WBC is back for 2023!

The Sierra Club Ventura-Santa Barbara Chapter (formerly The Los Padres Sierra Club Chapter), is offering comprehensive training for people at all levels of fitness who want to enjoy and explore the wilderness. A dedicated staff of experienced leaders will teach students the skills to enjoy the wilderness during eight classroom sessions and several exciting outings.

Eight classes will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7–9:30 p.m., February 15 through April 5, 2023. All classes are held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 3290 Loma Vista Rd, Ventura, CA 93003, Kahler Hall.

The class lectures will demonstrate backpacking equipment, wilderness ethics, wilderness first aid & safety, weather, water filtration, cooking, map & compass, backcountry clothing and many other topics. Students will gain experience by participating in several outings including day hikes, a car camp and backpacking trips in our local mountains.

During the course, you will be given a book entitled “The Complete Guide to Backpacking,” handouts about the topics we cover, and a compass. Participants must supply their own equipment, which may be purchased, borrowed, or rented from local sporting goods stores. Persons 18 years of age and older in reasonable health are eligible to take the course. To help participants get in shape, instructors will lead students on physical conditioning hikes in the local mountains.

Early registration prices start at $175 for Sierra Club members, and $190 for non-members. Early registration couple rates are $315 for members and $345 for non-members. The early registration student rate is $135 with student ID. All prices will increase after January 31. Teenagers 13–17 may take the course if they enroll with their parent or guardian and go on the outings together.

As a precautionary measure, and in alignment with the current Sierra Club National COVID policy, face masks are being required for the in-person classes. Please see the WBC COVID Policy for additional information (https://lospadreswbc.org/covid-policy/).