Greetings from Adventure Treks Instructor Orientation 2017

Greetings from 2017 Adventure Treks instructor orientation! About 50 instructors converged from 21 states and Australia for two weeks of training as we eagerly prepare for the arrival of our students. And let me tell you: It’s great to be back in full Adventure Treks mode again! As your kids will tell you, life is better at Adventure Treks than it is out in the real world. Excitement, kindness, community, competence, commitment, and impressive role models are just a few words I would use to describe the vibe as our instructors greeted each other on the opening day of orientation.

This is a great group of instructors. We have a 62 percent return rate, an average age of 26.8, and an average three-year tenure of Adventure Treks experience each. More important, our instructors are committed to using the joy and excitement of the outdoor adventure experience to facilitate personal growth, strong friendships, and a close community living experience.

Our instructors have graduated from a variety of fantastic colleges, including Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, Middlebury College, Johns Hopkins University, Elon University, Wesleyan College, Colgate College, Bates College, University of New Hampshire, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Vermont, University of Colorado at Boulder, Depauw University, Appalachian State University, Colorado College, Bucknell College, Davidson College, Virginia Tech, Ohio State University, Indiana University, Hobart College and several more.

The first week of instructor orientation will be spent together, camping as a large group in southern Washington. Here we review Adventure Treks’ safety policies and procedures and build a close community that emphasizes kindness and inclusion. This “big group” orientation will be followed next week with trip-specific training, where each five- or six-person instructor team travels together to their region, scouts trailheads, meets with outfitters, and learns the details of their specific trips. Meanwhile, they bond as an instructor team, plan meals, and eagerly await the arrival of their students.

Our leadership team—11 trip leaders and our directors—has already been here for a week. They gathered in a cabin near Mt. Hood on June 1 to set the tone for the summer and get on the same page for leading consistent and excellent trips. They hail from 11 different states, average 27 years old, and have 107 collective years of Adventure Treks experience, with an average of 7 seasons of AT experience each. (Two were even former Adventure Treks students!) I’m proud to be a part of this group of mentors who will be helping train our new instructors at orientation and overseeing the success of our trips.

So what do we do at orientation? We form our instructor team community by modeling the Adventure Treks philosophy for the instructors who are joining us for the first time. We apply leadership theory, current child psychology, and recent developments in brain science to the learning elements in our trips. We also focus on the specific details of each itinerary, and we use this time to review safety, driving, and policies and procedures. We look at ways we can use the natural disruption of these unique outdoor experiences to enhance our learning objectives (our Great 8 Outcomes) and build independence and confidence. We seek out ways to make the great outdoors even more fun than social media and video games! We share the tips and tricks we’ve gleaned over the years as we work hard to make every trip consistent, exceptional, and even better than previous years.

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Introducing our 2017 Instructor Teams!

Besides “I can’t wait for this summer!”, we know another thought on students’ minds right now is, “Who will my instructors be this summer?”

Without further ado, we present this year’s staff teams! We spend several months each spring creating the most skilled and balanced instructor groups possible, and we can’t wait to watch our staff (both new and returning!) create a safe, fun, and growth-filled summer experience for all of our students.

This summer:

  • Average age is 26.8
  • Average Adventure Treks tenure is 3.8 seasons
  • Return rate is 60 percent
Click here and choose your student’s trip to see the 2017 instructors.

On June 3, our directors and trip leaders will head to a special leadership retreat near Mt. Hood in Oregon. Trip leaders manage each of our staff teams and are supported by our regional directors; they have an important role in facilitating the success of our trips, so we use this period to get everybody on the same page and go over many of the intricate details of the summer ahead. On June 9, all instructors will gather in Washington for their two-week group and trip-specific orientation, and after will be off to scout the logistics of their itineraries, bond as a community, and prepare for their students to arrive!

Please note that these are tentative staff teams, as we anticipate a few changes will happen between now and the start of your student’s trip. As always, feel free to call us at 828-698-0399 or email with any questions.

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A Look at Our 2017 Global Community

Every year, Adventure Treks welcomes students from all over the United States and even the world. So far in 2017, our student population comes from 39 states and 19 countries!

We appreciate having this diversity on all of our trips, and we know the students truly enjoy getting to know others from different cultures and backgrounds. Through the welcoming communities and exciting, fulfilling outdoor activities on our trips, the students easily find common ground and quickly make great, long-lasting friendships.

Below, see where our 2017 students come from.

Global community blog 2017

Our map may expand as we add our last few students. This year, our home state of North Carolina rose to the top as our most-represented state! Second in line is New York, followed by Florida, California, and Georgia. (We’re still waiting on a student from North Dakota!) Regardless of your native country, state, or tongue, we are so excited to see everyone on opening day!

