“I don’t know of any company who provides such a high level of comfort for the parents and the children. It’s like sending your child to visit a close family friend.”
- Nancy Crawford
Louisville, KY
Backpack in the Appalachian Mountains and enjoy breathtaking views and lush scenery. Observe pods of dolphins beneath your sea kayak and marine birds overhead. Explore the underground world of a cave in Eastern Tennessee. Your rafting trips French Broad and Chatahoochee Rivers will be an experience you will remember forever. Then you'll go mountain biking and rock climbing right here by the Adventure Treks base camp. It’s all here in the Blue Ridge! The Blue Ridge trips are a great transition from summer camp to a wilderness program, as several nights are spent at our North Carolina Basecamp.
Nothing is more satisfying than the amazing views of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the Shining Rock Wilderness Area at sunset. Learn the basics of backpacking. Most students say this is a highlight of the trip because they make such close friends in their small groups.
Choose your level of challenge when you climb the 250 million year old granite that’s literally in our own backyard! We will set up climbs for all abilities so you can enjoy the view from the top.
Again, choose your level of challenge in world-renowned Dupont State Forest. Coast along a wide path or pick up the pace as you peddle down a steeper single-track. Enjoy a cool swim at one of many waterfalls along the trail.
Grab your headlamp - we are heading deep underground to explore a new world beneath your feet. Climb, slither, and crawl through a maze of passages and tunnels. Experience complete darkness and silence (if you can stop laughing at your mud-covered friends!). Learn about the unique ecology of caves.
Learn to paddle your tandem kayak as you and your partner explore marine life on the coast. Look for dolphins, crabs, great blue herons and other marine life and sleep on the beach at night.
A great trip for first-timers, the French Broad offers class II-III rapids. Defend your boat from splash wars, take a break for a swim, and enjoy a great day on the river.
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 Charlotte (CLT) by 1 pm opening day. You can also drive to CLT airport or to our North Carolina Basecamp - address below.
Depart Charlotte (CLT) by 2 pm closing day. You can also pick up your child at the CLT airport or at our North Carolina Basecamp - address below.
Already enrolled? Log in to the Registered Students Page for your equipment lists, paperwork, and more!
Monday, June 21: Students arrive in Charlotte, NC (CLT) or Adventure Treks Flat Rock, NC office by 1PM.
Tuesday, June 22: Day Hike to top of Looking Glass Rock with great views of Pisgah National Forest
Wednesday, June 23 – Friday, June 25: 3-day backpack in Pisgah National Forest. Nothing is more satisfying than being above 6,000 ft near the shining Rock wilderness area and seeing chain after chain of mountains extending over 4 states
Saturday, June 26: Whitewater rafting on the French Broad River. Learn to paddle and defend your boat from splash wars on class II – III rapids on one of the world’s geologically oldest rivers.
Sunday, June 27: Caving day trip. Climb, slither, and crawl through a maze of passages and tunnels. Experience complete darkness and silence while you learn about the unique ecology of caves.
Monday, June 28: Logistics day (shop for food, do laundry, and clean vans) and drive to South Carolina.
Tuesday, June 29-Thursday, July 1: 3-Day sea kayak trip to Capers Island, a South Carolina barrier island near Charleston. Look for dolphins, crabs, great blue herons, and other marine life as you enjoy three days on the water. Return to North Carolina base camp.
Friday, July 2: Blue Ridge Parkway Day! See great views, picnic, take a short hike then enjoy a fun ride down Sliding Rock, a natural waterslide in the Pisgah National Forest.
Saturday, July 3: Mountain bike in Dupont State Forest. Coast along a wide path or pick up the pace on steeper downhill single-track. Peddle by several huge and famous waterfalls
Sunday, July 4: Rock climb at Gilberts Rock. We will set up ropes for all abilities so you can find just the right handholds and footholds, and enjoy the view from the top. Go out and see fireworks tonight!
Monday, July 5: Whitewater raft the Nantahala River. Get soaked shooting the rolling rapids on this famous southeastern river.
