“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
This 24-day course is designed for 17-19 year olds with at least 2 years of previous Adventure Treks experience and permission of the director.
Get ready to further your outdoor skills and bridge the gap between being a student and being an instructor. Because students are expected to possess a high level of maturity and will take on many leadership roles and real responsibility, our instructor to student ratio is 1 to 6.
Each activity block will provide a basic foundation for sound judgment and experience in planning and leading outdoor activities. Lesson plans will also cover wilderness ethics, environmental education, games, leadership styles, group facilitation, and other topics important to outdoor leaders. We keep parts of the itinerary flexible to give the students maximum input in the direction of their trip.
Spend five days hiking through the rugged terrain of the Pacific Northwest. Students will have instructor guided input in picking the hiking area and trip routes. We will refresh outdoor skills and lay the framework for student leadership for the rest of the Adventure.
Topics during this 4-day course include assessment, treatment, evacuation, and most importantly, prevention. The curriculum uses practical applications and scenarios to fully engross students. Once students understand the challenges of medical issues in a wilderness context, they will have a new approach to safety.
*This is the standard level of medical training for most camp counselors, college instructors, and raft guides. It is an excellent introduction to the concepts necessary to help students prepare for more advanced courses like the Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness EMT.
Everything from group dynamics to base camp management to mountaineering skills will be part of your summit of 7,965 ft. Mt Olympus. On the first and second days, you will backpack 17 miles trail through the Hoh Rain Forest (one of the wettest places on earth!) to the base camp at Glacier Meadows. Day three is the exciting day: rope, crampons, and ice axe (not to mention knowledge on how to use them) are prerequisites for the summit attempt of the mountain and a safe return to base camp. Finally, days four and five are a hike back out of the Rain Forest.
Plan your hike and practice your skills as we spend six days hiking through the Goat Rocks Wilderness. The Goat Rocks may be our absolute favorite place. Hike along a ridgeline peppered with alpine lakes and wildflowers. Summit Mt Snowy, you’ll see Mt. Adams in one direction and Mt. Rainier in the other. Share leadership responsibilities as students run the trip. The instructors are there as sounding boards, but the responsibility belongs to you.
Climb the other active volcano, too! We'll camp at Climber's Bivouac, possibly in the snow, as we prepare to climb this volcano. It is an early start the next morning. We begin in the dark. This hike is challenging but you will make the top! At the summit you'll be above the clouds and the incomparable view is more than worth the effort! The crater beneath you is still smoking from the 1980 eruption. Glissade (slide) down the snowy mountain for high speed fun.
The Wild and Scenic, White Salmon River follows a cliff-lined canyon carved from ancient lava flows and fed by the snow melting from Mt. Adams. The rapids, especially the 10 ft Husum falls, are non stop and provide a fun end to your Adventure.
Space is Limited. Call 888-954-5555 for more information about this trip and to check availability. Apply early to ensure the trip of your choice.
Arrive in Portland, OR airport (PDX) by 1 pm opening day.
Depart Portland, OR airport (PDX) by 2 pm closing day.
Already enrolled? Log in to the Registered Students Page for your equipment lists, paperwork, and more!
Tuesday, June 29: Students arrive in Portland, OR (PDX) before 1 pm. Orientation and Yahoo Dinner.
Wednesday, June 30 –Thursday, July 1: 2-day summit attempt on Winter Route on Mt. St. Helens. Learn advanced mountaineering skills.
Friday, July 2– Tuesday, July 6: 5-day backpack in the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Plan your hike and practice your skills as we spend five days hiking through the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Refresh skills and learn how to lead a backpacking trip and how and what to teach others.
Wednesday, July 7: Logistics day.
Thursday, July 8–Sunday, July 11: Wilderness Advanced First Aid course taught at Big Fir Campground by SOLO. This is the standard level of medical training for most camp counselors, college instructors, and raft guides. It is an excellent introduction to the concepts necessary to help students prepare for more advanced courses like the Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness EMT.
Monday, July 12: Whitewater raft the White Salmon River including 10 ft. Husum Falls. The Wild and Scenic, White Salmon River follows a cliff-lined canyon carved from ancient lava flows.
Tuesday, July 13 –Saturday, July 17: Groups will do a 5-day student led backpack in North Cascades National Park. Students will have instructor-guided input but they will be in charge of all logistics.
Sunday, July 18: Drive to Olympic National Park and plan logistics for Mt Olympus ascent.
Monday, July 19 -Friday, July 23: 5-day summit attempt of Mt. Olympus. Everything from group dynamics to base camp management to mountaineering skills will be part of your summit of 7,965 ft. Mt Olympus.
Saturday, July 24: Students fly out of Portland, OR (PDX) by 2pm.
