How to Plan a Multi-Day Outdoor Adventure

The Adventure Treks community at large enjoys spending time outside and cherishes overnight adventures in nature. If you’ve been on an Adventure Treks trip, you know that we spend many months planning our expeditions—a lot goes into organizing each of our trip’s itineraries! If your AT trip has sparked an interest in planning your own multi-day backpacking adventures, we’ve outlined four main steps below to help make the process easier for you.

(Because Adventure Treks is a business and plans trips for up to 30 people, we follow specific rules, hold commercial permits, and follow many more guidelines that are different from personal trips. We’ll assume your first foray into expedition planning will not involve 23 of your closest friends…)

#1: Logistics

Where do you want to go? 

We recommending narrowing your options to a location you’re familiar with, or one that’s a little closer to home. This will take some of the stress off your shoulders; once you gain some experience planning backpacking trips, you can dive into new wilderness areas.

Online forums are a great place to get tips on different hiking trails and, more important, check for recent water and trail conditions!

Do you need a permit?

Some wilderness places require permits for personal trips, while some areas do not. And some permits are easy to obtain, while others are doled out via lottery systems. Places in high demand (like Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, the Narrows in Zion, and Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks), utilize strict permitting systems to prevent overuse and overcrowding of lands and trails.

Thoroughly research the area you’ll be recreating and comb through its official governing website (e.g., National Forest Service or National Park Service) to find information about permitting, use, and any other restrictions or schedules. You’ll also find information on what’s allowed in that area; for example, whether you can bring your dog, if there are bear boxes to store food, etc.). In western states, be sure to check fire restrictions and specific Leave No Trace ethics (in warmer months, places like Colorado and California may not allow campfires, and many desert regions require all trash and human waste to be packed out… this means no digging catholes! More on LNT below).

Public lands in the United States have their own rules, as they also have unique and individual missions (you can read about some of those differences here). Take as deep a dive as you’d like about the land you’ll be using—but just make sure you know the rules about overnight wilderness trips before you arrive at the trailhead.

Leave No Trace principles

The seven principles of Leave No Trace provide a framework for how to recreate sustainably in the outdoors and leave minimal impact on the land. It also covers a lot of your bases in the overall planning process.

  1. Plan ahead and prepare: As we’ve already covered, decide where you are going ahead of time and research the area. Look at the weather forecast, elevation, and terrain to inform your packing list. Purchase a map or download an app to make sure you know your route, your mileage each day, and what hiking pace to keep to stay on schedule.
  2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces: Stay on the trails to avoid scarring and eroding the landscape around you. Select an appropriate campsite for both you and the environment. Camp on flat ground and pitch your tent on soil, gravel, or sand instead of fragile vegetation. Avoid camping under dead trees and set up camp 200 feet away from rivers and streams.
  3. Dispose of waste properly: Depending on the area, you may be able to dig a cathole to dispose of solid human waste, or you may be required to carry it out (not uncommon in fragile ecosystems in the American west). If catholes aren’t allowed, add “WAG bags” to your packing list in order to carry out your poop (sometimes these are available at the trailhead, but we wouldn’t count on it). Put your poop kit together ahead of time and don’t leave any trash behind.
  4. Leave what you find: Leave wilderness areas as you’ve found them (or better than you found them). You don’t want the people hiking in after you to know exactly what you ate for breakfast because of the food droppings left all over their campsite, or to know exactly where you used the bathroom, or to have to clean up trash that you left. Do not carve your initials into trees, do not remove artifacts or any other items from the forest, and don’t pick the beautiful wildflowers you see.
  5. Minimize campfire impacts: As you know, it’s crucial to be familiar with fire restrictions ahead of time. Some campsites have designated fire rings , while others do not allow fires of any kind, and others yet will allow fires anywhere in the forest.
  6. Respect wildlife: Familiarize yourself with local wildlife and how to minimize potential encounters. If there are black bears in the area, do you need to bring a bear can, or will there be a bear box? Are there rowdy raccoons that may try to steal your food? Are there venomous snakes or other small critters to avoid? Perhaps most important, if you do encounter wildlife, keep your distance!
  7. Be considerate of other visitors: Be friendly with fellow hikers as you pass them on the trail. Respect that people have chosen to explore the outdoors for many reasons, and they may not want to hear your music blaring as you walk along the trail or late at night. If you’re bringing a pet, know the leash laws and do not let your animal run after wildlife.

#2: Food!!!

If you’ve been on an Adventure Treks trip, you’ll know that we LOVE food! You don’t need to skimp on meals just because you’re in the backcountry. Take a look at some of our backcountry meals to spark inspiration for your menu. A few handy tips:

  • Bring LOTS of snacks.
  • If you’ll be in a dry environment with little water, think about how “water intensive” your meals are (i.e., don’t plan on pasta, rice, and oatmeal for every meal… instead, think about pita pizzas, wraps, or sandwiches).
  • Pack food that covers all of your nutrient bases to give you energy for long days and hard hikes.
  • AND DON’T FORGET DESSERT! Hot cocoa, brownie mix, chocolate, Skittles… Bring along a treat you can pull out once you reach your campsite or hot cocoa when you get up to watch the sunrise.

Read more about backcountry cooking here.

#3: Gear

Food

Don’t just bring food: Bring the tools you’ll need to cook and eat it! Stove, lighter, gas (extra gas is always a good idea), mess kit, pot, pan, spatula, knife or multitool, spices, and cooking oil. You can use biodegradable soap and a sponge to clean dishes (a small rag can also work for a short trip).

Shelter 

You may prefer bring a tent, tarp, or hammock—check the weather to see which would be best. Bring an extra tarp to create a covered area to hang out and cook if there is any adverse weather in the forecast.

Don’t forget your tent, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag. Instead of a cumbersome pillow, toss your clothes into your stuff sack and use that instead. Of course, we’d be remiss to leave out the ever-present camping chair.

Water

A water purification system is crucial. (You can become extremely ill from drinking untreated water.) We specifically use Aquamira, but there are lots of water purification systems out there. Test your system out beforehand to make sure it works.

Don’t assume you’ll always come across a fresh water supply—rather, use your map to mark rivers, springs, lakes, or other bodies of water to plan how much to bring and where to resupply.

First aid kit

Take the basics: Band-Aids, alcohol wipes, gauze, Ace wraps, blister treatment (like moleskin), ibuprofen and anti-histamine, medical tape… And don’t forget group-specific gear, like Epi-Pens or inhalers. Dive deeper into a detailed first aid kit here.

Navigation

Don’t forget a physical map and compass or an app you can utilize without service. If you’ll be using electronics often, bring a solar or external charger as well.

