Get Your Group Outside!
The program is specially designed for Girl Scouts, schools, camps, clubs, community centers and other youth-serving agencies or programs. We also provide special outdoor experiences for persons with developmental disabilities, at-risk youth, special needs youth and women's groups. Our adventure trips are fun and they also are a chance to learn and grow. Our unique program includes llamas as assistants and trail companions. The llamas carry the heavy gear, but also add a special fun dimension to the adventure.
We hold permits from the US Forest Service and meet all safety and training requirements of the Forest Service and Park Service. All operations on National Forest lands are authorized under Special Use Permit by the Pisgah National Forest.
An adventure trek can be as short as one day or as long as a week, depending on the request of the organization. A typical trek is two or three nights hiking by day and camping each night in tents in the beautiful Pisgah National Forest in western North Carolina. Each trek focuses on fun and safety but also teaches participants outdoor skills and respect for the environment. Some of the best learning and personal growth takes place through experiential learning, a process through which participants develop knowledge, skills and values directly from their experiences.
Some Benefits of Getting Young People Outdoors:
- Develop new recreational interests and skills
- Learn about themselves
- Build self confidence
- Strengthen self esteem
- Improve teamwork and cooperation with peers
- Foster a greater understanding of environmental issues
- Improve decision making skills
Ages: Youth between 8 and 14. All youth groups must be accompanied by chaperones (A minimum of one adult per seven youth; more adults for youth with behavior problems). Chaperones are encouraged to participate in all the activities. Special treks can be planned for older youth and young adults with developmental disabilities and for adult women's groups.
Group size: We can take up to 16 people per group, including the chaperones and one or two of our staff. Size is limited by US Forest Service regulations. Groups of ten or fewer will have an opportunity to go into Congressionally-designated Wilderness Areas, places that are more remote and less traveled than other parts of the National Forest. For larger groups, we can conduct two concurrent treks.
Health and Fitness: Most adventure treks are for beginners and we hike at the pace of the slowest person in the group. However, campers must be in general good health and be able to walk on uneven trails for 3-8 miles. These treks take place in remote areas and carry some degree of risk. All participants must complete a health form and have parent or guardian permission for administering medication and seeking emergency treatment.
Staff: All staff are mature people, most with masters' degrees and extensive experience with youth. Staff are certified in Wilderness First Aid and have received training in emergency procedures.
Gear: Participants supply their own shoes, raincoats and clothing. For most groups, we supply tents, backpacks, cooking gear and sleeping bags. Girl Scout groups supply their own backpacks, mess kits and sleeping bags.
Food: We provide three meals each day plus healthy snacks. Hot breakfasts and dinners are prepared over a camp stove. (See FAQs.) We serve plenty of cocoa, herbal tea and other hot beverages. If you tell us in advance, we can accommodate persons with food allergies or special diets.
Get your group outside with us for fun, adventure and learning!