With further consideration of the question of naming, I’ve been coming to the conclusion that the approach of a less “explicit,” and more open-ended name for the project would be more ideal.  (All of the feedback on this issue has been invaluable and much appreciated – thank you!) 
In addition, I’m also now thinking that finding a definitive name is one of the highest priorities for the project, primarily because the another central priority is planning and promoting several pilot courses for next summer.  Having an appealing, solid, and inclusive name already set will be essential to this outreach and marketing (and will also allow for the creation of stationary, business cards, an official website, etc.).

In any case, I’m currently thinking that a good name would contain two parts, 1) a noun or phrase that somehow evokes the spirit of the project, and 2) a noun that denotes an organization, project, or center.  Some examples of existing names that fit this model are: Naropa Institute, Deep Springs College, Stepping Stones Project, and Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

I suspect that the first part is best arrived at through inspiration so perhaps we can all hold the intention to be open to any brilliant flashes of insight.  Ideally, this part would suggest qualities such as wisdom, compassion, wilderness, interdependence, awe, wonder, or growth.  If we knew where we were going to be permanently located, then a name referring to the natural features of the location might be an elegant solution (e.g. Blue Sage Sanctuary or Cloud Mountain Retreat Center).

The second part seems to be more of a strategic decision, revolving around which type of impression we’d like to convey.  Here the pros and cons that I see with a couple of main options:

• Center - I like this word.  It is quiet and unassuming, but has some nice additional connotations ("A point around which something rotates or revolves” and “A point of origin, as of influence, ideas, or actions") as well as the more literal use in our case of “A place where a particular activity or service is concentrated".  However, one major drawback of “center” is precisely it’s implication that there is one place where all of our activities are happening.  Until we actually have a (semi-)permanent location, this is fairly incongruous and would not well serve the sort of backpacking-model pilot trips that are being planned for next summer.
• Institute - I intuitively like this word a bit less, but it might be more functional.  First of all, it does not have the specific-location limitations of “center".  More importantly, however, most of its meanings seem to fit quite well with both the current and future goals that I see for the project:
• An organization founded to promote a cause: a cancer research institute.
• An educational institution, especially one for the instruction of technical subjects.
• The building or buildings housing such an institution.
• A usually short, intensive workshop or seminar on a specific subject.

 So, these are my thoughts at the moment.  As always, your feedback, suggestions, and brilliant insights are most welcome.  (Oh, did I mention that the author of the winning entry will receive a fabulous and extraordinary secret prize?)