Clothing

Once you’ve checked the weather, you’ll have a better idea of what to pack for your trip. Check out the following blogs for more information on outdoor clothing and gear: fleece, insulated jackets, trekking poles, headlamp, rain gear, and hiking boots.

Backpacking does not need to be expensive! Most, if not all, of these items might be found in your closet or at a nearby thrift shop. As long as your rain gear is waterproof, your tent doesn’t leak, and your sleeping bag and pad keep you warm, you’re pretty much set!

#4: Fun and flair!

What is a backpack without some flair?! It’s always fun to spice up your hike with a mascot, a silly hat, and a fun game. Here are some other entertainment options:

  • Astrology books or apps
  • Games (One Night Ultimate Werewolf is one of our favorites; you’ll never go back… or trust your friends again)
  • Your best British accent
  • Your spookiest stories
  • A book of stories to read around the campfire
  • A journal, sketchbook, or watercolors

If you have any questions or want to talk through how to plan a trip, use us as a resource! Your former instructors and the AT office would be happy to answer any questions and help wherever we can. We’d also LOVE to see photos of your trip and hear about it!

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Trekking Poles: Higher, Faster, Further

Outdoor professionals love to debate the usefulness and necessity of gear. High-ankle hiking boots or trail running shoes? Inflatable sleeping pad or lightweight foam? Two trekking poles or none? A recent Outside Magazine article delves into the pros and cons of that final question, citing recent research and objectively debating whether the ergonomic benefits of trekking pole use outweigh the freedom of empty hands while hiking. 

At Adventure Treks, we love trekking poles! You’ll find them on your packing list for next summer; here are a few reasons why.

Four legs are better than two

Have you ever heard anyone say “use three points of contact” when you’re hiking somewhere steep? That means use at least one of your hands (along with your feet) to keep your balance. Trekking poles are the high-tech version of this concept—with one in each hand, your points of contact with the ground are doubled. Studies have shown that hiking with a pair of poles increases your ability to balance with a heavy backpack, making stumbles and falls less likely. For students and instructors alike, trekking poles add stability, especially when traveling downhill or on loose or rocky terrain. 

Trekking poles also allow for creative resting at packs-on breaks! If you hinge at the waist and rest your pack on a trekking pole at each shoulder, you can take a lot of weight off both your shoulders and feet at once. It looks a little ridiculous, but try it out once and you’ll never go back!

Higher, further, faster, baby

Another perk of having four legs and increased balance? Speed! Once you know how to properly use them, a pair of trekking poles helps you hike faster and longer. On a steep climb, using your arms to help push the weight of your pack up each step gives your legs some much-needed support. Trail runners and ultra-marathon runners often use poles to help keep them going over long, hilly distances. 

Many people also choose to use poles while hiking because they can help reduce stress on your joints. Your ankles, knees, and hips (and the surrounding muscles) work especially hard while backpacking and absorb more impact than usual because of the extra weight of your pack. If it has been a while since your last hike, using trekking poles can help reduce any soreness you might feel on day two.

No party like an AT party

Most of the benefits of trekking poles pertain to hiking, but not all. In a pinch, tents and tarps can be propped up or hung using poles, and there is no better tool for fishing a dropped water bottle out of a river. Two trekking poles with a string tied between them make a great drying rack, limbo setup, or spot to hang homemade birthday banners. Many campsite games revolve around creative trekking pole use.

If you’ve ever been on a beach backpacking trip, you know how valuable trekking poles are for making sand art. Drawing, writing, and leaving messages for other groups are all possible without even setting down your pack. Of all the perks of carrying poles, this might be the most important!

Trekking poles are versatile tools with both fun and functional uses. It can be a little tricky to get used to walking with them, so we recommend practicing as you break in your hiking boots before the summer.

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Introducing Kent Ratliff and Jordan Carr!

The Adventure Treks team is so excited to introduce Kent Ratliff and Jordan Carr to our leadership team—Kent as our operations director and Jordan as our staffing director!

Kent joined Adventure Treks for his first season as an instructor in California in 2018, bringing with him a diverse background in outdoor education, technology, construction, and cartography. He grew up in San Antonio, TX, but headed northeast to earn a dual bachelor’s degree in computer science from Middlebury College in Vermont. In high school, Kent participated in an exchange program where he lived in Egypt and Romania. At Middlebury, Kent was the Outdoor Programs training specialist, coaching new guides to lead kayaking, canoeing, and climbing trips. He was also Middlebury Mountain Club’s head guide, leading backpacking, climbing, and paddling trips for students. In between all of his outdoor adventures, Kent makes time for building websites and eco-friendly tiny houses, bouncing between the east and west coasts.

“I’m excited to be starting this fall in North Carolina as the operations director after four summers with Adventure Treks,” said Kent. “I have loved spending the summer on trips in some of the most beautiful places, helping foster students’ growth and watching their resilience build with each activity. The community of Adventure Treks—both on the trip and the friendships we carry on throughout the year—is truly what brings me back year after year. The intentional community-building at AT impressed me after my first summer as an instructor: the hats, the positive affirmations, the “best self” mindset, the daily confidence-building in skills as varied as rock climbing, car maintenance, or cooking a stir fry from scratch. The following summer, I was excited to see the instructor friends I had made at orientation, and we picked up right where we left off. While it was great to see my peers, I was blown away working with some of the same students my second year and seeing the growth and maturity from just one year! Part of me wishes I had found Adventure Treks as a student as I know I would have loved it; however, I am so glad to have found a home here at Adventure Treks after all.”

Jordan, also boasting an extensive outdoor education background, first entered the Adventure Treks scene in summer 2020 as an instructor in North Carolina. Originally from Lewisburg, PA, Jordan attended Messiah College, where she first earned her bachelor’s degree in adventure education. She later returned to receive a master’s degree in higher education. While at Messiah, Jordan worked for the adventure program, planning and teaching multi-week backpacking courses for undergraduate students. She also led climbing, hiking, and mountain biking trips. Each summer, Jordan continued to hone her youth development and outdoor background as the trip coordinator at Camp Spofford, training counselor for Camp Brookwoods, and wilderness counselor for Ligonier Camp. (In addition to Jordan’s impressive outdoor ed history, she possesses world-famous (OK, maybe just AT-famous) slackjaw dance-off skills!)

“As I step into this full-time position as staffing director for Adventure Treks, I am excited to be part of an organization that feels way more like family than a company,” said Jordan. “The community of instructors, students, and admin staff is what has kept me coming back to work with AT every summer. I feel a sense of responsibility and honor that I get to help create the magic/wow of AT through hiring high quality humans to be instructors for our programs. I am also looking forward to more opportunity to connect with our AT families in the off-season. As an instructor, I have always loved the pre-trip phone calls to the parents or guardians of our students. I hope to continue building the AT community through more of these calls throughout the year answering questions and getting to know more students and families!”

