The holidays are a time for connection, reflection, and sharing gifts that create lasting memories. Whether you’re shopping for an outdoor-loving Adventure Treks student or a family looking to spend more quality time outside, our guide is here to inspire adventure, bring people together, and help prepare for an unforgettable AT experience. This gift guide highlights thoughtful, practical gifts that complement our trips and encourage outdoor exploration—perfect for at home, on the trail, and beyond.

Plus, we want to make shopping for summer 2025 stress-free and fun. That’s why we provide most of the expensive and technical gear your student will need for their summer trip, like tents, sleeping bags, and backpacking backpacks—so you don’t need to worry about picking up those items! (More info on that below.)

Cozy gear from the AT store

Support your teen’s love for the outdoors (and keep a little piece of AT with you!) with these student-approved items from our store:

• Blanket: Perfect for chilly movie nights or cozying up after long days of exploring
• Beanie: A warm, stylish way to keep your head warm on mountain summits or in winter
• Journal: Capture memories on an AT trip, reflect on previous adventures, or jot down goals
• Mug and travel mug: Great for morning coffee and a post-hike hot cocoa
• Tote bag: Great for carrying road trip snacks, gear, and everyday essentials
• Sweatpants, hoodies, and sweatshirts: Comfy and perfect for early morning airport days and weekends

Bonus: From Friday, December 6, to Monday, December 9, everythying in the AT store is 25 percent off!

Gear to prepare for their next adventure

While AT provides most of the big-ticket gear, these person items will complement their packing list and make any outdoor adventure even better. Find these at your local outdoor store, REI, or online (lots of different retailers). (Find more specific recommendations here.)

• Hiking boots: Durable, comfortable boots are essential for exploring trails, and they’re a must on each AT trip. Check out brands like Altra, Asolo, Hoka, Keen, Merrell, Oboz, Salomon, and Adidas.
• Camping pillow: Look at lightweight and packable options from brands like NEMO, Klymit, ThermaRest, or Sea to Summit.
• Headlamp: Whether for early mornings, nighttime hikes, or campfire storytelling, a reliable headlamp is a must. Get one from Black Diamond, Petzl, Ozark Trail, or Coleman.
• Outdoor apps: Help your teen explore nearby hikes with GSP subscriptions like AllTrails or Gaia GPS. Add Starwalk 2 for stargazing, Peakfinder for IDing the mountains around you, and PlantNet or Seek for plant identification.
• Wool socks: Who doesn’t love receiving socks? They’re a timeless and practical gift. Brands like Darn Tough, REI Co-op, and Smartwool make socks that are warm, fast-drying, durable, and adventure-ready. Just make sure you don’t get cotton for outdoor trips!
• Flair: Fun, quirky costumes like banana suits, unicorn onesies, and silly wigs make summit days, Costco shops, and road trips that much more fun and bring a smile to those around you. Check out Amazon, a thrift store, or your old Halloween costumes for great finds.

Gift the outdoors

Sometimes, gifts aren’t things—they’re experiences and ways to connect with each other and the nature around us. Here are a few ideas:

• An AT trip: Invest in your teen’s growth and development this summer. 
• AT family program: Stay tuned for more details on our exciting new programs, designed to bring families together outdoors!
• National park pass: Give the gift of unlimited access to breathtaking landscapes and outdoor exploration—this allows you access to any national park!
• Donation to the Charlie Wellman Memorial Fund: Honor a late student’s love of adventure and help more students access the benefits of an AT experience by giving a charitable, tax-deductible gift to our 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donate here.
• Family activities: Plan a ski day, a family hike, or a local park or bike adventure for those living in big cities.

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This holiday season, give gifts that inspire connection, adventure, and unforgettable memories, whether it’s a cozy hoodie, a life-changing AT trip, or a family day spent exploring the great outdoors. 

Explore the AT store for even more gift ideas and keep an eye out for upcoming holiday promotions!

Interpreting the language of outdoor retail

When it comes to buying outdoor gear for Adventure Treks (or even for a personal trip), there’s nothing more daunting than trying to decipher every obscure label, material, fabric, and technology that comes with buying even the simplest outdoor item these days.