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Introducing Our 2017 Trip Leaders!

We are so excited to announce our leadership for summer 2017! On June 3, our directors, regional directors, and trip leaders will gather for a five-day retreat near Mt. Hood in Oregon. Here, we’ll start bonding as a leadership team; pore over each trip’s itinerary; share our collective expertise as review safety, policies, and procedures; and apply child psychology and adolescent brain development theory to Adventure Treks. This time together reinforces our “AT culture” as we prepare to greet new and returning instructors for our two-week orientation starting June 9.

This year, our 14 trip leaders and directors:

  • Have a combined 84 seasons of Adventure Treks experience. At minimum, our trip leaders have three seasons of previous Adventure Treks experiences, and some have as many as 11 seasons!
  • Include two former Adventure Treks students.
  • Comprise a wonderful group of outdoor educators like ski patrol, school teachers, outdoor program course directors, ski instructors, and more!

Below, meet our leadership team!

dmacDave McGlashan, regional director

Dave (or Dmac, as our students and parents know him) is our director and 10th-year regional director. He has a master’s degree in recreation from the University of Tennessee and is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) instructor course. He is a Wilderness First Responder, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, and American Canoe Association Level 4 Whitewater Instructor. In his spare time, Dmac can be found mountain biking all over the southeastern U.S.

Erica Van SteenisErica Van Steenis, regional director

Originally from southern California, this is Erica’s sixth season as a regional director and trip leader. She has a master’s degree in community development from the University of California, Davis, and is currently working on a PhD in education at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She is an experienced sea kayaking and backpacking guide, a Wilderness First Responder, and holds her Avalanche Level 1 certification.

joe-sisti-new-cropJoe Sisti, regional director

Joe is our staffing director and regional director for the 10th season. He grew up hiking and camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. After earning a bachelor’s degree in history from Virginia Tech, Joe began leading outdoor education programs, focusing on using the outdoors to build close-knit and strong student communities. He is a Wilderness First Responder and Leave No Trace trainer, and he is an avid mountain biker and skier.

Allison O'Brien 2017Allison O’Brien, California Challenge 1 & Pacific Northwest Adventure 2

Originally from Minnesota, Allison graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a bachelor’s degree in environmental education and interpretation. She’s worked with AmeriCorps in northern California, as an outdoor educator in North Carolina, ski instructor at Steamboat, and interpretation intern in Glacier National Park. Allison is a Wilderness First Responder and PSIA certified ski instructor. She is excited to return to Adventure Treks for her ninth season as a trip leader.

Kate Brown 2017Kate Brown, British Columbia 1 & 2

Kate is our logistics coordinator and returning for her sixth season as a trip leader. Kate graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with degrees in anthropology and African studies. She worked at Albuquerque Academy’s experiential education department after spending five years as a lead instructor, facilitator, and logistics coordinator at UNC’s outdoor education center. She is a lifeguard and Wilderness First Responder.

Tess Sneeringer Photo 300Tess Sneeringer, Pacific Northwest Adventure 1 & Ultimate Northwest 2

Tess joins us for her fourth season  as a trip leader. Tess holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Middlebury College in Vermont. She has led backpacking and canoe trips in the greater New England area and enjoys bringing her knowledge of wildlife ecology and forestry into the field. Tess is a graduate of a NOLS Alaska backpacking course, Wilderness First Responder, and Swiftwater Rescue Technician.

Alex Coffin Photo 300Alex Coffin, California Challenge 2

Alex is returning for her third season a trip leader. She graduated from Colgate University with a bachelor’s degree in biology and mathematics. Alex has led backpacking and sea kayaking trips all over New England and currently works as a high school math teacher in Boston. Alex is a Wilderness First Responder.

Katy Ebner 2017Katy Ebner, Yellowstone Teton Adventure 1, 2, & 3

Katy hails from New Hampshire, and is a graduate of Lyndon State College in Vermont with a bachelor’s degree in adventure leadership and human services. She has led backpacking, canoeing, and rock climbing trips throughout New England. Katy is a Wilderness First Responder and AMGA Climbing Wall Instructor. She spent her winter teaching snow sports in Colorado, and is returning for her fourth season as an instructor.

Nate Humphreys 2017Nate Humphries, Alaska Expedition 2

Nate was a five-year Adventure Treks student before transitioning into his eleventh season as a trip leader. Nate graduated from St. John’s College in Santa Fe, NM. He has led backpacking trips in Utah and Oregon, and thru-hiked the Long Trail. Nate currently lives in Asheville, NC, where he performs as a musician, and is a Wilderness First Responder.