We reserve the right to alter the itinerary prior to and throughout the trip as we constantly improve the Adventure Treks experience. Itineraries may change due to: Severe weather, student ability, motivation and conditioning, high or low rivers, high or low snow pack, unpredictable natural disasters and acts of God, vehicle breakdowns, road closures, volcanic activity, forest fires, illness, ever changing permit regulations, any potential threat to safety, or even a brilliant idea from an instructor or student. In the event of a schedule change, comparable activities will be substituted when possible and you will be notified by e-mail of significant changes.
Is this the best trip for me?
Leadership Summit is only open to experienced Adventure Treks students with approval of the Director. This is the perfect capstone course for student who want to further their outdoor skills and learn how to be outdoor instructors.
I can't decide between Leadership Summit and Peak Leadership!
Call our office at 888-954-5555 for help choosing the best Leadership Trip for you. Dock knows all of the Adventure Treks students, and can help you decide on a trip so you can experience your best summer yet.
Can I participate in Leadershp Trips after I've graduated from High School?
Yes! We often have students who come back from their gap year or their freshman year of college to join us for one last summer.
For more answers, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page or call us at 888-954-5555. We’re always happy to help you out!
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Dan Flynn – Dan joins us for his sixth summer as a Trip Leader from the slopes of Mammoth Mountain, CA where he is a senior member of the ski patrol. He graduated from Vassar College with a degree in Sociology, completed a NOLS semester in the Rockies, and has been a Wilderness EMT for ten years. As a lead instructor for Wilderness Medical Associates, Dan teaches wilderness medicine to outdoor professionals. Dan also ran the Outdoor Living Skills program for the Farm & Wilderness Camps in Vermont, managed a lodge for the Green Mountain Club, and is a Leave No Trace trainer. His current projects include climbing and skiing California's 14,000' peaks and training his Golden Retriever, Sammy, to be the best backcountry skiing dog ever.
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Jessie Hanna – Jessie graduated from the University of Georgia where she earned her B.S. in Biology and her Montessori Teacher Certification. She currently teaches 4th grade at a Montessori School in Portland. She joins us for her sixth summer. She has led Geology field trips for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, taught at the NWRESD Outdoor Science School in Oregon, was an educator at YMCA Camp Erdman in Hawaii, taught at the Chattahoochee Nature Center as well as the Wahsega 4-H Center in Georgia. Jessie is a certified Wilderness First Responder and enjoys hiking and surfing.
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Kate Rutecki - Kate has spent the last two years living in Utah as a senior instructor for at Second Nature Wilderness Program. Kate has also been the head girls' counselor and ropes course instructor at camps in California and Maine and has led youth backpacking and hiking trips in Yosemite. As a student at James Madison University in Virginia, she worked for the adventure program as a climbing wall instructor and trip leader in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She has also facilitated team-building and ropes course activities for youth in the Bahamas and Virginia. Kate received her degree in Media Arts and Design and is a certified Wilderness First Responder.
*Instructors may change prior to your trip – we’ll let you know if this happens.
Adventure Treks is a program for teenagers, so we don’t allow any inappropriate language or content in our reviews. We do screen reviews for spam and legitimacy, and we will post all appropriate comments in full.
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Thanks for interest in Adventure Treks!
Fill out our online application or apply by phone by calling 888-954-5555 Monday-Friday 9 am to 5 pm EST.
Our core office staff, consisting of Dock, Kyndra, Dmac, Holly and Alice, welcomes the opportunity to answer any questions and help you choose the best summer experience for your child.
1. Apply online and submit an $800 deposit by check or Visa/MC to hold your place on the Adventure of your choice. As a smaller, more personal company, enrollment is limited, so please send in your application early.
2. You will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to complete your student essay, medical form, and 2 references (phone calls or e-mails to our office) from a teacher and another non-related adult who knows your child well. We may also arrange a brief phone interview to get to know your child better. Our acceptance process ensures a great peer group for your child.
3. Your remaining paperwork and information about your trip is available on our Registered Students Page and will be mailed to you upon acceptance. Adventure Treks is selective. Applications will be carefully reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
All deposits are refundable prior to March 1st, less a $200 processing fee, for cancellation for any reason. For cancellations after March 1st, tuition is non-refundable. We recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance for your protection. If a participant withdraws voluntarily or is sent home as a consequence of unacceptable behavior, no refund of any kind will be granted. It is the parents’ responsibility to cover any additional travel expenses.
Click map to enlarge
| Duration: | 26 days |
| Dates: | June 29 - July 24 |
| Ages: | 17-19 |
| Activities: | Whitewater Rafting Backpacking Mountaineering AWFA Certification |
| States: |
Washington |
| Price: | US $4,150.00 |
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