“Every camp placement organization I spoke with let me know that this was hands-down the favorite camp. The level of organization and professionalism was amazing. My child really grew on this trip."
- Diana Ravicchio
Rossmoor, CA
Knowing that everyone has more fun and success when they feel included, valued, and supported, we make the facilitation of a close community on each Adventure a huge priority.
In these fast-paced times of Facebook, text messaging, email, and cell phones, this generation is more removed from face-to-face contact than any generation in history. At Adventure Treks, the outdoors gives students a medium in which to unplug, slow down, and take the time to really get to know the people and the environment around them. We believe one of the most important benefits students take away from Adventure Treks is the feeling of being an important and contributing member of a close and intentional community. We emphasize a culture of kindness and shared responsibility for the success of the group.
The success of our communities begins with the selection of outstanding, diverse students. Our students join us from all over the United States and from several countries around the world. A typical Adventure will have fifteen different states represented. We create a successful experience by taking time to match each student with the most appropriate Adventure considering age, experience level, and peer group. Even though most students don’t know anyone when they arrive, they are amazed at how quickly they make close friendships.
By the end of an Adventure, it’s typical to hear our students say that they are closer to their Adventure Treks friends and instructors after just 20 days together, than to friends they’ve been in school with for several years. We work hard to make sure that no one is excluded from an Adventure Treks community. Our 60% student return rate, triple the average return rate of other programs, results primarily from the success of our communities.
At the beginning of every trip, Dock, our Director, sets a great example. As he introduces the students and instructors, he knows the names of all 24 students, where they are from, and an interesting fact or two about them. Then he challenges the group to do the same. After a day of games, a huge “Yahoo” dinner, and a lot of laughter, many students say they already feel like they have joined a close-knit family.
Our goal is for each student to know everyone on their trip well and to develop many close friendships with fellow students and instructors. The beauty of 24 students and 6 instructors is that we can divide into many different small groups throughout the trip. This helps everyone get to know every single person well. After the second day, we’ll divide into three small groups for a multi-day backpacking trip to get to know each other on a more personal level. Throughout the trip, we spend time in small groups of all sizes so that students can develop close friendships, each time coming back to the large group to merge with the entire community. We intentionally discourage cliques and mutually exclusive relationships.
We also encourage students to take responsibility for the direction of their community. Our nightly “Plus/Delta” meetings give students an opportunity to strengthen their community with respect and positive feedback. During our “Hat Ceremonies,” students are recognized for being an outstanding community member in his or her own way. Building a strong community takes hard work, individual initiative, and open communication. Our motivated students deserve a lot of praise.
Throughout the Adventure, we create a safe place for students to be themselves and to discover the unique ways they can each contribute to the success of their Adventure. Our supportive, caring, non-competitive environment creates room for every student to excel. The intentional games we play, the discussions we facilitate during activities, and the spontaneous events that happen in the “spaces in between” planned activities are the true spark of Adventure Treks.
Learn more about Adventure Treks Communities