Nico Grin 2017Nico Grin, Alaska Expedition 1

Originally from the Bay Area in California, Nico has a bachelor’s degree in outdoor recreation leadership from Feather River College. She has traveled through 13 different countries, rock climbed in Thailand, swam in the Mekong, and volunteered on farms across New Zealand. Nico has worked as a rock climbing instructor, taught at a preschool, and facilitated high ropes challenge courses. She is a Wilderness First Responder and Swiftwater Rescue Technician, and she is returning for her fourth season as a trip leader.

Angelique Carl 2017Angelique Carl, Colorado Explorer 1, 2, & 3

Angelique is thrilled to return to Adventure Treks for her third season as a trip leader. She graduated from Northland College with a bachelor’s degree in sustainable community development. After college, Angelique developed a passion for outdoor education after working as a VISTA volunteer with AmeriCorps, a science camp instructor in Michigan, a YMCA girls leadership development instructor in Washington, and a ski instructor for six seasons. Now, she works as a full-time outdoor educator leading ecology and backpacking trips all over the west coast. She recently returned to the USA after spending the last four months in New Zealand. Angelique is a Wilderness First Responder.

Kiko Sweeney PhotoKiko Sweeney, Ultimate Northwest 1 & Pacific Northwest Explorer 2

A former Adventure Treks student, Kiko graduated from Colorado College with a double major in film and new media studies and classics. She has led backpacking trips in Alaska and Colorado, and spent her winter working for an adventure film production company. Kiko is currently working as an instructor for the Boojum Institute in California. She competed in the Junior Nationals as a ski racer and is joining us for her fifth season as a trip leader. She is a Wilderness First Responder, Leave No Trace Trainer, and has an AIARE Avalanche Level 1 certification.

Devin Wilkinson Photo 300Devin Wilkinson, Leadership Summit

Born and raised in Colorado, Devin has spent her life backpacking, hiking, and skiing. She has completed a semester with NOLS in Patagonia and led backpacking trips for the outdoor program at Fort Lewis College. Devin is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in adventure education from Fort Lewis College. She is a Wilderness First Responder and Leave No Trace Trainer. Devin spent her winter as a ski patroller in Utah, and is returning for her fifth season as a trip leader.

Sam Haines Photo 300Sam Haines, California Adventure & California Challenge 3

Sam is returning to Adventure Treks for his sixth season as a trip leader. Sam graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a bachelor’s degree in jewelry and metalsmithing. He is a graduate of the NOLS Pacific Northwest Semester and spent three summers leading backpacking trips for Mass Audubon Drumlin Farm. He spent his winter in Boston working as a climbing instructor and youth climbing coach. He holds certifications as an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor and Wilderness First Responder.

Casey Clark Photo 300Casey Clark, Alaska Expedition 1

Casey grew up exploring the mountains, rivers, and canyons of Colorado. She graduated from Fort Lewis College in Durango with a bachelor’s degree in adventure education before working with Camp Tahosa as the backpacking director and lead guide. Casey spent this winter teaching skiing at Big Sky mountain in Montana and recently returned from traveling in New Zealand. She is a Wilderness First Responder and is returning for her sixth season as a trip leader.

 

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College 2017: Where Our Students are Headed Next

Congratulations to our graduating class of 2017, soon to be the class of 2021! We are always impressed—but never surprised—at the remarkable colleges Adventure Treks students will soon be attending. Below is the list of the colleges that you, our students, have chosen.

We feel privileged and grateful to have been a topic of many of our students’ college essays. We know that navigating through the college “sorting hat” has been difficult, and we want to applaud every one of you for all the hard work you have put into your successful high school careers.

We thought we would share an excerpt from former student Eli Burk’s acceptance letter from the University of Rochester: “For a major research university to thrive with just 5,300 undergraduates, each student has to make a personal and immediate contribution to campus life. The counselors recommended you for admission because of the lessons you learned from your experience climbing Alaska’s Matanuska Glacier. The committee and I are confident you will both stand out and grow stronger as part of the Rochester family.”

We’re so happy that you all have chosen schools that are a good fit for your personalities, abilities, and interests. We’d like to emphasize that what you will take away from your college experience has little to do with the prestige or rank of a given college, and everything to do with the mindset and attitude with which you approach your collegiate career. Success in college is about the effort poured into the experience, your desire to fuel your passions, the relationships formed with new friends and faculty, and your ability to thrive in new and sometimes ambiguous situations. We urge you to form relationships with faculty, while it can be more difficult than  getting to know your AT instructors, these relationships are a key indicator of what makes a successful college career!