But Adventure Treks is here to help! This spring, we’re launching our Gear Series: Tips for Buying Outdoor Gear. We’ll discuss some of the materials, technologies, labels, and other features commonly found on outdoor equipment, and attempt to clarify their meaning, use, and how they’re helpful on an AT trip.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you complete a purchase by clicking any of the following links, Adventure Treks will earn a small commission. We’ve decided to donate 100 percent of each commission to our 501(c)(3) non-profit Charlie Wellman Memorial Fund; this will help us provide more opportunities to deserving students applying for scholarships.

Hiking boots and outdoor footwear

From the first day hike to the summit attempt of a big mountain, the right footwear is crucial for Adventure Treks students. However, when it comes to shopping for boots, the endless lists of specs and material descriptions can make a person go cross-eyed. While we’ll attempt to clarify a few important aspects of footwear, the most important advice we have is try shoes on in the store whenever possible. If you have to order shoes online, order several different brands and give yourself enough time to walk around the house and see which fits best.

Here, we’ll focus on hiking, backpacking, and trail running shoes.

Hiking boot glossary

Uppers: The material that makes up the top part of the shoe or boot is called the upper. In other words, the upper is everything other than the insole, outsole and the tongue.

Last: This is the width measurement of your foot. Not all shoes list the last measurement, but if you have very wide or very narrow feet, you can ask a sales associate to measure the width of your foot when they measure the length. This can help find that perfect fit.

Outsole: The bottom of the shoe or boot is the outsole. Descriptions of shoes sometimes refer to width or thickness of the outsole; that is simply talking about the width or thickness of the rubber part on the bottom. You may also see the words “tread” or “lugs”—this refers to the “knobs” of rubber protruding from the bottom of the shoe. Deep lugs means bigger nobs = more tread = better traction in mud or soft ground.

Insole: What the sole of your foot rests on inside the shoe is the insole. Specialty insoles can be purchased separately and are great options for people with very high arches, flat feet, or another foot specific condition. If this is the case, consult a specialist at your local outdoor store.

Volume: The space inside the shoe. A high-volume shoe is good for folks with a high instep (the peak between your ankle and toes on the top of your foot) because it has more room to accommodate the instep; low-volume is good for folks with a low instep. Correct volume = better fit.

Hiking boot styles

Full-height boot: Refers to a high-top shoe that comes above the ankle bone and laces all the way up. Boots are known for being stiff and require breaking in. They often have a wide, thick outsole and are great for heavy work and backpacking in tough, wet terrain. A perfect style for our Alaska and Leadership Adventure Semester trips, where extended backcountry time and glacier travel make a full boot a necessity.

Mid-height or three-quarter-height: Still considered a boot but three-quarters height, coming up to the ankle bone. Perfect for moderate backpacking and are slightly lighter and more flexible than a full boot (but still need breaking-in time). An excellent choice for every AT trip except Alaska and Leadership Adventure Semester.

Hiking shoe: This category includes many different kinds of shoes, but a hiking shoe is essentially a low-top (below the ankle bone) tennis shoe with some added tread and a more durable upper. This would be great as an around-camp shoe but would not be an acceptable replacement for a backpacking boot.

Hiking boot materials

Leather: Leather boots typically are more durable, heavier, and less breathable compared to a shoe made with synthetic fabrics. That does, however, depend on the form of leather; the three that we are likely to see at Adventure Treks are full-grain, suede/nubuck, and paneled.

• Full-grain: Leather with a smooth, glossy look that still has full thickness (has not been shaved down at all); very durable but not the most breathable. These tend to be on the more expensive side; because students tend to grow out of their boots every year, we don’t recommend full-grain leather boots for teenagers.
• Suede/nubuck: Abraded leather with a “fuzzy” or “thinned down” look. Because the leather isn’t as thick, it loses some durability, but these are more breathable, more flexible, and lighter. Examples include the Merrell Ontario Suede Mid Hiking Boot; Scarpa ZG Trek GTX Backpacking Boot; and Vasque Canyonlands UltraDry Waterproof Hiking Boot.
• Paneled: These are made, predictably, from panels of leather rather than one piece like a full-grain boot. These panels are sewn together to make a very comfortable, flexible, and breathable shoe/boot. They tend to be slightly cheaper than full grain or suede/nubuck but will be less durable. Examples include the Merrell Moab 2 Prime Mid Waterproof (one of the most popular boots out there) and Vasque Breeze III Hiking Boots.

