Join us on our 14 day community service program in the High Plains of Wyoming. We live and work at an animal sanctuary with a dedicated mission to rehabilitate laboratory animals and find them their forever homes. Based on availability at the ranch, we will interact directly with pigs, cats, dogs, and horses and have the opportunity to assist with various projects around the property as needed.
Hearing all of her stories and experiences warmed my heart. I was so happy that she was able to have this once in a lifetime experience." -2019 RLT Parent
Keep scrolling to learn more about this student travel and community service program in Wyoming!
The animals that call Kindness Ranch home come from backgrounds of being used in laboratory research. At the sanctuary, they receive round the clock care and rehabilitation in a free and comfortable environment. Interact directly with cats, dogs, pigs, horses, and many other furry friends!
Help the sanctuary plant hundreds of trees around the property and assist with minor construction projects such as repairs, painting, and maintenance.
Rafting through the scenic Cache La Poudre River is a thrilling introduction to Colorado adventure. The continuous whitewater and impressive scenery are the perfect recipe for an epic day of rafting.
With endless miles of hiking trails and constant opportunities to observe wildlife, Rocky Mountain National Park is a dream destination to spend time exploring.
After many months cooped up indoors, take in the fresh air of the High Plains and stretch your legs in the great outdoors.
Share an unforgettable summer making new friends and memories that will last a lifetime!
Environmental community service, animal care and socialization at a no-kill animal sanctuary in Wyoming that specializes in rescued research animals.
A Certificate of Community Service indicating the total hours worked and a Presidential Volunteer Service Award will be issued upon successful completion of the program.
Explore: Rocky Mountain National Park, Medicine Bow National Forest
White Water Rafting: Cache la Poudre River
6-8
14 Days
Lodging is a combination of a private home and tent camping. Bedrooms in the private home will be divided by gender and participants will sleep slumber party-ptyle – in sleeping bags, rotating available beds nightly. Showers are available; however, we shower every three to four days to conserve resources and support sustainability.
$3,900
Tuition includes all activities and food while on the trip, along with a basic travel protection package. The Road Less Traveled has purchased the Group Protection plan post-departure benefits on behalf of all participants. If interested in the optional Cancel for Any Reason benefits please contact the RLT office for rates and information.
Denver, CO
This summer we successfully ran our Colorado Wolf Refuge program allowing students to get outside, socialize with their peers, and volunteer their time. After months of quarantine and increased exposure to technology, time in the outdoors has proven to be exactly what students needed. With an abundance of caution and well defined protocols, we were able to keep students safe, healthy, and happy. We are confident that we are able to continue offering life changing experiences in the outdoors, mitigating risk to keep students safe. We encourage you to learn more here about our policies related to COVID-19.
After we’ve all arrived at Denver International Airport we’ll depart for Kindness Ranch. Upon arrival we will get acquainted with the staff and take a tour of the property before settling into our lodge.
Our days at the Ranch will be spent working directly with cats, pigs, horses, and dogs assisting with cleaning, walking, and socializing the animals. We will also have the opportunity to plant up to one thousand trees around the property. Other various projects include painting, mowing grass, and minor construction as needed.
Explore Medicine Bow National Forest (Days 6-7):
Take a break from the Ranch and spend one night camping out under the stars and exploring the Douglas District of the Mediine Bow National Forest!
Rocky Mountain National Park (Days 11-12):
After our hard work at the ranch and in search of a different kind of scenery, we'll transfer to Rocky Mountain National Park. We'll spend our time hiking, observing wildlife, seeing the Continental Divide, and spending time under the stars.
After departing from Rocky Mountain National Park, we'll head to the Cache La Poudre River for some rafting. Designated as a Wild and Scenic river in 1986, Cache La Poudre River is Colorado’s only National Wild and Scenic River!
Homeward Bound (Day 14):
We'll depart Kindness Ranch in the early morning and share our final goodbyes before boarding our flights home.
Please note that, given the unprecedented nature of travel currently, this itinerary is subject to change.
The Road Less Traveled requires an up-to-date tetanus shot or booster (within the last nine years). In addition, we require an RLT Physician's Form to be signed by the partcipant's physician, affirming they are healthy to travel on an RLT trip.
We will use a combination of quarantining prior to arrival, receiving negative test results, distancing from other groups, utilizing outdoor spaces, masking when distancing and outdoor spacing isn't possible, and sanitizing regularly to create our isolated bubble. We have mitigation plans should a participant or staff present with symptoms of COVID-19, and have extensively researched testing sites and medical facilities in the areas we travel. We are in constant communiation with top experts in the field to stay educated so we're able to make the best decisions for RLT, our participants, and our staff. We have had to completely rethink our itineraries to create COVID-19-safe programming while still maintaining the integrity of the RLT experience.
Day-to-Day Calendar
If you’d like to receive an emailed copy of this program’s day-to-day calendar, please give our office a call anytime between 9am and 5pm CST at 773-342-5200, and we’ll happily send you one!
General Travel Info
It is imperative that no one make any travel arrangements until RLT provides instructions for specific arrival and departure time windows. Those details are typically released in mid-spring.
Families are individually responsible for booking their own airfare to get their student from home to the starting destination on the first day of the trip, and from the ending destination back home on the last day of the trip.
Join us for the summer of a lifetime!
Enroll Now