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Introducing our 2022 trip leaders!

We are so excited to announce our leadership team for summer 2022! On June 3, our directors, regional directors, and trip leaders will gather for a five-day retreat near Mt. Hood in Oregon. Here, we’ll start bonding as a leadership team; pore over trip itineraries; share our collective expertise as review safety, policies, and procedures; and apply child psychology and adolescent brain development theory to Adventure Treks. This time together reinforces our “AT culture” as we prepare to greet new and returning instructors for our two-week orientation starting June 9.

This year, our 12 trip leaders and directors:

  • Average 28 years old.
  • Have a combined 111 seasons of Adventure Treks experience. On average, they have 6.5 seasons of trips under their belt; our regional directors have 16 seasons of Adventure Treks experience.
  • Include four former Adventure Treks students.
  • Comprise a passionate, caring group of PhD candidates, graduate assistants, middle school teachers, EMTs, board members, ski and snowboard instructors, computer scientists, outdoor program course directors, experiential education coordinators, and gap instructors!

Below, meet our leadership team:

Dave McGlashan, executive director

David Dmac MgGlashan Adventure Treks DirectorDave, or “Dmac,” has been with Adventure Treks since 2006. Originally from western North Carolina, he grew up going to summer camps in the area. He attended the University of Tennessee and earned a bachelor’s degree in human ecology, and then a master’s degree in recreation and leisure studies. After graduate school, Dmac came back to the Blue Ridge Mountains to be the associate director of Camp Arrowhead; he also spent time working for the Multnomah Education Service District Outdoor School in Oregon. He went on to work for a non-profit in Maine providing after-school programming for middle and high schoolers, focusing on outdoor adventure, community service, and life skills.

Dmac is the president of the board for the America Outdoors Association, graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School, and wilderness first responder. He has explored the outdoors of Italy, Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, France, Germany, Australia, and many more. In his free time, Dmac can often be found mountain biking in western North Carolina’s forests.

Amanda Fox, director

Amanda is a North Carolina native and an honors graduate from Appalachian State University with a bachelor’s degree in communication and journalism. After graduating, she moved to Boulder, CO, to be an editor for Climbing and SNEWS magazines; she also reported for the Outdoor Retailer Daily at the outdoor industry’s namesake twice-yearly trade show. There, she also became a yoga teacher. Her passion for teaching, communications, and being in the outdoors collided when she joined Adventure Treks in 2014. Amanda is a wilderness first responder and spends some time in the field during the Adventure Treks fall school group and gap semester programs. In her free time, Amanda can be found trail running, mountain biking, and cycling in the beautiful western NC mountains. She also serves as the vice president of the nonprofit board for the Friends of DuPont Forest.

Roisin Low, gap programs director

Roisin (pronounced Ro-sheen and known as “Ro” to our students) grew up in Cairns, Australia. She attended the University of Vermont, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies. Prior to Adventure Treks, she spent several years as a program instructor, teaching forest ecology and geology to campers 5 to 16 years old at the Keystone Science School in Keystone, CO. She’s also led multi-day canoeing trips on the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail; served as a Nature Conservancy intern, studying urban ecology; worked as a ski instructor in Colorado; and volunteered for the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Center in Australia.

Ro loves to travel and has visited Cambodia, Canada, many countries in Europe, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. She is a wilderness first responder and spends her free time skiing, mountain biking, and rock climbing. Fun fact about Ro: She is not only an Australian citizen, but also one of Ireland and the United States!

Kent Ratliff, regional director

Originally from San Antonio, TX, Kent has spent a lot of time traveling between California and Vermont as a contractor building eco-friendly tiny houses. Since his time at AT last summer, Kent has been working on a data science project about energy equity with the University of Michigan, along with helping take care of his newborn nephew and website development. During his time at Middlebury, Kent was the school’s Outdoor Programs training specialist, coaching new guides to lead kayaking, canoeing, and rock climbing trips. He also led hiking, backpacking, kayaking, canoeing, and rock climbing trips for students as the Middlebury Mountain Club head guide. Kent is returning to Adventure Treks for his seventh season as a regional director.

Alex Rhue, regional director

Originally from southeastern Ohio, Alex is returning for her ninth season as a regional director. She’s been in the outdoor adventure game for almost a decade: During her undergrad years, Alex was a teaching assistant for her school’s department of recreation and outdoor education; she also worked as a trip leader and rock climbing wall staff member. Between seasons at Adventure Treks, she was a graduate assistant on OU, leading outdoor trips and teaching skills clinics. For two summers, she was also the assistant director for Avid 4 Adventure. She is currently pursuing a PhD in higher education at Ohio University.

Abby Bradley, British Columbia Challenge and Pacific Northwest Explorer

Abby BradleyA Bostonian by birth, Abby spent the winter season at Big Sky Resort’s Moonlight Basin, coordinating outdoor activities for kids. She also just finished her master’s degree at WCU, with a thesis on women in positions of leadership in the outdoors. Prior to that, Abby worked in Asheville, NC, as a hiking guide and naturalist. Abby has worked with kids and teens and in the outdoors for years: She’s been a 1st grade teacher at a charter school; a trip leader for Camp Pinnacle; an outdoor educator at Mountain Trail Outdoor School in Hendersonville; and a discovery assistant at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville. She’s also worked as a wilderness field instructor for SUWS of the Carolinas; naturalist at Camp Grady Spruce in Texas; adventure counselor at Camp Sealth in Washington; and instructor at Camp Highland Outdoor Science School in California. Abby returns to Adventure Treks for her fourth season as a trip leader.

Anthony Molinaro, Alaska Expedition 1a

Anthony Molinaro Adventure Treks InstructorAnthony was raised near Allegheny National Forest in northern Pennsylvania and returns to Adventure Treks for his seventh season as a trip leader. While at West Virginia University, Anthony worked for the school’s outdoor program, Adventure West Virginia; there, he taught sea kayaking, whitewater kayaking, rock climbing, and other outdoor skills. He also led weeklong backcountry trips for incoming freshmen. Anthony has served in the United States Army Reserves, during which time he volunteered at a Salvation Army’s summer camp for elementary and middle schoolers. He recently finished his master’s degree at the University of New Hampshire.

Chloe Hutchins, Yellowstone Teton Adventure 1, 2, and 3

Born in San Diego, Chloe still calls southern California home today. This summer will be her second season with Adventure Treks. Prior to joining us, Chloe was a field instructor for New Vision Wilderness in Bend, OR, guiding adolescents and young adults on backpacking trips throughout the state. She was also the head field instructor for SUWS Carolinas in North Carolina, teaching outdoor and primitive skills like fire-making and Leave No Trace to kids and teens. While in college, Chloe has led kayaking and snorkeling tours, and also served as a childcare provider. She is a NOLS graduate, having completed a semester course in Patagonia.

