"The instructors were so much fun to be with. They made everything as safe and as fun as possible. I was as close to the instructors as I was to the students."
- Andrew Herman
Dix Hills, NY
Backpack in the Appalachian Mountains and enjoy breathtaking views and lush scenery. Travel the amazing Great Smoky Mountains for three days by canoe. Explore the underground world of a cave in Eastern Tennessee and soar through the treetops on a zipline! Your rafting trips on the Pigeon and Nantahala 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. Explore the "land of waterfalls" and hike across beautiful mountain ridges and natural balds. This is a highlight of the trip because you make such close friends in your small group.
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.
Coast along a wide path or pick up the pace as you pedal down a steeper single-track in world-renowned Dupont State Forest. Enjoy a cool swim at Winter Green Falls along the trail.
Grab your headlamp and go deep underground to explore a new world beneath your feet. Climb, slither, and crawl through 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.
You'll pack everything that you need into your canoe and set out for three days paddling the pristine waters of Fontana Lake. Explore 20th century cabins and trails and camp on a private peninsula.
A great trip for first-timers, the Nantahala 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. On the Pigeon River, near the Great Smoky Mountains, you will enjoy intermediate class III-IV rapids for a fun, fast-paced whitewater experience!
Soar through the forest canopy across 12 zip lines and 4 sky bridges. You've been underground, in the water, and on top of the mountain, now travel high above the scenery for fantastic views and a new thrill. Your last zip line is a quarter-mile long and 120 feet high!
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.
Flights:
Arrive in Charlotte, NC (CLT) between 8 AM and 1 PM on June 24.
Depart Charlotte, NC (CLT) between 6 AM and 1 PM on July 9.
Driving:
If you prefer to drive directly to Adventure Treks for the Blue Ridge Experience trip, plan to meet at noon at Camp Pinnacle, 1 Wolfe Lake Drive, Hendersonville, NC on June 24 and pick up at noon on July 9.
June 24: Students arrive in Charlotte, NC (CLT) or Camp Pinnacle by 1PM.
June 25: Day Hike to top of Looking Glass Rock with great views of Pisgah National Forest.
June 26-28: 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 Blue Ridge Mountains extending over 4 states.
June 29: Whitewater raft the Nantahala River. Get soaked shooting the rolling rapids on this famous Southeastern river.
June 30: 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.
July 1: Logistics day (shop for food, do laundry, and clean vans).
July 2-4: 3-Day Canoe trip on Fontana Lake in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Enjoy the wildlife and scenery as you camp on a private peninsula. Explore an historical Appalachian cabin and try to catch a mountain trout (don't forget your fishing pole)!
July 5: 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.
July 6: 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.
July 7: Whitewater raft the Pigeon River. Enjoy five miles of intermediate class III and class IV rapids for a fun, fast-paced whitewater run.
July 8: Zipline near the Pigeon River, just over the Tennessee border. Soar through the forest canopy across 12 zip lines and 4 sky bridges. Your last zip line is a quarter-mile long and 120 feet high!
July 9: Students depart Charlotte, NC by 2 pm (or Camp Pinnacle)
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; 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 who are currently in 6th-7th 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.
Where is the basecamp located?
Our office address is:
1899 Berea Church Road
Hendersonville, NC 28739
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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Dave Pete – Dave Pete is very excited for his fourth summer as a Trip Leader. He spent the last year teaching and adventuring in the woods of Northern Minnesota. He holds a degree in General Science from the University of Oregon and spent 3 months studying Tropical Biology in Ecuador and a year studying Marine Biology in Alaska. For the past 5 years, Dave has worked as a field instructor at an Outdoor Science School on the Oregon Coast. He is often found skiing and climbing in the Oregon Cascades, playing music, biking and gardening. He is a certified Wilderness First Responder.
Valerie Pufahl - Valerie grew up on a farm in Kansas, earned a degree in Community Recreation & Outdoor Education, and has been a whitewater guide, avid mountain biker, and teacher. Valerie taught Movement & Outdoor Education at the Portland Waldorf High School in Oregon for four years. Valerie has cycled the Pacific Coast from Astoria, OR to San Francisco, self-published and printed a book of essays, and spent this last year writing, art-making, and homeschooling on a ranch in Big Sur, California. She is a certified Wilderness First Responder, a Waldorf-trained Movement Educator, and continues to work on her handstands. She joins us for her second AT summer.
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Cait Mates – After 3 years as an Adventure Treks student, Cait joins us for her fourth year as an instructor. She has a degree in Creative Writing from Eckerd College and spent the past two winters teaching snowboarding in Vail, Colorado. She is currently teaching 2nd grade in Connecticut and runs hulahooping, gardening, and yoga afterschool programs. She has taught English abroad in several countries and loves traveling to warm places with good surf! She is a certified Wilderness First Responder.
Jessie Bond - A former Adventure Treks student, graduated from Colby College with a BA in Human Development. Her true passion in life is being involved in the process of reconnecting people with nature. She has been an environmental educator/naturalist in several places including Indiana, Nantucket, Colorado, and Oregon. She spent the past 8 months in Aspen, CO leading nature tours and working for the Aspen Skiing Company. Recently, she moved to Portland, OR where she is a Wildlife Field Instructor for the Northwest Outdoor Science School. Jessie loves hiking, biking, kayaking, skiing, and just being outside rain or shine.
John Greene- A graduate of Brevard College, John holds a BA in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education. Since graduating, John has spent his time teaching and leading kayak trips on North Carolina's Green River. He has also traveled throughout the US and guided in Alaska. John enjoys climbing, backpacking, and whitewater in any form. John is a Wilderness First Responder, Leave No Trace Trainer, Level IV Whitewater Kayak Instructor, and holds a Level IV Swiftwater Rescue Certification.
Max Horowitz - Max is a former three-year Adventure Treks student who is returning as an instructor. He is a graduate of NOLS, and has a BA in Philosophy from Binghamton University. In the fall, Max plans to attend University of Georgia School of Law. His interests include reading, listening to and playing music, rowing, walking his dog, snowboarding, fly fishing and backpacking. Max is a certified Wilderness First Responder.
*Instructors may change prior to your trip – we’ll let you know if this happens.
Reviewed by:Andrew Furtato
Date: October 2011
Rating: 5 out of 5
I felt so bad for the people who didn't have Facebook because it was harder to connect with them after our trip finished. The instructors were awesome and they were very funny. They completely changed my mind on how most instructors were at camps.
Reviewed by: Lucy Kates
Date: January 2011
Rating: 5 out of 5
I honestly would rate this trip a 6 out of 5! It was so fun. All of the instructors were amazing and the activities were the best. I would definitely advise doing it. You will have the time of your life. After I got home I was camp sick!
Reviewed by: Olivia Call
Date: July, 2009
Rating: 5 out of 5
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!
Our administrative staff welcomes the opportunity to answer any questions and help you choose the best summer experience for your child.
1. Fill out our online application or apply by phone by calling 888-954-5555 Monday-Friday 9 am to 5 pm EST. Submit an $800 deposit to hold your place on the adventure of your choice.
2. We intentionally limit the size of our program, so enrollment is limited. Please send in your application early to ensure a place on the trip of your choice.
3. Our acceptance process ensures a great peer group for your child. We require an essay and 2 references from each new student, and we may also arrange a brief phone interview to get to know your child better.
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 24 - July 9 |
| Grades: | 6-7 |
| Activities: |
Whitewater Rafting |
| States: |
North Carolina |
| Airport: | Charlotte, NC (CLT) |
| Price: | $2995 |
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