At a time when only 58 percent of students at four-year colleges graduate within six years, and many needing some kind of psychological counseling during their first year at school, we’re proud that the graduation rate of Adventure Treks students remains consistent at 98 percent! We believe the resilience, social confidence, collaboration, and community mindset skills you’ve strengthened through your Adventure Treks experiences will help you thrive in college (and the world beyond).

Having talked to dozens of our graduates currently in college, here are some examples of how the Adventure Treks experience helped them prepare for college life:

“AT did a phenomenal job preparing me for the transition to college. I had the ability to adapt to new and changing situations. I knew how to meet friends and how to work with different kinds of people. I have seen many of my friends struggle with the transition, but it’s been easy for me.” – Christopher, University of Richmond

“AT made me more comfortable in my skin; when I got to college, I didn’t have to try to be anybody but myself. It was refreshing and empowering.” – Max, Stanford University

“At AT, you learn how to help out and look out for others, how to thrive when things aren’t easy, and how to see a bigger picture beyond yourself. AT gave me the confidence to lead a school organization my freshman year, and it means I am always the one doing more than my share in project groups.” – Jake, University of Nevada, Reno

2017 Adventure Treks Freshmen
  • Stephen Yan, Princeton University
  • Jack Kanzler, Tulane University
  • Ethan Kugler, University of Florida
  • Logan Branagh, University of Sydney, Australia
  • Hannah Petersen, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Harper Swing, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Jennifer Jacober, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Laura Glanz, Washington University in St Louis
  • Alana Bojar, Washington University in St Louis
  • Rudy Sutton, Union College
  • Rebecca Carroll, US Navy
  • Eli Hess, University of South Carolina
  • Suzy Weiner, University of Montana
  • Maria Rodriguez, Davidson College
  • Rafi Derringer, University of Southern California
  • Harrison Tankersley, University of Colorado, Boulder
  • JD LeRoy, University of Southern California
  • Sam Miller, University of Colorado, Boulder
  • Eli Burk, University of Rochester
  • Noah Ayers, Southern Methodist University
  • Brian Kreidberg, Hofstra University
  • Olive Welsh, Colorado College
  • Lauren Brodsky, University of Pennsylvania
  • Aaron Segal, Ithaca College
  • Holden Bradley, University of Colorado, Boulder
  • Ben Garelick, University of Virginia or Emory
  • Henri Emmett, Bates College
  • Krystin Langer, University of Iowa, School of Journalism
  • Eli Hess, University of South Carolina
  • Sam Pollack, Wesleyan University
  • Jayson Butts, Wheaton College
  • Spencer Butts, Hobart and William Smith Colleges
  • Lydia Welp, Quest University, BC Canada
  • Julia Woodson, University of Michigan
  • Madison Coleman, Auburn University
  • Matt Zenko, Ohio State University
  • Sam Lewis, Colorado School of Mines
  • Amara Cohen, University of Chicago
  • Oliver Holden-Moses, Northwestern University
  • Isabel Coletti, University of North Carolina, Asheville
  • Evan Nagareda, Northwestern University
  • Stephen Yan, Princeton or University of Chicago
  • Josh Martelon, University of Colorado, Boulder
  • Davis Wain,  Gerogia Technical College
  • Sydney Kay, Ithaca College
  • Zach Zionts, Hobart and William Smith Colleges
  • Joey Michael, University of Colorado, Boulder
  • Sammie Hasen, University of Colorado, Boulder
  • Jamie Leonard, Fort Lewis College
  • Anna Gottesman, University of Michigan
  • Martin Capriles, Boston University
  • Kyra Wilkowski, University of Rhode Island
  • Ryan Grinnell, University of California, Berkeley
  • Ben Fertik, Purdue University
  • Nicholas Hopkin, University of Michigan

If we missed you, please tell us where you are heading so we can add you to this list and put you in touch with Adventure Treks students already at your new school!

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Staff Spotlight: Devin Wilkinson


Devin will be joining us as a Trip Leader for her fifth season at Adventure Treks! She answered a few questions for us below.

Devin snow

Devin on ski patrol in Park City, Utah.

What are you currently doing?
I am currently a ski patroller at Park City Ski Area in Utah.

What made you want to work as an outdoor educator?
Growing up in Colorado, I’ve always loved being outside, but it wasn’t until I took a year off from college and spent 85 daysin Patagonia with NOLS that I realized I could make a living out of sharing my passion in the outdoors.