Jess Myer, British Columbia Adventure 1 and 2

Jess hails from Asheville, NC, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. During her time at Emory & Henry College, Jess was the Outdoor Program intern, coordinating hiking and backpacking programs for students. She also led backpacking, whitewater kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, sea kayaking, canoeing, and rock climbing expeditions for underclassmen. She has worked on photo and video production for the non-profit organization Appalachian Sustainable Development, and she spent a few winter seasons as a ski instructor at Steamboat Resort in Colorado. Jess is returning to Adventure Treks for her fifth season as a trip leader (and is also our year-round logistics director).

Kalie Hirt, Colorado Explorer 1, 2, and 3

Kalie Hirt calls her native Chicago home, though she spent the past winter as a ski instructor at Deer Valley Ski Resort in Utah. Previously, she was an assistant teacher at Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School and an assistant teacher at Colorado College’s Cheryl Schlessman Bennett Children’s Center. A former Adventure Treks student, she has worked for camps every summer for the past eight years, including spending a summer at a camp in Israel (and can speak Hebrew). She was a trip leader for Camp Pinnacle, where she led backpacking and whitewater rafting trips. She also led backpacking trips for Ramah in the Rockies and was a trip leader for Colorado College’s outdoor education program, where she facilitated skiing trips for students. Kalie joins Adventure Treks for her third season as a trip leader.

Katy Pompili, California Challenge 2

Originally from West Virginia, Katy is returning to Adventure Treks for her fifth season as a trip leader. Most recently, she’s worked as a customer experience guide with Patagonia in Salt Lake City. Before that, she was an experiential education coordinator for the Science Adventure School in West Virginia. She’s spent a few winter seasons in Big Sky, MT, helping run the “20 Below” youth and family center at the Yellowstone Club. Also while at WVU, Katy was a trip leader with their outdoor program Adventure WV, guiding week-long backpacking, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and team-building trips for incoming freshmen. She was also the manager for Adventure WV’s canopy tours, where her responsibilities included overseeing risk management and safety of the kids and teenagers who participated.

Kyle D’Ambrosio, California Challenge 1 and California Adventure 2

A California local, Kyle is returning to Adventure Treks for his second season as a trip leader. This past fall and spring, he worked as a gap semester instructor for ARCC in the Pacific Northwest and in Hawaii. During and after college, Kyle spent four years as a trip leader for his university’s outdoor program, Poly Escapes. There, he led backpacking, rock climbing, and camping trips throughout California’s national parks, including Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Yosemite, and Joshua Tree. He was also a board member, helping run the leadership and training program for new instructors. He spent some time volunteering for Camp Kesem in San Luis Obispo and at an eco-lodge in Costa Rica. In 2020, Kyle was a chemist for Promega Biosciences, working in the manufacturing department with the materials that go into making PCR test for kids.

Lucia Pierson, Alaska Expedition 1b

Currently living in western North Carolina, Lucia joins Adventure Treks for her third season as a trip leader. The last several years, Lucia has worked as the language arts teacher at the Arthur Morgan School, a boarding and day middle school in North Carolina with a focus on outdoor education and community living. Previously, she was a gap-year instructor for ARCC where she traveled around China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand with 18-year-old students; she’s also been a program instructor for Berkshire Outdoor Center in Massachusetts, facilitating environmental and outdoor education courses for children and adults of all ages. She spent a summer in New Zealand as an international travel and service program leader for the Auckland YMCA, and before that was an assistant psychologist for the Fundación General Ecuatoriana in Quito for young adults. While at Dartmouth, Lucia was the director of the first-year trips program; interned with Greenpeace; helped manage the college’s farm; and was a counselor at Camp Akeela in Vermont.

Max Minichiello, Ultimate Northwest 1 and Pacific Northwest Adventure 2

Max is returning to Adventure Treks for his fourth season as a trip leader. A Huntington Beach native, Max spent this winter as a ski instructor at Big Sky in Montana. Previously, he was in Burlington, VT, as the site coordinator for an after-school program. Max has also worked as an instructor at the Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education Center in New York, leading adventure programs in the Adirondacks for elementary and middle schoolers; an instructor for High Trails Outdoor Science School in California, teaching environmental classes; and a camp instructor for Catalina Island Marine Institute, leading snorkeling, kayaking, and high ropes activities.

Quincy Hirt, Alaska Expedition 2

Quincy was born and raised in Chicago, IL, but now resides in southern California. He is a former Adventure Treks student, having attended two trips as a teenager. Before returning to AT as an instructor, he was a wilderness trip leader for Camp Nebagamon in Wisconsin, leading multi-day canoeing, backpacking, sea kayaking, rock climbing, and mountain biking trips for boys. At USC, Quincy was a trip leader for Peaks and Professors, an organization that leads backpacking and hiking trips for both students and professors. He’s served as an intern for Los Angeles City Hall and is currently a research assistant for the Civic Health Project. Quincy is fluent in Spanish, has visited an astonishing 30 countries, and is returning to Adventure Treks for his third season as a trip leader.

Rach Brennan, Pacific Northwest Adventure 1 and Ultimate Northwest 2

A Colorado native, Rach is no stranger to the outdoor education and recreation world. Prior to joining Adventure Treks (she’s returning for her third season as a trip leader), Rach was a program instructor at the Keystone Science School; she taught classes on atmospheric science, biology and ecology, earth science, and survival skills. She also coordinated multi-day backpacking, rock climbing, and whitewater rafting trips. She’s also volunteered with the Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center; tutored elementary school students in math, language, reading and science; and worked as a research assistant at CU Boulder’s Emery Lab. This past winter, Rach was a ski instructor for both kids and adults at Big Sky Resort in Montana.

Sarah McLellan, California Adventure 1 and California Challenge 3

A Massachusetts native, Sarah is returning to Adventure Treks for her third season as an instructor. However, her tenure with AT began long before that, as she spent four summers with us as a student! This past winter, Sarah was a children’s alpine ski instructor and nordic ski instructor at the Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, Montana. During her time at Saint Michael’s College, Sarah was a student coordinator for the Adventure Sports Center; she not only organized the training and programming, but also led whitewater kayaking, sea kayaking, canoeing, and skiing trips for participants as well. She’s worked as a zipline guide at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Maine, and she was an instructor for the LL Bean Outdoor Discovery School, leading stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking classes, taking students on hikes, and teaching archery courses.

After we finalize our summer hiring, we will post assigned staff teams this month!

