at Mission:Wolf.

For nine days we live nestled alongside the wolves in their home between the red alpenglow of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the jagged peaks of the Greenhorn Wilderness area. Sadly, selling wolves and wolf-dogs as pets is big business; hundreds of these majestic creatures are abandoned when their owners can no longer provide the space and care they need. Working deep inside the pens, we assist the staff in the care and feeding of the 40 resident wolves. We repair old fences, construct new pens, restore habitat, and assist in the observation and documentation of wolf behavior to make sure the animals are well adjusted. At sunset, we hike and explore the many rivers and streams in this remote area.

Our adventure continues as we raft for two days—60 miles down the Arkansas River and rock climb in San Isabel National Forest. We spend our last day together on the road less traveled taking in breathtaking views of the Continental Divide at Cottonwood Pass, and celebrating both our new “pack” of friends and the difference we made in helping preserve an endangered species.

Settling In

Arrival in Colorado Springs; orientation; day hikes at Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Our Work

Nine day service project at the Mission: Wolf refuge; meet and interact with resident wolves; hike in the San Isabel National Forest.

Our Play

Two day whitewater rafting trip down the Arkansas River; one day rock climbing in the Collegiate Peaks.

El Fin

Final banquet at Cottonwood Pass; transfer to Colorado Springs; homeward bound.