Designed for Growth. Built for Leaders.

At APExL Academy, every day is designed to challenge, inspire, and transform participants into capable, confident leaders. Our 14-day program is divided into three progressive phases—Basic Leadership, Intermediate Leadership, and Advanced Leadership—each building on the last to ensure a well-rounded development of leadership skills.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the daily themes and key activities participants will experience during their time 

at APExL Academy. 

Days 0–3

The foundation of leadership is self-mastery. This phase focuses on personal accountability, discipline, and resilience through a mix of physical, mental, and technical challenges.

• Training Day 0: Arrival and Orientation
  • Theme: Setting Standards and Expectations
  • Key Activities: Airport transport, dorm check-in, program introduction, group PT, bonding time
• Training Day 1: Lifting, Stadium Challenge, and Flying
  • Theme: Effort and Personal Ownership
  • Key Activities: Lifting fundamentals, Rice Cycle Stadium challenge, flying real aircraft, journaling and reflection
• Training Day 2: Jiu-Jitsu, Guest Speaker, and Wilderness First Aid
  • Theme: Building Discipline and Self-Control
  • Key Activities: Jiu-jitsu fundamentals, guest speaker, wilderness first aid certification begins
• Training Day 3: Firearms, Jiu-Jitsu, and Wilderness First Aid
  • Theme: Communication and Safety Under Pressure
  • Key Activities: Jiu-jitsu, firearm safety and training, wilderness first aid scenarios

Days 4–8

This phase shifts focus to teamwork, communication, and trust. Participants take on group challenges and learn how to lead and collaborate effectively under pressure.

• Training Day 4: Leadership Reaction Course and Jiu-Jitsu
  • Theme: Problem Solving and Building Trust
  • Key Activities: Military leadership reaction course, jiu-jitsu, team debrief
• Training Day 5: Striking, Large GLP, and Guest Speaker
  • Theme: Supporting the Team and Sharing Success
  • Key Activities: Striking skills, large Group Leadership Project (GLP), guest speaker
• Training Day 6: Self-Defense, Scuba, and Campus Tour
  • Theme: Courage and Adaptability in New Environments
  • Key Activities: Self-defense training, scuba pool sessions, campus tour
• Training Day 7: Hill Air Force Base Tour and Scuba
  • Theme: Leadership Through Perspective and Service
  • Key Activities: Tour of Hill Air Force Base, scuba pool training
• Training Day 8: Dodgeball, Scuba, and Large GLP
  • Theme: Communication and Decision-Making Under Stress
  • Key Activities: Dodgeball tournament, scuba pool training, large GLP

Days 9–13

The final phase prepares participants to lead at an organizational level. They focus on strategic thinking, decision-making, and applying leadership principles to large-scale challenges.

• Training Day 9: Rock Climbing, Open Water Dive, and Camp Setup
  • Theme: Resilience and Leading by Example
  • Key Activities: Rock climbing, open water dive at Homestead Crater, setting up overnight camp
• Training Day 10: Open Water Dive, Professional Skills, and Camp Teardown
  • Theme: Practical Leadership and Organizational Strategy
  • Key Activities: Final open water dives (PADI certification), professional skills workshop, camp teardown
• Training Day 11: Paintball and Capstone GLP
  • Theme: Mastering Leadership in Large-Scale Operations
  • Key Activities: Paintball tactical challenge, capstone GLP
• Training Day 12: Mount Timpanogos Hike and Banquet
  • Theme: Resilience and Reflection
  • Key Activities: Mount Timpanogos hike, banquet with guest speaker
• Training Day 13: Departure and Farewell
  • Theme: Preparing for the Future
  • Key Activities: Cleanup, dorm check-out, parting advice, airport transport

• Meals: Three balanced meals are provided daily, with accommodations for dietary restrictions. Snacks and hydration are available throughout the day.
• Housing: Participants stay in dorms on the University of Utah campus, which are clean, comfortable, and designed for a focused, distraction-free environment.