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What We’re Reading (Part 1)

An interesting theme sprouted up this month when I asked our team to recommend some of their favorite books! The stories of all three of the titles listed below circulate around environmental action, though the message is incorporated in diverse ways. Braiding Sweetgrass is non-fiction with a focus on indigenous knowledge, The Overstory is solemn and conspicuous in its argument for the preservation of forests, and Project Hail Mary is a surprisingly intricate take on climate change through the lens of digestible science fiction. Stay tuned for “What We’re Reading: Part 2” for more recommendations!

Amanda’s pick: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

“I waited six months to download Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir, in my library app. Having read his other two novels, The Martian and Artemis, I was curious to discover what his newest sci-fi adventure would entail. I don’t like spoilers, so I didn’t read reviews beforehand and dove in with no preconceived notions. (Sort of like how we ask students not to look each other up on social media before they meet for the first time at AT…) I won’t give away the plot here, but suffice it to say that even with a lack of character development, somewhat tired trope, and too much exposition in the first few chapters, I couldn’t put the book down.

So without sharing plot twists, I’ll instead share how I thought the book relates to the Adventure Treks experience. (Yes, I found a parallel between alien life and AT… sort of.) It’s quite simple: A challenge is presented that requires nothing less than teamwork, compromise, humility, and a unified stance to solve. The challenge in the book has the ability to destroy humankind—it’s quite dramatic, though the book’s urgent dilemma will probably evoke your own emotions regarding our climate crisis or politically divisive world anyway.

But to pull it back to AT, the book’s characters (including a few you really don’t see coming) must use extraordinary critical thinking and math and science skills (shout out to our STEM students) and put the good of humankind over their personal needs in order to save not only Earth, but other worlds as well. The characters must also find common ground (which in the plot seems literally impossible at first) and build relationships upon trust—which truly becomes the driver of the plot near the end of the story. It’s really about facing adversity (one that threatens more than our small perspectives) with resilience and a team of friends standing next to you.”

Kent’s Pick: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

“Robin Wall Kimmerer is a botanist, educator, and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. Like the actual braiding of sweetgrass, Robin weaves together the perspectives of analytical science, native traditions and ways of thinking, and stories from her personal life. She discusses the wider ecological context that includes humans as a part of nature and pushes the reader to reimagine what our relationship to the other species and processes of this Earth could be. She emphasizes the idea that nature can be our teacher just as much as books or lessons.

One of the things I found so powerful about this book is how she frames the issues of climate change, pollution, and ecological disaster through the lens of better options, things that have worked, and ways of relating to the natural world that are not exploitative. As someone who cares about the natural world, I often find myself only focusing on the negative impacts of humans on the planet and not examples of responsible land stewardship. She beautifully balances humanity’s destructive industrial past with the “social imagination” for healing and reconstruction, and this manages to be a book about climate change that leaves you feeling hopeful, which I have found rare.

Though it is science-focused, the writing style is almost more poetry than prose. It uses the author’s life experience and tribal heritage to add context and color to the science she lays out. She uses the facts about the behavior of strawberries, pecans, cattails, salamanders, maples, and sweetgrass to draw larger lessons for society as a whole. I find myself enjoying the fun facts as much as the epiphanies about human nature. Braiding Sweetgrass manages to be simultaneously highly informative and breathtakingly beautiful. I listened to this book as an audiobook, read by the author, and hearing the tone and cadence of her reading (as well as correct pronunciation of the scientific and Potowatomi words) made this a book I kept coming back to.”

Jess’s pick: The Overstory by Richard Powers

“The Overstory is an epic tome of mystical, winding stories and captivating writing. Small spoiler alert: most of these stories are sort of sad! This is a book about trees, humans, and the connections between the two—in some moments I was in awe of the magical properties of the most mundane natural cycles, and other times I found myself tearing up alongside the characters who fight for the preservation of forests.

Told through the interwoven perspectives of almost too many characters, this book navigates from sentimental to activistic with little space in between. One of the most fascinating stories is of a couple of activists who choose to live in the canopy of a redwood tree in order to protect it from being cut down. Powers shares incredible facts about these extra-tall trees. There are a variety of animals and plants (mostly mosses and fungi) that only exist high up in the redwoods and never touch the ground! (Side note, if you read this book, you should definitely hop on California Adventure or California Challenge and see one of these massive trees in person!)

Four distinct sections titled Roots, Trunk, Crown, and Seeds allow the reader to grow along with a tree’s cycle of life as the plot treads along below. When I start a book, I generally finish it within a couple of days, but with this one, I was reading for weeks! It’s dense and also beautiful, slow, and gripping. I absolutely recommend it, and recommend that readers take their time.”

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10 Things You Didn’t Know About Denali

A select number of lucky Adventure Treks students have caught a glimpse of Denali, North America’s tallest mountain, on clear days during our Alaska Expedition. The mountain is located in the third largest national park in the United States, and the backpacking route used by AT students is within Denali State Park, just southeast of the national park. See more fun facts about Denali below!

1. Denali National Park and the surrounding areas are traditional lands of five indigenous peoples. All five are part of the Athabaskan language group and are traditionally nomadic subsistence communities. Summers spent gathering resources in hunting and fishing camps provided for winters full of storytelling, festivals, and other entertainment. Today, indigenous peoples make up about 15 percent of the residents of Alaska.

2. The south peak of Denali is 20,310 feet tall. That makes it the tallest mountain in North America, but on a global scale, Denali doesn’t even make the top 100 tallest peaks. Interestingly, Denali is a pretty topographically isolated peak, meaning it’s very far from anything else that can match its height.

3. Denali is derived from a Koyukon word for the mountain meaning “tall one” or “mountain-big.” It was not the official name of the peak until 2015; previously, it was called Mt. McKinley, after U.S. President William McKinley. Local and indigenous people continued to refer to it as they had for centuries, until enough controversy arose around the name that it was changed to reflect the mountain’s history.

4. There are 160 species of birds, 39 types of mammals, 14 kinds of fish, and 1 amphibian species recorded in Denali National Park. Five large mammals draw most of the wildlife-viewing attention: grizzly bears, wolves, Dall sheep, moose, and caribou. Students who attend Alaska Expedition know that the Denali area is a good place to practice low impact travel so as not to disturb any of these neat animals. They also know that we take bear and moose protocol very seriously! (Though we typically only see these hulking mammals from a safe distance.)

5. Wait—only one amphibian? It’s the wood frog, a teeny-tiny species with the ability to survive harsh winters in the tundra by freezing solid. The frogs’ actual cells do not freeze, but everything between them does. Their hearts and lungs stop working, and the frogs “hibernate” until they are thawed in the spring. Brr.

6. There may be no reptiles found in the national park these days, but that wasn’t always the case. The first dinosaur prints found within the park were discovered in 2005, and since then lots of body parts, footprints, and bones have been unearthed. About four different types of dinos lived in the area, from winged pterosaurs to three-toed theropods.