Synthetic: Shoes with synthetic uppers are made from woven synthetic fibers, like a running shoe, or are made up of several panels of malleable, plastic-like material and mesh, sewn together to create the outside of the shoe. Synthetic shoes are usually lighter and more breathable but can lack the durability of their leather counterparts. Many footwear options include a combination of leather and synthetic, and these models tend to strike a nice balance.

Examples of synthetic boots and shoes include the Vasque Women’s Breeze Lt Low GTX Gore-tex Waterproof Breathable Hiking Shoe; Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX Hiking Shoes; and Asolo Grid Gv Low Hiking Shoes

GTX: This means the shoe has a GoreTex waterproof-breathable membrane woven into the upper. Many shoes offer both a GTX and non-GTX (waterproof vs. non-waterproof). We’ll cover GoreTex in our next blog on rain gear, but for now, the only AT trips that require waterproof hiking boots include:

• Ultimate Northwest
• California Challenge
• Alaska Expedition
• Leadership Adventure Semester

Our hiking boot takeaways

• BREAK IN YOUR BOOTS! Your foot comfort is directly connected to how much you’ve worn your boots before your adventure. More time in the boots = more comfortable.
• Synthetic or paneled boots are great options for Adventure Treks trips that won’t require as much break-in time.
• Mid-height boots are appropriate for most of our trips, but full-height boots will work just fine for Alaska and Leadership Summit. Every trip requires a hiking boot except Pacific Northwest Discovery, where hiking shoes will suffice.
• TRY SHOES ON AT A STORE. Only order shoes online if you can order multiple pairs and if you have time to break them in before your trip.

We could not have pulled off this unprecedented summer (operating on a small scale during a pandemic is something we never expected to do) without the steadfast support of our amazing Adventure Treks families and students.

For many reasons, this will be a summer we’ll never, ever forget—and not just because of COVID restrictions. What we’ll remember are the unending smiles on teens’ faces, their laughter as they engage in meaningful conversations and games with friends, the awe in their eyes at seeing western NC’s unparalleled wilderness beauty… We will never forget how seriously our parents and students took their pre-trip quarantines and how much work they did to help Adventure Treks operate.

But don’t just listen to us about how much fun we had this summer. Hear from our families directly. Below are just a few of our 2020 parent testimonials.

“Adventure Treks is the best place ever! You meet your best friends and have the most memorable experiences while becoming a better person. I love AT! This year, I had such a great time that I forgot about the coronavirus for a while.” – Noa, student from Minnetonka, MN

“A summer without AT is not a summer at all. Adventure Treks is pure magic… Children get an opportunity to be just that—children, within a structure premised on safety, respect, community, acceptance, and fun. The selection of destinations, peers, instructors, food, activities, etc. have large doses of thought and care and love. This summer was the best escape from the pandemic.” – Sanjani Varkey, parent from Berkeley, CA

“I loved how my instructors were part of the community; they weren’t just enforcers. I loved how they always wanted us to have a good time. Adventure Treks has taught me how to be a better friend, community member, and lover of the outdoors. I’ve learned how to push myself through uncomfortable situations and cherish every moment I’ve had with the AT community. AT is one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had. I’ve met some of my best friends here… The memories we’ve made and views I’ve seen are things I’ll remember forever. Thank you all for another amazing summer!” – Emily, student from Steamboat Springs, CO

“Adventure Treks is a great opportunity for students to have an unusual, challenging experience with peers from diverse geographic locales, build a sense of community, and learn/hone skills from capable outdoor instructors. Our sons have both enjoyed their experiences with AT through the years. They love the camaraderie, sense of community, and adventure! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Huge kudos—above and beyond expectations, especially in this unique, trying time of uncharted waters! You ALL pulled off and executed the most wonderful AT experience, at a time when it is more valuable than ever. These students needed it, wanted it, adhered to protocols—as did you and your entire team. Many thanks again for having pivoted and reconstructed curricula/itineraries and making this the best AT experience EVER! George looks forward to next year’s Alaska Expedition. We appreciate ALL of you!” – Suzy Seger-Zach, parent from Lovettsville, VA

“My AT experiences have taught me not only how to love and appreciate nature, but the best way to make the best friends is to just be who you want to be. It’s the only place where strangers can instantly feel like family after the first day… it may be that we all share common values and a love for the outdoors, but I think it’s the community that AT builds that makes us feel this way. AT is so amazing—thank you!” – Hilary, student from Miami Beach, FL