Out of your last several years with us, what’s your favorite AT memory?
I have a lot of great AT memories, but one of my favorites was summiting Mt. Olympus with my Leadership Summit students last summer. We had woken up at about 3:00 a.m., and the weather already seemed like it wasn’t in our favor. As we ascended through the forest and eventually onto the glacier, the clouds continued to roll across the summit. It was a constant mental balance between thinking we might have to turn around and feeling confident that we would make it. The game was holding both possibilities at once. Finally, standing on top of that summit around noon was incredible. Watching my students overcome challenges together and discover their own inner strengths throughout the process—these are the moments that make me proud to be an outdoor educator.

Devin Flair

Devin (far left) and the Colorado Explorer crew in flair!

What keeps you coming back to AT?
I come back to AT because they are my people. There is hardly any other environment where one can find such a large collection of authentic, goofy, intelligent individuals—both instructors and students—and I’ve discovered some of my closest friends within this community. Even when I only get to spend a brief amount of time with some of them, I know they truly care about me. I also come back for the adventures. And the flair costumes, of course.

On a lighter note, what’s your favorite AT meal?
I LOVE peanut butter, so any meal that can incorporate this delicious spread has to be a favorite. I really like Gado Gado, which consists of rice noodles and a variety of sautéed veggies topped with a homemade Thai peanut sauce.

What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever been to?
This is a hard one… I’ve been lucky to see a ton of beautiful places in my life so far. One that sticks out was seeing a glacier for the first time while mountaineering in Patagonia. It made me cry, it was so beautiful. I will say Blue Glacier on Mt. Olympus is probably a close second. Emerging from the rich greens of the Hoh Rainforest to stand before the seracs and crevasse of the glacier at sunrise is pretty spectacular.

Devin backpack

Devin on a backpack with friends.

Tell us something unique about you.
I know more recipes using figs as an ingredient than any one person should know. I love figs, probably even more than peanut butter.

Where did you attend college?
I spent two years at Colorado College and then transferred to Fort Lewis College where I earned my degree.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
My sister and I have been talking about a trip to Iceland. I’ve always wanted to see the Northern Lights, and I hear they have some fermented shark you can try. Who doesn’t love some good old fermented shark!

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Our View on Service Trips – And Why We Don’t Offer Them

BC1-16 (160) cropped

Many people ask us why we don’t offer community service trips, and specifically international ones, as part of our summer trip offerings. We could make a lot of money if we chose to do this. However, we would feel guilty making money on something we believe rarely accomplishes most of its intended goals.

Don’t get us wrong—we are firm believers in community service. Folks in our office are vitally engaged in our community, from volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters to serving on local and national environmental and conservation boards. We do this volunteer work on top of our real jobs, and we know many of our families carry similar commitments.

It all goes back to a theme I learned in college—think globally, but act locally.

Volunteerism on the local level has a powerful effect, even for middle and high schoolers. It costs nothing but time, and you can see the direct result of your actions. Teens who volunteer locally begin to understand how government and non-profit groups intersect to build effective, cohesive, and functional communities and care for vulnerable and disadvantaged citizens. Engaged local citizenry is the foundation of a democratic society and can build connections that last a lifetime. At a time when many students tend to be self-absorbed, through volunteering, they can discover new passions, build empathy, and discover how they can affect the causes they care about.

We do not see these same long-term benefits with international community service trips, also known as “voluntourism.” Demand for community service trips began in the early 2000s when many high schools started requiring community service hours in order to graduate. These same kids worked so hard during the year and then used summers to fulfill volunteer hour requirements. The belief and intention was that service would create “better kids” with a wider perspective. This coincided with a time when college admissions were becoming more competitive. Unique community service trips became perceived as a way to differentiate a college application. And a new summer industry was born.

hiking in alaska

Though we have watched many other programs shift their focus from outdoors to community service over the last 15 years, we’ve declined to follow the market. And here is why: All of the research and literature demonstrates that community service trips are rarely impactful on anyone but the individual taking the trip. (Unless the volunteer is bringing a specific skill to a community in need (doctor, engineer, or architect) or doing relief work after a natural disaster.)

Having read scholarly articles about the costs and benefits of voluntourism, below is the synopsis.

  • The benefits disproportionately favor the volunteer rather than the community that is being helped.
  • The lasting impact of most tasks performed by volunteers is often negligible and sometimes even negative.
  • Members of local communities may find volunteer tourism offensive. (How would you feel if 20 “foreigner teens” descended on your neighborhood to “help?”
  • These trips are expensive, and the benefits would often be greater if the participant stayed home and simply invested the tuition and travel money directly in an effective non-governmental organization (UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders, etc.) in the host country.
  • A nonstop cycle of volunteers can promote a cycle of dependence in the host country.
  • There is a big difference in the impact between skilled (doctors and engineers) and unskilled (teenagers) volunteers.
  • This can promotes an unhealthy “western savior complex.”

