The Athenian Wilderness Experience (AWE) is a graduation requirement for all students and a distinctive feature of The Athenian School curriculum. This 26-day wilderness backpacking program is designed to promote personal growth and develop a sense of community. The course is a dynamic and concentrated reflection of The Athenian School’s values and mission without the insulation provided by the amenities, complications, and diversions of daily routines. Normally completed in the junior year, AWE is offered during the spring in the canyons and mountains of Death Valley National Park and during the late summer in the high country of the Sierra Nevada Mountains (under permit by the U.S. Forest Service).