“This year was a groundbreaking year for Asher. He made great friends, bonded with the entire group, and came back taller (figuratively and literally). He gained confidence in himself and his abilities. On top of all of that, AT kept him safe from both the coronavirus and his food allergies. What’s been most valuable is being disconnected from technology and out in nature with a really nice group of kids and instructors. It was Asher’s best sleepaway experience yet (and he’s done a lot). He loved it and can’t wait to go back!” – Heather Benn, parent from Greenwich, CT

“AT has taught me that I can come into any group of people and be myself and make my experience my own, and that I can make myself into a valuable member of the group. While the outdoor activities at AT are so fun, what’s really great about AT trips is the communities you build with your friends and instructors.” – Annie, student from Atlanta, GA

“Adventure Treks provides a fun, challenging and safe environment for our children to thrive in. Kaila made great friends, tried new things, enjoyed tech-free time, and had many adventures. Adventure Treks provides children with the capacity to interact with kids with like-minded ideas of outdoor fun. They are able to form quick friendships that last year-round and create a tight-knit community in a matter of days. The activities, interactions with instructors, and challenges are set up to be age-appropriate and fun. The tech-free environment allows everyone to focus on the here and now. The outdoor surroundings allow them to appreciate nature. The activities allow for challenges beyond their immediate comfort zone and pushes them to try new things. Kaila loved everyone she met. On the first call home, she immediately told us how she made friends, how nice everyone was, and how welcomed she felt. She is already speaking with everyone regularly via their group chats. The staff and communication are AMAZING! No question is too small or too big. Great understanding of what parents need to hear and super-fast communication overall. Thank you for keeping everyone safe and healthy during this challenging time and year!” – Tamar Brooks, parent from London, England

“Through my four AT trips, I’ve learned how to be a team player and work with my peers to accomplish challenges I never thought I could take on. AT is more than a teen camp; it’s a place where lifelong friendships are created. We’re a family here. I can’t imagine a summer without AT. As I grow older, the community here and the life lessons I’ve learned become more valuable. I couldn’t ask for a better home away from home. I feel accepted at AT, and I feel like I can be my true self. I hope to be an instructor one day!” – Megan, student from Franklin Lakes, NJ

Y’all killed it. Lee was game but dubious going in, motivated in no small part to keep up with his sister. His first night home, he spent about an hour and a half describing each and every day in detail, from first to last. As he got to the end, he observed through teary eyes, ‘I didn’t know I could form such strong relationships in such a short period of time.’ If that’s not a win, I don’t know what is.” – Matt Bailey, parent from Greensboro, NC

“My experience at AT was pretty much perfect! I had so much fun, and everyone was accepting and nice to be with. My instructors were fantastic, and I loved every one of them. They always found ways for us to have fun and were easy to talk to. I learned a lot about the outdoors and how to be strong in tough times. I also learned how to communicate better and create good friends in just a short amount of time. I didn’t think this trip could be as good as last year, but it was just as good if not better!” – Virginia, student from Atlanta, GA

“Adventure Treks was an experience for our son beyond our wildest expectations. We sent a shy, introverted teenager, and he returned as an excited, almost giddy boy. He had so much to share about where he went, what he did and learned, and who he shared different experiences with. We are very impressed and can’t wait for him to return next year! His favorite part of the trip was the community for sure. He has never really felt ‘a part’ of a group and returned in a much different head space, talking all the time about who did this and who did that and was so excited to share everything with us. He was very nervous that he was going to starve cause he’s such a picky eater. The community opened his mind and he had a great experience with the food.” – Page Johnson, parent from Louisville, KY

“Adventure Treks has taught me the importance of staying positive even when things seem challenging. AT is so much fun and I definitely recommend it! I went into it feeling slightly nervous, but everyone is so nice, and the whole group becomes one big family by the end.” – Kaila, student from London, England

“Archie returned feeling calm, confident, capable, and centered. He can’t wait to go back ASAP! Adventure Treks was empowering yet supportive, a break from family, and a push out of his comfort zone. He described his community to me: ‘It was a great community and I still keep in touch with everyone. Everyone got along and supported each other.’ We are thrilled that this was a life-changing trip for Archie. He cannot wait to stay in touch and to sign up again!” – Jane Ellison, parent from Wilmington, NC