Here are a few articles to consider from NPR, Reuters, Forbes, CNN, and Newsweek (there are many more out there).

Trips like these do serve the participants, if not the intended communities. They can indeed be “life-changing experiences.” But if a life-changing experience is what the participant seeks, we believe an outdoor adventure experience is a even more effective way to grow. Research (see this Columbia University article and this Washington Post article) also shows that college admissions departments feel the same way about voluntourism and give little credence to these paid community service experiences. (But they give a lot of credit to applicants who volunteer locally for causes about which the applicant is passionate.)

At Adventure Treks, young people grow in numerous ways. They gain confidence, independence, and resilience, and improve communication and collaboration skills.  They gain the benefits of living and working in a close community and make friends from around the world. Arguably, these same goals could be obtained from a community service trip, but we feel our delivery system—the outdoors, tech-free, challenge through strenuous and new activities—is a far more effective vehicle for growth than a paid community service trip. And this is why we decline to do these community service trips. We want to do one thing, we want it to be highly effective, and we want to do it extremely well. For us, it’s outdoor education.

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Meals at Adventure Treks: From the Outdoors to Your Kitchen

While at Adventure Treks, students learn how to cook delicious meals in the wilderness. This helps students get more involved in the preparation and planning aspects of their trips, and it teaches them lifelong skills. There is a strong sense of pride that comes from creating a hot meal in a serene wilderness environment. Students and parents often wonder what type of food we eat at Adventure Treks trip. Here are a couple of classic meals that each trip cooks and prepares. Our hope is that the meals students make at AT become regular meals that they cook at home for their family!

Breakfast

For some people, “cooking” breakfast is easy: Grab a carton of milk and a box of cereal. At Adventure Treks, we like to spice up our breakfast options! On a few hectic days, we might have a cold breakfast, but we always strive for hot breakfasts with lots of vegetables, meat, and a vegetarian option. Here’s one of my favorite options—I’ve cooked this on every AT trip I’ve led.

Breakfast BurritosBreakfast Burritos

Ingredients

  • Salsa
  • Peppers
  • Spinach
  • Avocado
  • Sausage or bacon
  • Veggie sausage
  • Black beans or refried beans
  • Cheese
  • Eggs
  • Tortillas (flour or corn)
  • Hash browns
  • Hot sauce / spices
  • Cooking spray
Lunch

We try to get creative with our lunch options at Adventure Treks. Healthy wraps with lots of fruit and snacks are a staple! Chicken Caesar wraps is a favorite meal of mine that we eat at least once on each Adventure Treks trip.

Chicken Ceasar WrapChicken Caesar Wrap

Ingredients

  • Grilled chicken or pre-cooked chicken
  • Tofu or another meat alternative
  • Tortillas (flour or corn)
  • Lettuce
  • Spinach
  • Cucumbers
  • Baby tomatoes
  • Shredded cheese
  • Croutons
  • Caesar or Goddess dressing
  • Chips, pretzels, or veggie sticks
  • Grapes, clementines, watermelon (one or two fruit options)
Dinner

Students have more time during dinner to cook elaborate meals and learn new skills in the backcountry “kitchen.” During dinner, students often divide up into groups and each cook one item. We then come together in the large group to eat the meal as a community. Other times, a few students will volunteer to cook dinner while others help set up camp. This gives students who like to cook more opportunities to test out their skills. Cooking is a great way to get students involved, and it helps build solid communities. We cook stir fry in some form during every trip. It’s an awesome meal that students learn quickly!

Stir FryTeriyaki Stir Fry

Ingredients

  • Teriyaki sauce (soy sauce also works)
  • Garlic
  • Onions
  • Carrots
  • Snap peas
  • Broccoli
  • Zucchini
  • Water chestnuts
  • Baby corn
  • Chow mien noodles (fun to sprinkle on top)
  • Pre-grilled chicken or steak
  • Minute Rice (Minute Rice is nice for a large group in the woods, but any rice works at home)
Snacks

Who doesn’t love snacks?! We always have snacks at Adventure Treks. We know that students are more active, in a new environment, and get hungry more often throughout the day. Each day, we offer multiple snack options: usually fresh fruit, peanut butter pretzels, Goldfish, hummus and carrots, etc. A classic snack that we eat on each trip is GORP (or Good Old Raisins and Peanuts). We have definitely added a few items over the years! Here is a list of ingredients that we use to create different versions of GORP.

Trail Mix2GORP

Ingredients

  • Raisins or craisins
  • Peanuts or mixed nuts
  • M&Ms or peanut M&Ms
  • Dried fruits
  • Chocolate-covered raisins
  • Reese’s Pieces
  • Yogurt-covered raisins
  • Pretzels
  • Goldfish
Dessert

A tasty treat can go a long way after a hard day. We like to end the day with a sweet resolution. One of my all-time favorites is Worms In Dirt. It sounds weird at first, but check out the ingredients below!

