From our very beginning as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the ELC has been a year-round program, the oldest of its kind in Minnesota, offering opportunities in every season to explore, learn, and grow. Whether it’s a student’s first time paddling on a quiet creek, building a fire in the snow, or climbing the rocky bluffs, every program is designed to challenge, inspire, and transform.

Every step of the way, students gain more than outdoor skills—they develop perseverance in the face of uncertainty, empathy for others, clear communication, leadership, and the ability to work as a team.

These life lessons build confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging that lasts long after the trip ends.

For many, the journey culminates in the Junior Instructor Program, launched in 1974. This is the moment when students step into leadership, taking ownership of their own growth and that of others. Junior Instructors plan and lead multi-day wilderness expeditions—facing challenges that test their courage and resourcefulness while deepening their connection to the land and to each other. From navigating historic snowstorms in New Mexico’s Gila Wilderness to exploring the vastness of the Florida Everglades or the peaks near Mt. Rainier, these adventures become defining moments.

But the true power of the ELC experience isn’t just in the places visited or the skills learned—it’s in the transformation that happens inside each student. The confidence to face the unknown, the humility to listen and learn, and the passion to protect the natural world and their community.

Every program, every trip, every challenge is a chapter in a lifelong story—one that shapes leaders, explorers, and stewards of the environment for generations to come.