“My instructors made me so happy and were so helpful. They cared about us so much. I’ve learned that working together is a great skill. I’ve also learned to love the outdoors and try new things. Adventure Treks is a warm and welcoming place that lets every person be their true self and be part of an adventure that is full of smiles and laughter.” – Jessica, student from Cabin John, MD

“Talia had an incredible time on her second Adventure Treks trip! She loved every minute and formed an instant community with the kids on her trip and said they were open, loving, and very inclusive. She loved her instructors and instantly felt their chemistry. She challenged herself and brought back the tools she learned home with her. She is confident, smiling, and content…something so amazing to see in such crazy times. She is already talking about which trip to do next year! We know it was a Herculean task on your part, but I hope you know that when these kids look back at 2020… this will be what they remember.”  – Rachel Berger, parent from Cabin John, MD

“My experiences at AT have taught me that to judge something you have to try it first, and that you don’t have to live near each other or even be similar people to be amazing friends. Adventure Treks is a getaway from normal life, where you get to spend time outdoors and do so many things you’ve never tried before… and make lifelong friends!” – Phoebe, student from Katonah, NY

“Our son returned for his third year because Adventure Treks is thoughtful, supportive, positive, and fun! Daniel loves it so much. Every activity, every outing, EVERYTHING at AT has been carefully considered and is done for a reason. Making connections with other teenagers outside of school has been so valuable. AT gives him the chance to really connect with other kids in meaningful ways that he just doesn’t do at school. Also, the great relationships he gets to form with the instructors are also so important and valuable. He said, ‘We ALL got along well with each other—that’s so unusual for any group of teenagers, mom. There were no cliques, no sub-groups that only hung together.’ Lots of long talks, lots of singing, lots of inside jokes, etc. it was heaven for him. What a great gift you gave my kid. He’s about to embark on another year of distance learning (sigh! but necessary of course) so this trip will be a balm to his soul over the next year… so many fun memories and laughs to treasure. Thank you for all your hard work!” – Laura Miller, parent from Cabin John, MD

“Adventure Treks taught me how to include others and how to push through the hard stuff. I was surprised this year at how quickly I got to know everyone. It’s a judgment-free zone in which you can bond with strangers and enjoy the outdoors. The instructors are some of the best people… I really appreciate them! Everything this year was perfect!” – Hazel, student from Stevensville, MD

“I wanted to say how much Eli enjoyed his trip. The kid couldn’t have been happier and is still going on about what a great group of kids and instructors he had. We are very grateful AT came up with an alternative plan and he could have this much-needed experience this summer.  Thanks to everyone there for making it happen.” – Valerie Busch, parent from Charlotte, NC

“I wish the trip had been longer and that we’d had more time together! I felt like I had a really special bond with the instructors; each relationship was different but all were amazing. I like how easily everyone ‘clicked.’ Adventure Treks is super fun, and I’ve made so many lifelong friends. And it’s taught me so many things!” – Remi, student from Columbus, GA

“Summer looks forward to her Adventure Treks experience all year long. Despite the concerns about COVID, we trusted that the staff and other families were going to do the best job they could at keeping the kids safe and healthy. This year, our daughter had an incredible experience. The group hiked, road mountain bikes, canoed, kayaked, rock climbed, and camped. But what made her time at AT so special was the way she was able to connect with her instructors and the other kids on the trip. In a relatively short amount of time, she felt comfortable and confident to open up with her new friends like never before. Our daughter truly feels she has made lifelong friends with her AT group and can’t wait for next summer when she can join many of them again on another adventure.” – Laura Sklenicka, parent from Atlantic Beach, FL

“At Adventure Treks, you learn how to bond with a bunch of different types of people and how to volunteer. I love AT because you get so close with your community in such a short time! My trip was the best, and I don’t have any suggestions for improving it.” – Lulu, student from Huntersville, NC

“This year, more than ever, Simon needed to be away from the house, away from his parents, away from a screen and all the worries of the world, and immersed in fun activities with his peers. Thank you so much for giving him the opportunity to do that this summer! This is honestly the best thing that has happened and probably will happen for him in 2020. The trip was awesome. Simon can’t stop talking about all the funny things that happened on that trip and the wonderful community they formed together. He misses his AT friends and instructors very much… He said this summer was easily his favorite AT trip ever, and he said it’s because of the community they formed on this trip. He was able to just be himself and have a great time. And did y’all know that they stay in touch and are even continuing to do virtual evening meetings sometimes? And he has been sleeping in his sleeping bag on the floor of his bedroom to continue the AT feeling. Thank you for ALL OF THAT!!!! Amazing across the board. You all seriously are the best. We are always grateful for you—but even more so this year.” – Stacey Brees, parent from Atlanta, GA

