Wilderness Trips
All sessions will offer campers an exciting opportunity to challenge themselves and learn new skills in a wilderness setting. Each will begin with a day and a half on our challenge ropes course in order to increase the campers' self-confidence and improve their communication and teamwork skills. The group will then put their new found skills to the test as they head off on one of three fun and exciting wilderness adventures. Although the three trips vary in location and difficulty, each will focus on "Leave No Trace" backcountry ethics, basic survival skills and the general history and ecology of the area.
Goals- Enhance self-confidence while building teamwork skills.
- Learn responsible and safe backcountry travel, camping and survival skills.
- Exposure to relevant first aid techniques.
- Foster an appreciation for the natural world and wild places.
Staff
Each trip will be lead by a nationally certified wilderness first responder with life guard certification and accompanied by another adult with current first aid and CPR training. Both staff members have extensive experience leading groups in the backcountry.
Pathfinder: June 23 - 29, 2013
Now here is a camping trip! 15,000 acres of wilderness with a visitor use concept that emphasizes solitude, self-reliance and a sense of exploration. On this exciting backpacking expedition campers will live and learn the basics of wilderness travel and camping while exercising sound, noninvasive, minimum impact techniques. Our journey will take us on an exploration of North Manitou Island for a duration of three days and two nights. North Manitou Island is located 12 miles west of Leland in Lake Michigan, so back-country swimming is a camping favorite! Be prepared to have fun while experiencing, learning, and identifying countless species of flora and fauna throughout this adventure.
Local: $430
Out-of-County: $640
Canoer: July 14 - 20, 2013
Are you looking for a true paddling adventure? Always wanted to try your hand at some river camping? Well then this trip is for you! Join us as we paddle along the winding waters of the Muskegon River for 4 days and 3 nights. We will experience the true outdoors of the Muskegon River Watershed as we paddle some of the last untouched river wilderness in the Lower Peninsula. We are sure to see plenty of wild life and pristine river views as we camp along the river banks and enjoy the peaceful sounds of the rolling river at our campfire by night. It is sure to be a trip to remember, full of fun and adventure.
Local: $445
Out-of-County: $650
Explorer: July 28 - August 3, 2013
If you are looking for a more challenging wilderness excursion, the Explorer Trip is just for you! Our destination will be the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore along the southern shore of Lake Superior for four days and three nights. While there, we will take in the undisturbed beauty of one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world and marvel at the immaculate limestone formations that serve as its shoreline. The educational component will be similar in nature to the Pathfinder session, although more advanced. Some prior wilderness experience and exposure to hiking and backpacking is preferred. Come see for yourself one of Nature’s most interesting pieces of artwork!
Local: $455
Out-of-County: $660