7. Glaciers cover about 15 percent of the national park’s land, and in about 50 percent of the area, the soil is permanently frozen. This creates a tricky environment for large plants and trees, so much of the land, especially at higher altitudes, is tundra or unvegetated alpine environment. There are also plentiful lowlands where denser forests grow over centuries as glaciers retreat.

8. The aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is visible from the Denali area. The park sits on the same latitude as southern Norway–not far removed from the Arctic Circle. Due to the lack of development or light pollution in the area, the Northern Lights can be seen from almost anywhere around Denali, but many factors have to align to view a strong display. In the winter, the area receives as little as 4.5 hours of sunlight a day, making for very dark nights and better aurora viewing. In summer, however, our Alaska students see about 22 hours of daylight. Yes, it takes a few days to adapt to sleeping when the sun merely sits lot on the horizon!

9. There is only one road in the entire national park, Denali Park Road, which is 92 miles long. It is opened on a lottery system that allows a very limited number of cars through each day in order to minimize human impact on the wilderness areas of the park’s interior. This helps Denali retain its beautiful wilderness setting.

10. In the winter months, deep snow covers the ground and sunlight is extremely limited. In these times, the park is patrolled by a staff of rangers with sled dogs! The dogs’ kennels are one of the most popular places to visit within the park, and there is even a live “puppy cam” available for watching new pups grow and train to become winter-season park rangers.

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Friendships Forged in the Outdoors

Let’s set the scene: It’s the opening day at Adventure Treks! Students have arrived, the group is on their way from the airport to their first campsite, and the van is filled with nervous laughter and typical “get to know you” questions: “where are you from?” “how was your flight?” “have you ever done this before?” Instructors are facilitating icebreakers and cracking corny jokes to keep the conversations flowing. An occasional silence falls to allow a Billie Eilish song to play. Students are away from home, away from the identity they’ve formed at school. Everyone gives each other a little extra distance, feeling slightly reserved, and talking with those nearest them.

On the first day of each trip, a regional director speaks to the group about how Adventure Treks operates, including our goals and expectations for our students. We set the stage for how to create the absolute best AT community ever, one that allows them to create lifelong friends. Sometimes this “speech” gets some skeptical looks, especially from new students, but the instructors and directors share a knowing smile—these teenagers are about to embark on an adventure to build the most authentic friendships and inclusive community they’ve ever experienced. We can’t wait to see this group again on closing day.

Onto act 2: It’s the closing night of the same trip. A regional director arrives to the campsite with pizza and ice cream, eager to see the trip’s community transformation and hear the stories of overcoming adversity, hilarious inside jokes that we won’t understand, alter-egos and dance parties, and every other moment students won’t forget for a long time. The energy is so different from opening day—quite frankly, you can feel a buzz emanating from the group—as everyone is gathered in a circle, huddled close as they reminisce and make sure everyone is included. They’ve each written down their phone numbers and social media handles in the group journal so they can stay in touch after the trip. They’re discussing which AT trip they’ll return to the following summer, and they’re debating which holiday they should plan a reunion for. You can feel the joy radiating from every single person as the final evening meeting reflects on powerful moments throughout the trip.

 

The power of an Adventure Treks trip has once again created an experience that resulted in authentic, kind, and meaningful friendships. As a regional director in summer 2021, I encountered this over and over again as I visited trips across the North American west. Witnessing friendships forged at AT is a powerful thing, whether it’s multi-year students reuniting on their capstone Alaska trip, or 13-year-olds not wanting their two-week Colorado trip to end.

At Adventure Treks, away from the pressure of academics and athletics, students don’t have to worry about “fitting in” or conforming to a particular identity. They can just be themselves—and be celebrated for that. This is what helps cements the powerful bond that students create through each shared challenge of backpacking trips and mountain summits, of Iron Chef cooking competitions and silly dance-offs. We laud each other’s achievements and successes, we praise others for the kind things they did for each other, and we have vulnerable and honest conversations regarding conflict.

Students often say that the friends they make at AT are the strongest ones in their lives; this is evidenced by stories of reunions, backpacking trips planned by the students themselves, AT-themed birthday parties, evening meetings held over FaceTime or Zoom, and the ever-active group texts.

Many former students have even become instructors; in summer 2021, we had 12 AT alumni on staff. Not only do they remember their student days fondly, but as instructors, they’ve also created incredibly meaningful relationships with their staff teams and students who now look up to them.

To further illustrate the lasting power of AT friendships, we’ve asked Laura Gaines, a former-student-turned-instructor, about the friendships she’s made on her three student trips and four seasons on staff.

Friendships without preconceived notions or distractions

On the first day of each AT trip, whether it’s a student’s first or fifth adventure, everyone is essentially in the same boat.

“With no preexisting social strata established, and without the pressures of school, sports, and social media, friendships at AT form among people who have no reason to be anything other than their most authentic selves. The friends I made at AT are people who truly understand and know the best and most genuine version of me, and they remind me of it when I might feel lost,” Laura says.

Overcome adversity and building trust creates a lasting bond

As full of wonderful and fun moments Adventure Treks, we also face challenges that must be worked through. Laura says that her friendships have lasted because they can endure life beyond an AT trip.

“A friendship formed through adversity [backpacking in the rain, taking a wrong turn, a dried-up water source] is a friendship you can lean on in adversity. I have spent a night stranded on a ridge with my AT friends; I have endured rain, lightning, wind, and sickness alongside them. The sad reality is that most hardships in the ‘real world’ are not as full of adventure and excitement as the ones you face at Adventure Treks. Since graduating as a student, I have continued to lean on my AT friends when I was sad or going through a tough time—because I learned to trust them during hard times, like when we were stuck in a rainstorm in Alaska.”

After finishing their capstone Leadership Summit course, Laura and her AT peers reunited for a personal backpacking trip.

“We modeled our trip after an Adventure Treks trip; we even made ramen extreme during our backpack in Yosemite National Park. It had been a year since I’d seen most of those people, yet as we soaked our feet in the river after a long hike, I felt that I was back in a community where I was truly seen as a person.”

Friendship created for the right reasons

Unlike in school, an AT trip is unique in that you don’t need to “find” your friends. The nature of this program allows communities to flourish naturally.

“I didn’t ‘choose’ my Adventure Treks friends—they just happened to be on the same trip as me. People I probably wouldn’t have ever talked to in school are the same people with whom I have confided my truths and hardships and would trust with my life. Adventure Treks provides this cool opportunity to become close with people from across the country, across the world, or even next door.

“My 2016 Leadership Summit trip was among the best communities I have ever been a part of. We were all friends, and everybody was in on every joke, antic, and conversation. I very distinctly remember an evening meeting we held on a dock in Sequim, WA. The water had bioluminescent algae in it, so when you dipped a finger in, tiny flecks of light would sparkle. It struck me how incredibly lucky we were to have found each other, even though we came from all over. Of all the places to be, we were sitting in a circle on a dock, experiencing a rare and uniquely beautiful natural phenomenon. I have chased this feeling for the entirety of my adult life.”

