Below, you’ll find links and helpful information to help you navigate the preparation of your child’s trip, from paperwork in CampInTouch to packing tips to travel days. We know there’s a lot that goes into getting ready for the summer adventure of a lifetime, so please don’t hesitate to call us at 828-698-0399 with any questions.
Trip paperwork
Please make sure that all paperwork has been completed and/or updated prior to your child’s trip, including the health history and questionnaires, activity waivers and acknowledgement of risks (sent via Adobe Sign in April), travel information, and student photo.
Almost everything you’ll need for summer lives in CampInTouch, including the:
- Packing list (don’t forget to check out the Adventure Treks store)
- Travel information and link to submission form
- Parent manual (uploaded in May)
- Daily itinerary (uploaded in May)
- Travel protection plan information
- Referral discount information
- Terms and conditions and student expectations
During the trip
Emergencies and important contact information
Summer office hours are 8–6 eastern and Pacific (we have both a North Carolina and Washington office) Monday through Friday. However, someone is always on call for after-hours emergencies. Please refer to the number listed in the parent manual (uploaded to CampInTouch in May) for the emergency contact number; we ask that you only use this number for urgent or time-sensitive situations, such as canceled flights or family emergencies. If your child’s trip begins or ends on a weekend, the office is open and happy to assist with travel.
Communication with parents during any illness or injury is of the utmost importance. In the event that your child gets sick or injured at Adventure Treks, we will let you know as soon as possible and keep you informed at every step along the way. Our goal is to provide the same level of care that you would and keep you involved in the decisions as they are made.
Trip blogs and photos
Instructors will take photos and videos throughout the trip, which the office will provide to families. Because of the wilderness nature of our trips, there are limitations regarding the frequency of updates while students and staff are in the field. During multi-day activities like backpacking or rafting or sea kayaking, trip updates will not be available until the group comes back into cell service.
Written updates will be emailed to families. Photos and videos will be uploaded directly to an online album, whose link we’ll send about a week before your child’s trip starts (please bookmark this link). These photos are provided at no additional charge. You can also expect one or two phone calls from your child during the trip.
You’ll notice estimated days for trip blogs on the daily itinerary, but this may change due to many factors. We cannot guarantee exactly which days we’ll be able to upload a trip’s photos or send written updates. If they don’t happen as “scheduled” on the daily itinerary, don’t worry! They’ll happen in the next few days instead. Additionally, please note that photos and updates are often shared later in the day/evening on Pacific time.
Contact from your child on the trip
Expect one or two brief phone calls from your child about midway through the trip and on the last day. Similar to trip blogs, we’ll note estimated days for calls home on the daily itinerary, but this may change due to many factors—if phone calls home don’t happen as “scheduled” on the daily itinerary, don’t worry! They may happen in the next few days instead.
We know you’ll want to be available when your child calls; if you miss their call and call them back but reach their voicemail, please call the Adventure Treks office at 828-698-0399, and we’ll work together to arrange another opportunity for your child to call home.
After the trip
Post-trip paperwork
In the weeks following your child’s trip, expect to receive several items from us. We’ll email a survey and contact list a few days after your child arrives home. After summer ends, you’ll also receive a full evaluation of your student’s experience, written by their instructors. Please give us until September to mail evaluations (even for trips ending in July). While we aim to have these items to you sooner, please recognize that students in the field are our first priority.
Early enrollment for 2026
Families will have exclusive access to sign up for 2026 during our “returners-only” priority enrollment period immediately following a trip’s closing. We will provide more information on this later, but mark your calendars for the best tuition discounts of the year!
Stay in touch
One of our great joys is knowing that students keep in touch long after their trip is over. They frequently return year after year with the same group of friends, and some groups will hold evening meeting through FaceTime during the school year. To help students stay in touch, we will send out a contact list with names, emails, and phone numbers post-trip.
Refer a friend
Many of our wonderful new students come to Adventure Treks due to word-of-mouth referrals. For every student, adult, or family you send our way who enrolls and attends a trip with us, both you and the referred family will receive a $250 discount on tuition.
A few things to note:
- In order to avoid mutually exclusive relationships, referred friends must apply to a different trip than your child.
- Referred families must be new to Adventure Treks; the discount does not apply to new siblings.
- Referral discounts are provided as refunds to your CampInTouch account in the summer.
- Referral discounts do not apply to families who were referred by a third-party camp referral agency.