Tuesday, July 6: Students depart Charlotte, NC by 2 pm. (or Adventure Treks Flat Rock office)
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?
The Blue Ridge Experience is a perfect trip for students age 12-14 who are currently in 6th-8th grade. With 24 students in the group, you will be challenged appropriately because we break up into small groups for each activity based on your interest and ability. Students spend time at our basecamp between activities, so this is a great trip for students who want the next step beyond summer camp.
What other trips might be right for me?
Where is the basecamp located?
Our office address is:
1899 Berea Church Road
Hendersonville, NC 28739
If you’re planning on driving, please call or email us for directions, as we’ve found that GPS is often unreliable.
Will I need cold-weather clothing on this trip?
Temperatures in the NC mountains are usually moderate, but we also want you to be prepared for cooler evenings and mornings around camp. A fleece, hat and gloves are recommended as part of your equipment list so you’ll be comfortable in any weather. For more information about packing, please check your equipment list at your Log In Page.
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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Alex Stigliano - Alex began working with Adventure Treks in 2005 and is returning for his fourth year as Trip Leader. He is a graduate of Carson Newman College, where he put his writing skills to work creating, publishing, and distributing The Tail Feather, an independent student newspaper. Alex also worked as a freelance writer for the Metro Pulse in Knoxville, TN. Between writing assignments, Alex has led educational trips with the American Youth Foundation, Inside Out, and Camp High Rocks. Alex has also taught ninth grade English in Chesapeake, Virginia. Alex is an active climber, backpacker, and all-around bon vivant. He is currently working as a sea kayak guide in the US Virgin Islands.
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Elspie Hamilton - Elspeth earned a degree in Environmental Studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She has worked at SUWS of the Carolinas and for the Outdoor Academy, both located in the Appalachian mountains in Western North Carolina. She has led backpacking and climbing trips in the Sierra Nevadas in California for Summit Adventure, taught environmental science in the Redwoods in Santa Cruz and currently works as a field instructor for the Yosemite Institute teaching science and life skills in a wilderness setting. In her spare time Elspeth enjoys rock-climbing, running, biking, reading, and playing the fiddle.
Carolyn Jackson – After four years as an A.T. student, Carolyn joins us for her first year as an instructor. After spending the winter interning for NBC’s TODAY Show at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, she is back in Corvallis, Oregon working on her degree in Geography from Oregon State University. Carolyn is an avid hiker and runner, finishing two half marathons this past year. She is also a Wilderness First Responder.
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Bob Bailey - Bob hails from rural Waldo, Ohio and joins A.T. for his second year as an instructor. Bob has been a Program Director for Inside Out, in Flat Rock, NC, for three years, and has been working with students all across the country for the past thirteen years. His most recent adventure was capturing virtual reality footage for science centers, zoos and aquariums all across the U.S. and processing it for MapQuest. When not on the trail, Bob can be found cooking, dancing, disc golfing or searching for the perfect swimming hole. Bob is a Wilderness First Responder and will begin his studies in Radiology this next fall in Asheville, NC.
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Talley Kayser - Talley has worked as a youth outdoor educator over the past three years – most recently in Zermatt, Switzerland, where she taught high school English and led daily hiking and climbing excursions in the Alps. Her educational background includes a B.A. in English from Furman University, a minor in environmental science, and a Wilderness First Responder certification. Talley is an avid reader, an experienced traveler, and a very enthusiastic swing dancer. She is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Literature and the Environment at the University of Nevada, Reno.
*Instructors may change prior to your trip – we’ll let you know if this happens.
Reviewed by: Olivia Call
Date: July, 2009
The BEST camp I have ever gone to! I made some GREAT friends! All the instructors had a really good sense of humor and they were really helpful! It just blows me away, how good all the food was, even though it would seem impossible to make in those circumstances.
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: | 16 days |
| Dates: | June 21 - July 6 |
| Ages: | 12-14 |
| Activities: |
Whitewater Rafting |
| States: |
North Carolina |
| Airport: | Charlotte, NC (CLT) |
| Price: | US $2,695.00 |
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