GCFI designed the Wilderness Studies workshops to teach participants how to travel into the remote backcountry of Grand Canyon safely and responsibly—and to give them “freedom of the hills.”

These workshops are arranged in a hierarchical order (Introductory, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert) so that skills learned at a lower level prepare participants for the challenges involved in workshops at higher levels. At each level the emphasis is on safe wilderness travel techniques, Leave No Trace camping, orienteering, and self-sufficiency.

Participants are required to submit 'backpacking resumes' in addition to the standard Health Questionnaire for classes higher than Hike Level 4 at the time of registration.