Worms in DirtWorms In Dirt

Ingredients

  • Chocolate/vanilla pudding
  • Milk
  • Crushed Oreos
  • Gummy worms
  • Oreo pie crust

Each student at Adventure Treks has their own favorite meal. We hope that students leave the trip with a new recipe that they love to make and new culinary skills that stay with them for life! If you have any favorite outdoor recipes please share them with us! We love to hear about different, fun food creations!

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Meet Our New Staffing Director, Joe Sisti!

Joe on Mt. Olympus during the Leadership Summit trip.

Joe on Mt. Olympus during the Leadership Summit trip.

As some of you may know, Josh Goldbach, our associate director, has moved on from Adventure Treks. After six years with us, Josh decided that while he did not want to leave AT, he did want to try on a new hat. He is still a part of the Adventure Treks family, and has been helping with staffing and new ideas for our upcoming 2017 season. While we miss having Josh in our office and are thankful for all of his hard work, we are excited to welcome Joe Sisti as the new staffing director. Some of you may already know Joe as one of our students’ (and staff’s!) favorite Adventure Treks instructors

Originally from Virginia, Joe received a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech. Instead of playing football, he decided to focus his time in the outdoors, and has since become an accomplished outdoor educator, rock climber, skier, and mountain biker. Joe has been working with Adventure Treks as an instructor, then a trip leader, and then our educational programs director for the past five years. So you all can get to know Joe a little better, he answered a few questions for us.

What’s your favorite AT activity? It’s not the most exciting on paper, but the backpacks are the best. Biking and climbing are exciting, but I feel like the real moments that make AT what it is happen on our backpacks. Everything changes once you leave the trailhead. You get time to settle down and take it all in. The hours on the trail allow everyone to have great conversations and get to know one another. After a few days of this, the guards come down and everyone is able to be themselves. You play tons of games and work together to get all the little chores done so you can have more time to enjoy the views, talk, or just hang out in nature. Backpacking with AT students is great, and most of the time, I forget I’m even working.

Joe on the Lost Coast during a California Challenge trip.

Joe on the Lost Coast during a California Challenge trip.

What made you want to work as an outdoor educator? I had some pretty tough times in college, and I really struggled to find my path. I had no idea what I wanted to do for a job or career. The one thing that seemed to make my worries go away was going for hikes in the mountains around Blacksburg. The Appalachian Trail runs pretty close to town, so there are tons of opportunities for great hikes. One day while outside, I thought, “I wish this could be my job.” After doing a little research and getting some helpful advice from my manager at Domino’s Pizza (I had a brief stint as a delivery boy), I took a NOLS course in Wyoming whereI spent nearly 30 days in the backcountry. I had never felt so good. One of my instructors, Claire Parrish, really inspired me. She was such a competent outdoorsperson—tough and strong—but also the most positive person I had ever met. She made brutal hikes through steep terrain a blast. I realized I wanted to be her. I thought if I could have the impact on at least one student the way she did with me, it would be worth it.

What’s your favorite AT memory? There are lots, but two come to mind immediately. In summer 2016 while on Leadership Summit, we stopped at Goodwill to purchase some summit flair before climbing Mt. Olympus in Washington. All of the students purchased purple clothing, and we held an impromptu purple prom at our group campsite in Sequim Bay. It was better than any prom I attended in high school, and I realized, once again, that the students who come to AT truly are special: inclusive, fun, and totally willing to be their weird selves. I loved it. The second one occurred on a backpack in the Trinity Alps in California. We made camp early due to some tough conditions, and to pass time, we played loads of games, wrote a group poem, and took a swim in an alpine lake. The icing on the cake, though: acting out books one through three of Harry Potter. There were only four of us involved, and the group asked us to stop at three, but there are not many times I can remember having more fun in the woods.

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Joe showing off his AT colors in Colorado.

What keeps you coming back to AT? The people: the students, the instructors, the directors I get to work for. Our trips are great, and I haven’t had a course area at AT that wasn’t spectacular. Dock [John Dockendorf], though, has truly created something special at AT. It really is a second family. My friends there know me better than anyone else; they have seen me at my best, and also at my not-so-best, and they still love me. That’s a pretty rare thing to come across these days: total acceptance for who you are. At the end of a season, I think most people involved with AT feel that way, students and instructors alike.