AT gives you three weeks where you live in the woods with a ton of best friends and learn how to be “an amazing person. The AT instructors are always there for you; they’re amazing. This year was the best group I’ve ever had.” – Lexi, student from Mooresville, NC

“Lexi has grown so much from her three years at AT. Her confidence, her love of the outdoors, willingness to try new things… She has learned perseverance, to be an integral part of the community, to help and support others. She has made lifelong friends that she talks to throughout the year. She talks about camp all year. We love hearing the stories and knowing she loves it so much. I know AT is where she is meant to be because she starts counting down to next summer the day she gets home. We trusted the care and attention AT gave to all going on in the world and felt completely safe and grateful the Lexi was still able to go this year. The instructors are definitely who make the trip, besides the other students. Lexi loved her instructors this year and said they were the best of her three AT trips. Thank you for giving Lexi a great AT trip, especially in this time where things are so different for her. With changes because of COVID, you have probably made her whole year. You all are amazing and I thank you for bringing AT together for the kids, even if it was a little different this year.” – Susan Sanders, parent from Mooresville, NC

“Our instructors really cared about us and dedicated their summer to our health and safety. They were amazing people and inspirational to me. During my trip, I learned that I am capable of so much and that I can overcome my fears. AT is a safe, tranquil place dedicated to helping teenagers find their true selves.” – Nina, student from Middletown, NJ

“Lu had absolutely loved Camp Pinnacle, and going to AT was the natural next step for her. Her sisters had been on AT trips before, and their experiences were very positive… and Lu’s experience this summer could not have been any better. She described her AT community as safe and full of people she wants to be like because of their positive attitudes as well as their love of the outdoors. She described her instructors as genuinely interested in each and every student, and each had the unique ability to make everyone feel comfortable in any situation in their own special way. We were so thrilled y’all could pull it off during this pandemic. The experience most valuable for Lu was that she could enter a group of kids that knew one another and within seconds seamlessly felt a part of the group. She has a strong friend group at home but never has she felt so open to just be herself. Realizing that she can do that and how it feels to actually do that is something we feel is so valuable. Learning to appreciate things in each individual that you would otherwise look through or over in a normal setting is something that we know she will take with her. The community couldn’t have been any stronger. She described each child in detail with a huge smile on her face. As I mentioned above, the words “safe” and “people I want to be like” spoke volumes about how she felt while with all of these kids and instructors. I would just like to say thank you to all of the instructors for making the 3 weeks more amazing than anything Lu could’ve ever imagined. They made their way into her heart and won’t be forgotten. I must say how truly shocked I am that these trips were able to take place—y’all are just amazing. I know you had to compile what usually takes months and months of work into a very short period of time and you didn’t miss a beat. While the trips across the country provide an additional element of independence due to flying and being far from home for many kids, I think the lesson of who you are with is now tightly engrained. An AT community is like none other these teenagers get to experience and it ends up being the one of most powerful and healthy ones in their lives. The overall AT experience is top notch.” – Katie Scruggs, parent from Huntersville, NC

“AT is one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. The places you go are breathtaking, but the community is really what makes it worthwhile.” – Ella, student from Greensboro, NC

“Jack was signed up for Ultimate Northwest and was excited to see that part of the country, but when the trip changed because of COVID-19, he still wanted to go to North Carolina because he knows how awesome an AT summer is! This summer, in particular, we were grateful for this opportunity for him to have the AT experience and leave behind the troubles in our world. Jack’s AT experience has been truly amazing. He has made great friends from all over the country, both other students and his instructors, and has explored unique terrain with incredible activities. The communication and level of detail from AT staff is the best of any program that I have worked with. We are so grateful for the AT community and know that Jack has made lifelong memories and friends from these adventures.” – Emilie Samet, parent from Greensboro, NC

Again, we must give much of the credit for pulling off Adventure Treks in 2020 to our parents and students and the many more people who supported us in this endeavor.

And now enrollment is open for 2021! We’re thrilled to report that since opening 2021 registration only three weeks ago, we’re already about 40 percent ahead compared to a typical year.