Friendships with long-lasting support

What qualities in a friend do you look for? Laura expressed the importance of friends who are with you no matter what, not just when it is convenient for them. She says “‘fair weather friendships’ simply do not exist at AT, considering weather is often fickle rather than fair. My AT friends have seen me at the top of the world (literally, if you count a mountaintop) and in the darkest depths… yet they never fail to see me.  [From AT, I have] people in my life who know and understand the person I am underneath.”

Unique and powerful shared experiences

Friendships at Adventure Treks grow quickly and strongly because you get to create your a unique experience “separate from the world where we live our daily lives. Adventure Treks trips are truly unique and valuable experiences. They changed me forever, and I cherish the people who were there alongside me when I discovered a world I truly loved. My friends at AT understand what it’s like to grow so much in such a short period of time, and to witness the stunning wilderness areas we visited. To this day, I have never been able to fully describe what the wilderness of California or Alaska or Washington is like… but my AT friends get it.”

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Student Essay: My Leadership Adventure Semester Experience

By Katie Stevens, Adventure Treks Leadership Adventure Semester 2021 alum

Our Leadership Adventure Semester students seeking college credit submit an essay as part of their academic requirements. Katie Stevens, who attended our summer 2021 Leadership Adventure Semester in the Pacific Northwest, wanted to share her essay and experience with the Adventure Treks community. 

Before this trip, I’d spent a year and a half indoors. I spent countless monotonous days staring at screens until my eyes hurt. Now, after 42 days of authentic, meaningful interpersonal communication and daily challenges that required me to push myself mentally, physically, and even spiritually—I feel like myself again. I was completely grounded and humbled by the sheer majesty and intricacy of the natural world, and now I feel this sense of personal responsibility to treat the Earth with respect and gratitude. I feel so much more connected to other people in general. Without the distraction of technology, I felt like I could communicate with others with an openness and authenticity that I have yet to experience in the “real” world. On top of that, I feel I have learned so many useful skills that have turned me into a capable and confident leader and outdoorswoman.

As much as I want to talk about how I developed an all-consuming passion for rock climbing (I already bought my annual pass to a rock climbing gym near my college campus), or about the theatrics of the wilderness first responder course, or about the river zipline I got to help create during our swiftwater rescue course—I feel like the entire trip served to prepare us for the capstone student-led backpack in the Goat Rocks Wilderness.

I was honored (and a bit terrified) when I found out that our trip leaders (Zach and Chenchen) had chosen me to be one of four designated student leaders for the backpack. I felt reasonably capable with the rescue certifications under my belt and lots of experience backpacking in North Carolina, but after doing some research with my partner, James, we could tell that this trip would have the most difficult and rugged terrain yet. We learned how to read topographic maps and planned a route, taking extensive notes about weather, terrain, and potential evacuation routes once we learned that two students suffered potentially problematic injuries in the days leading up to the trip. We helped plan the meals and calculated the necessary amount of food for the two groups. After shopping, the designated leaders had a lengthy and private conversation about group dynamics, and we chose the people whose strengths and weaknesses seemed to balance out well. Then we gathered all the necessary gear and food, and we sorted appropriate amounts into each student’s backpack.

Once we got on the trail, we noticed that one of our students struggled a considerable amount physically. Despite keeping a steady pace, this person came up to James and myself and mentioned that they weren’t sure if they could make it through the rest of the backpack. This student needed to take frequent breaks, and due to the near unbearable amount of bugs flying around—as well as some severe blisters, and a general desire from the rest of the group to move at a faster pace—I sensed a rift forming in the group. After finding a nice place to rest, James and I tried to use a satellite device to communicate with Zach and Chenchen and potentially come up with a less difficult route or an evacuation plan. Unfortunately, due to permits and logistical difficulties, we told this student that we could evacuate them, but they would have to go home and miss the rest of the trip—or they could finish the backpack per the pre-planned route. The student didn’t want to leave, so they felt a newfound determination to push themself, and James and I committed ourselves to coming up with new strategies to help him get there and keep the group morale up.

To solve this issue, we started to switch up the pace-makers throughout the day, and we kept James or myself in the front and back to make sure we all stayed together. We started to take breaks every hour, so everyone knew when they would take place, and we clipped our water bottles on the front of our pack so we could more easily stay hydrated. We also tried to make the trail conversations more inclusive and engaging. We sang, played games, and engaged in debates to keep our mind off the physical difficulty. These strategies got the student to push themself more than ever before, and they expressed an immense pride they felt.

Aside from the interpersonal challenges, we navigated high winds, light rain, bugs, blisters, sprained ankles, countless fallen trees and other trail obstructions, skree-covered trails with steep drop-offs, and heat with relative ease due to preparation from the rest of the summer. We’d learned how to cook over a gas stove, abide by Leave No Trace principles, how to scope out a good campground, and set up tarps and tents. I cannot wait until I can take some of my friends out on my own backpack here in North Carolina.

I went into this trip with a fair amount of outdoor experience, but I was thrilled to really hone my skills, especially with rock climbing, knot-tying, and navigation. I was a bit surprised by how much I loved my wilderness first responder course. I found it completely fascinating and fun, even though it was similar to a school setting. After some discussions with our instructor, I can see a future career path as a first responder or as an EMT in general. I feel like I saw the most growth in my abilities as a leader. I’m generally a pretty go-along-get-along kind of person, but during this trip, I was forced to make some difficult decisions involving my friends. At one point, I had to put the safety of others and the wellbeing of the group as a whole above need to be liked. I had to have a difficult conversation about a behavior issue, but after the conversation, everyone seemed so much happier and my friend was happy I brought it to their attention. Those kinds of conversations and decisions were the hardest part about being a leader, but I feel much more confident in my ability to navigate those situations now.

I know this essay is a bit long, but I could write entire encyclopedias about all that I took away from Adventure Treks. I am beyond thankful for my summer in the woods, and I know I will carry these memories and lessons with me for a lifetime.

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10 Things You Didn’t Know About Olympic National Park

Adventure Treks has been visiting the Pacific Northwest for 28 years; in fact, our very first trip took place in Washington and Oregon! A favorite spot of students and instructors alike, Olympic National Park offers every kind of terrain, from rugged seashores to high alpine peaks, with biodiverse flora and fauna in between. Here are some fun facts about the ninth-most visited national park.