What’s something unique about you? If we are talking about quirks, I could go on for a while. I’ll choose two. I love Reuben sandwiches. I have had one in every new place I have traveled to. I lost count of how many I have tried in how many restaurants, but the best one can be found at Choice City Deli in Fort Collins, CO. Seriously, I’ve tried them all over America and the corned bison Reuben there is just the best. I also have an odd connection to writing utensils. The pen I am currently using has been with me for nearly three years now. I can’t stand losing them.

 

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Lessons We’ve Learned about Student Travel

airports and travelSummer officially begins at Adventure Treks in just four months, and the first students of 2017 will be landing at their arrival airports a few short weeks later. In order to make planning your student’s transportation a little easier, here are a few lessons we’ve learned over the years.

*These suggestions are based merely on our experiences on flying more than 1,500 students in the last several years.

Choosing airlines and unaccompanied minors

Simply put, some airlines, like Southwest and Alaska Airlines, are easier to navigate when booking tickets for teenagers under 18. For example, students 12 and older can fly alone on Southwest and Alaska, meaning you do not need to purchase the extra unaccompanied minor (UM) service (which can cost upwards of $150 each way) which will assign an airline attendant to accompany your child during the flight. (However, you do still have the option for your child to fly as a UM with either airline.)

Delta has great customer service when dealing with UMs and travel complications. They do require UM service for students 14 and younger, and it usually costs about $150 each way, but on a rough travel day (e.g., with delays due to weather, etc.), we’ve found that they are the most helpful in helping students get from point A to point B. If flights are delayed and connections will be missed, they’ve often already re-booked a student on the next best flight before we’ve reached a human on their customer service phone number (but that also happens relatively quickly, too).

Now onto our least favorite: Last year, United quietly changed its UM policy mid-winter, upping its age requirement from 15 to 16, and restricting those under 16 to nonstop flights only. We had several families who had to pay for new plane tickets last-minute due to this policy change, costing thousands of dollars. We encourage families to look at other airlines first, and only choose United if necessary or if your student is older than 16.

Choosing early flights and connections

It may sound nerve-wracking, but remember—it’s OK to book flights with connections! In fact, most of our students will fly with at least one connection during their journey to or from Adventure Treks. However, look closely at connection times before purchasing a ticket. We highly recommend at least an hour between flights, as it is our experience that anything less can result in travel complications. Last summer, the students who most often missed their second flight leg were those with connection times of about 30 minutes.

For our east coast students, please book the first flight of the day. We know it will mean an early morning for you and your child, but it offers much more breathing room in case of delays, missed connections, bad weather, cancelled flights, etc.

Adventure Treks is there to help!

Flying to and from Adventure Treks sometimes causes more stress for parents than students! Adventure Treks is with you every step of the way.

  • We have the confirmation code of every student’s flight so that we can quickly and easily confirm and/or note any changes in flight details.
  • We check flights three to four days before opening and closing days, again the day before, and again the morning of.
  • We are in the office by 7 a.m. on airport days, even if it’s a weekend, for support.
  • On opening days, our instructors and regional directors arrive at the airport early. We (both the office staff and instructors/directors) track all flights—from before the first student takes off at his or her home airport to when the last student lands at his or her destination airport.
  • We pay close attention to weather all over the U.S., and we try to get ahead of any potential complications as much as possible. It is not uncommon for one of us to call a parent with information regarding a flight delay, possible missed connection, etc., and a plan B (or C!) before the parent is aware of that change.

Someone from our office is always on call (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) during the summer. If a student experiences a significant travel delay, we’re available to help, even if it’s 3 a.m. We also ask for our students’ cell phone numbers so we can be in direct contact with them while they are traveling. Please stress to your child the importance of turning their cell phones on when they land at every airport, and to answer any calls or text messages from strange phone numbers, as it is likely a staff member. Also, it’s a good idea to plug our office phone number (828-698-0399) into your child’s phone.

A few tips for your child

It’s a good idea to sit down with your child and look over a map of the airport your child will be flying into; this gives your child a head-start on navigating the terminal. If your child feels lost at any point inside the airport, tell him/her to look for a mom with kids—she will always stop and help your child! Here’s more helpful information on airport days, and we suggest watching this video for both you and your child:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmSJvhe0u4U

Read all the paperwork

Before booking airline tickets, read your student’s Travel Information document, which you’ll find in the “forms and documents” section of your CampInTouch account. You’ll find all the details you’ll need to book your student’s tickets, along with other valuable travel information, including a description of how the unaccompanied minor program works. A note to new families: feel free to browse tickets, but please don’t purchase anything until your student has been officially accepted.

We treat all of our students as if they are our own kids. If you have any questions or concerns, or just need to chat through the process, please give us a call at 828-698-0399. We’re always here to help and make the travel process as smooth as possible.

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