Ready to enroll? We’d be thrilled to get to know your family in this upcoming year. Click below to start your online application, or call us at 888-954-5555 anytime with questions!

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[button url=”http://www.adventuretreks.com/enroll” target=”_self”] Enroll now [/button]

 

Adventure Treks is grateful to form and maintain long-term relationships with all of our families; in fact, we still keep in touch with families whose kids came to us on our very first adventures in the early 1990s! Since our inception, we’ve seen firsthand the positive impacts of outdoor adventure and community living on teenagers.

We reached out to a few families whose kids have done multiple Adventure Treks trips over the years to find out what kind of lasting impression community living and outdoor adventure have had on their kids. We were fortunate to receive many enthusiastic responses! Below, read the interview from Phyliss Hasen from College Park, GA, whose daughters Haley, Sammie, and Delaney have done a collective eight AT trips.

If you’d like to be interviewed about your family’s Adventure Treks experiences, please email Amanda at amanda@adventuretreks.com—we’d be happy to hear from you!

How has Adventure Treks impacted your family?

Ten years ago this summer, we sent Haley to California for her first Adventure Treks summer. We had really no idea what the program was about, but we knew it was a place for her to disconnect, not worry about the drama of school, not worry about how you look, and make some real friends that didn’t judge you based on your “cool factor”—a place where Haley could just be herself.

I think it was a relief for her. She had more girl drama at home than any of my other girls. Back then I was one of those mothers constantly worrying and doing way too much hovering. I think both of us learned a lot that summer. Although because of competitive cheerleading Haley could not take another trip, I still loved everything that Adventure Treks stood for and wanted my other kids to have the same experience.

Sammie started the following year with her first AT trip. She was homesick for the first few days, but [the director] Dmac was a life-saver. As he had done with Haley the previous year, he talked me off the ledge with Sammie, too. I remember Dmac telling me to let go and disconnect a little from Sammie. Two weeks later, Sammie was crying because she didn’t want to come home. She had found “her place” and met “her people.”

Sammie went every summer, all the way through to Leadership Summit, and there is no way for me to explain in words the impact that these trips and the AT family had on her. So much about the incredible young woman that she has become is due to all she learned and experienced at AT. She really tested her limits there; surrounded by great staff and kids, she saw that she was stronger than she ever could have realized.

Interestingly enough, she still keeps in touch with her crew. She was roommates with another former AT kid, Lucy, this year at Georgia Tech. She has visited AT friends all over the country over the years, and she still speaks to and visits these kids. We went to Colorado for Chief’s (aka Stacy’s) wedding.

Haley and Sammie miss being at a place where they can be themselves, where they don’t have to think about anything but being outdoors and experiencing nature, challenging themselves to do things that they have never done. To this day, Sammie still challenges herself to reach new goals every day.

What advice do you have for first-time AT parents?  

The best advice that I can give is to let go and trust that there is nowhere else your child could be that will make them more compassionate about the environment and human beings. There is nowhere else that they could be that will challenge them to push themselves further than they ever thought possible—but at the same time know that if they can’t go any further, it’s OK. They are always safe, and I promise you that when the trip is over, they will be counting down until next summer when they can do it all over again.

If you could do an AT trip, what trip would you do and why?

I would have to say Ultimate Northwest. (Of course, I am assuming that I physically could handle the trip.) That trip changed Sammie’s life. She would say Leadership Summit was her favorite and most challenging, but the trip that changed her the most was Ultimate Northwest. I would most look forward to summiting Mt. Adams. The pride that Sammie had when she reached the top is something I will remember forever. Those pictures that were in the AT trip blog will be in my mind for the rest of my life.

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There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t think about everyone who’s been a part of our AT family. On a separate note, Delaney still speaks to the first counselor that she ever had at Camp Pinnacle, and after her two AT trips, she had us visit camp to say hi to everyone. Camp Pinnacle is her home. Her room is decorated with camp pictures, and her three-year paddle is hung up on her wall. She still sleeps with her five-year blanket.

She started with Camp Pinnacle the first year it opened, and when she finally went on to her AT trips she was so excited. Although competitive cheer also took her away from AT, her seven years as a part of the entire CP and AT family has taught her so much about life and who she is as a person. Those trips and the time spent at CP defined her in the most positive way possible. Dock and everyone at CP and AT will forever be in all of our hearts. I thank all of you!