1. Olympic National Park boasts 73 miles of wilderness coastline. On each Pacific Northwest trip, students hike about 17-20 of those pristine miles. Here’s where it gets interesting: Because of the tide schedule, we don’t always hike from morning to afternoon. In order to make tide crossings (i.e., hiking at low tide so that we don’t get stranded at high tide), we’ll often hike late at night under the stars. This makes for especially memorable walks!

2. The Makah people have inhabited the northern part of the Olympic Peninsula since about 3,000 years ago. The Makah crafted a variety of canoes for different types of fishing, whaling, and sealing; their relationship with the land and sea was respectful and in balance with the seasons.

3. Hike on the northern shore of the Oly P and you’ll come across the Wedding Rocks, a collection of carvings decorating a rock outcropping. The carvings were made 200–500 years ago by the Makah people and depict human faces and sea animals, including killer whales. These images give insight into the Makah hunting and fishing traditions. Students on most Pacific Northwest trips are likely to walk past this landmark and get to explore it in person.

4. The dramatic pillars rising along the coast of the Olympic Peninsula (aka Oly P) are called sea stacks. These are created over many years as water crashes against the cliffs, slowly eroding tunnels and eventually separating the clump of rock from the shoreline altogether. Sea stacks are found on all seven continents.

5. The Hoh Rainforest gets 12–14 feet (that’s right—feet!) of rain per year. For comparison, New York City gets about four feet per year, and Denver, CO, gets a little more than a foot. Some of the trees in the forest are over 1,000 years old. Thousands of epiphytes—plants that grow on other plants without harming them—cover the trees to make this forest visually unique. Also, did you know that mushrooms are not plants?

6. Until 2014, the Elwha river was disrupted by two large dams. The river traditionally flowed from the Olympic Mountains to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and housed a sizable salmon population that fed the people of the area. Restoring the river’s natural course has been the largest dam removal project in the U.S. to date.

7. An inhabitant of the area’s rainforests, banana slugs, can grow up to 10 inches long! The rumor that licking a banana slug makes your tongue numb is true… yuck! The slime that coats a banana slug is both slippery and sticky, depending on what the slug needs. They can even create a slime strand to rappel from heights (like a spider on a silk string).

8. Six different types of environment exist within Olympic National Park: coastal forest, lowland forest, temperate rainforest, montane forest, subalpine, and alpine. This vast array creates habitat for diverse species of plants and animals—16 endemic animals, 8 endemic plants, 20 reptile and amphibian species, 37 native fish species, 300 bird species, and 56 mammal species, to be exact!

9. Olympic National Park houses the area’s largest herd of Roosevelt Elk. These are the largest elk variety (cows can weigh 600–700 pounds, with bulls weighing up to 1,000 pounds), and were named for President Theodore Roosevelt, who put in place many of the rules that protect Olympic National Park and the elk habitat.

10. Olympic National Park has a large range of elevation. Sea-level coastal environments sweep all the way up into alpine range and glaciers on Mt. Olympus, which stands at 7,980 feet. Our Leadership Summit students get to backpack to and summit Mt. Olympus, learning skills like traveling in rope teams across snowfields and glaciers.

Learn more fun facts about Olympic National Park at nps.gov! 

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Recognizing Different Learning Styles in the Outdoors

What are learning styles?

We all process new information differently! There are many “styles” of learning that define the way that someone best receives and retains new knowledge. One or multiple styles might apply to any individual. Below are the four most common learning styles defined.

1. Visual

These are folks who learn best by looking at drawings or charts, writing lists, and watching presentations and demonstrations. A visual learner might be able to watch something demonstrated once and then replicate it.

2. Auditory

These learners absorb spoken instructions well. They might prefer to read aloud, or repeat things they hear out loud. An auditory learning trick you might have used is repeating the name of a person you just met to help cement it in your memory.

3. Kinesthetic

Think movement! Kinesthetic learners explore the world by touch and physical movement. They might need hands-on involvement in a new task to learn the steps, and often find they can’t sit still while listening to instructions.

4. Reading/writing

Reading/writing learners absorb information easily by reading it, and they like to take notes. These folks would head for Internet articles or reference books to research a topic.

How can Adventure Treks incorporate the four learning styles in the outdoors?

Adventure Treks instructors have practical experience with teaching outdoor-specific skills and topics, and they can design a lesson on any subject to cater to multiple learning styles. Our instructors demonstrate each new task, provide time for students to explore it on their own with support and feedback, and eventually trust the students to complete tasks on their own with little to no help.

Here’s an example of how one day on an Adventure Treks backpacking trip provides opportunities for all four learning styles.

7 a.m.: The “leader of the day” wakes everyone up and gets the group packed up and ready for breakfast. They presented the plan for the day last night at evening meeting and now have the difficult job of verbally setting goals for the group and answering questions. Auditory learners thrive as leaders of the day.

7:45 a.m.: Breakfast is backcountry hash browns: rehydrated hash browns, sauteed onions and peppers, bacon bits, cheese, and chopped green onions all rolled up in a warm tortilla. Kinesthetic learners appreciate the challenge of preparing food for the group safely and efficiently, and then presenting the meal buffet-style so everyone can choose their toppings.

8:30 a.m.: Time to start hiking! Everyone will want to know how far the group will travel today, and instructors will dive deeply into map-reading with topics like estimating distance, deciphering topographical lines, and pinpointing a current location. Students who learn through reading and writing will find that reading a map is research into a place, and every group has guidebooks and fact sheets with them for additional reading on the areas we visit.

4 p.m.: After a long day, the group arrives at an exposed campsite. Though they all know how to pitch a tent, strong winds mean they’ll need to learn to use some additional support systems to keep their backcountry homes from blowing away. Instructors will provide a demonstration, perhaps of what’s called a “dead man” stake technique. Visual learners may only need to watch it done once to be able to set up their own wind-proof tent and then show others.

Wondering how learning styles apply to the real-world skills taught at Adventure Treks? Every trip has at least one “logistics day” dedicated to re-supplying food and gear, making time for laundry and showers, and driving to the trip’s next activity. On these days, everyone is assigned to a project. Reading and writing learners will enjoy the puzzle of planning meals and creating corresponding shopping lists, while visual learners will thrive in comparing products at the store and deciding how much is enough to feed the whole group based on what they’ve observed during the trip. Doing laundry, often a new skill for students, requires a number of steps performed in order. Auditory learners will be able to hear and follow the instructions and help others through the process. Finally, kinesthetic learners will get to answer a quintessential AT question: How much of the van can you vacuum before the timer runs out? There will always be more quarters available to finish the job, but the challenge is in finding the most efficient vacuum technique!

While all students have the opportunity to be involved in all aspects of life on an AT trip, we hope that each individual will discover something they love to learn about and want to be more involved with, whether that’s an activity, menu planning, or running community games and meetings. Our ability to cater to every learning style helps each student find their place and be empowered to explore new things.

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