It’s a strange world out there. Schools across the country have moved to virtual learning, restaurants can only offer take-out, and ski areas, movie theaters, concerts, and sporting events have been cancelled. There will be no March Madness. The streets of big cities are eerily deserted. Our hands have never been cleaner.

We are in new and uncharted territory. As everyone practices social distancing and self-quarantines, it’s easy to binge on Netflix, mindlessly scroll through Instagram and Twitter, and glue your eyes to a video game. All these things are fine in small doses, but in excess have proven to be detrimental to health.

May we at Adventure Treks make some suggestions for the next few weeks?

Avoid emotional contagion

A lot of fear is floating around, which is natural when you are told to “shelter in place” for an indefinite time. Science shows that stress is contagious. By remaining positive and focusing on what you can control (social distancing and and your actions, for example), your mental health will be your own and cannot be brought down by others.

Get outside

(Following social distance protocols, of course.) Hike, walk the dog, run on trails or at the park, skateboard, mountain bike—whatever you can, as much as you can. A 2009 study showed that during the 1918-19 Spanish flu outbreak, “A combination of fresh air, sunlight, scrupulous standards of hygiene, and reusable face masks appears to have substantially reduced deaths among some patients and infections among medical staff.”

Spending time in nature may be more important than ever. Fresh air may kill the flu virus and other harmful germs, and we all know conversations are better when you are doing something active with friends in the outdoors (and it’s easy to stay six feet away from each other in the woods).

Read a book…

… An actual, this-came-from-trees book. Reading books may be a long-lost art, but it can open all kinds of new worlds. Reading is quite fun, and books make for a great temporary escape.

Eat well, get enough sleep, and stay hydrated

This advice should apply every day, but when illnesses are spreading rapidly, it’s more important than ever to eat a balanced diet (don’t forget fresh fruits and veggies), get enough sleep every night (the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 9–12 hours for kids 6–12 years of age, and 8–10 hours for teenagers), and drink plenty of water (9–14 cups a day for kids ages 9–18).

Start a project or learn a new hobby

When you aren’t engaged in distance learning or working remotely, research something you don’t know, build something with your hands, fix something around the house, pull out the dusty board games and puzzle boxes, set up an easel… keep yourself busy and your brain active.

Check out online resources

Hundreds of virtual resources for those quarantined at home have popped up so that kids and adults alike don’t go stir-crazy. You can take online tours of:

• National parks
• Museums around the world
• Famous sites and landmarks

Find free projects and lessons for kids of all grades through Scholastic. Take a free kickboxing, dance cardio, or Zumba workout on YouTube.

Help out the elderly in your neighborhood…

… But remember to avoid direct contact. Offer to do their food shopping, and leave groceries or other helpful supplies on their porch. Mow their lawns, bring in their mail, shovel snow, or do anything else that would otherwise put them at greater risk or exposure. Social distancing and self-quarantine may be hard on healthy families, but it’s much harder on older and immunocompromised folks, especially those who live alone and don’t have support networks.

Be your best self

National or global disasters can bring out the best in people, but apparently pandemics bring out the worst. This is the time to be extra kind and do more than our share when we can (this includes not buying all the toilet paper in Costco). Let’s hope that kindness ends up being more contagious than COVID-19.

And, of course, get ready for your adventures this summer

We’re hopeful that warm weather and humidity will minimize the potency and transmission of coronavirus during summer months. As long as we aren’t forced to shut down, we think outdoor adventure camps will be one of the safest places that kids and teens can be. With efficient and thorough hygiene and sanitation practices, we can create and maintain a healthy community—and a community where all contagious emotions are positive!

Adventure Treks students spend their entire trips in nature. Our community is filled almost exclusively with students and instructors in the age group that’s minimally affected by the coronavirus. Because we have very limited contact with the general population, Adventure Treks might be the most fun “quarantine” ever, as we won’t have to worry much about interacting with or possibly infecting people in at-risk demographics.

We think after this anxiety-filled start to 2020, summer camps and travel programs will truly be an antidote—a place to remember what is right in the world, and a place where we can practice being our best selves. We think we’re unique in that we provide a fun, freeing, active, tech-free, friend-filled, and outdoors experience filled with new challenges and successes, and that’s something we can all look forward to.

Stay optimistic: This is the year people will need Adventure Treks more than ever, and we are working hard to be ready for our students to arrive to their second home once the “all clear” is finally sounded!