Evening meeting is a nightly ritual, unique to Adventure Treks. Every evening, our trip groups come together as a community, share daily highlights, and publicly praise those who contributed to the success of the day.
“Pluses” are the primary tool we use to build and strengthen our communities, as we prefer to emphasize the positive. “Deltas” are a way to focus on what we can actually change and gives voice to ways our community can grow and improve. “Safety checks” empower our students to make safety “the cool thing to do” and keep it as our number-one priority.
Another element of these meetings are hats. Students receive their hats as recognition for growth on their personal frontier. They are awarded at a time when we feel students are being “their best selves.” Ask any AT student, and they will tell you how proud and valued their hat ceremony made them feel.
These meetings, held in the middle of nowhere with no digital props, are a ritual that our students thoroughly enjoy and miss most when they leave Adventure Treks. As an outsider joining an AT trip for a visit, our directors can best get the pulse of a group by attending these evening meetings. Throughout the summer, our regional directors are lucky enough to join as many trips as possible, and we’re happy to report that our communities are strong! Students are forming lifelong friendships, have great rapport with their instructors, are seeing incredible scenery, and are having so much fun. Life lessons are happening within a framework that promotes personal growth.
It was a privilege to spend last week with 117 students and visit with 32 of our instructors. We’d like to thank our parents for sharing their incredible kids with Adventure Treks. It was great meeting new students and visiting with many returners. All were eager for challenge and adventure while sharing a close community experience. It was especially gratifying seeing our Leadership Summit students as it is filled with people we have literally watched grow up. Five of these students have been with us for six summers and another five students have joined us for five summers. We remember greeting many of them on their first trip, years ago. We feel old knowing that several of these Leadership Summit kids are headed off to great colleges next year (Princeton, Washington University, Northwestern, and Davidson) and all wrote about their Adventure Treks experiences in their college essays. More important, it’s great knowing the friends they have made at AT are some of the best friends of their lives!
https://www.adventuretreks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PNWA1-1.jpg480640Amanda Foxhttps://www.adventuretreks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/AT-logo-white-NEW.pngAmanda Fox2017-07-10 13:14:322025-02-28 14:06:53Visiting our Students and Evening Meetings
We are so excited to announce our leadership for summer 2017! 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 each trip’s itinerary; 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 14 trip leaders and directors:
Have a combined 84 seasons of Adventure Treks experience. At minimum, our trip leaders have three seasons of previous Adventure Treks experiences, and some have as many as 11 seasons!
Include two former Adventure Treks students.
Comprise a wonderful group of outdoor educators like ski patrol, school teachers, outdoor program course directors, ski instructors, and more!
Below, meet our leadership team!
Dave McGlashan, regional director
Dave (or Dmac, as our students and parents know him) is our director and 10th-year regional director. He has a master’s degree in recreation from the University of Tennessee and is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) instructor course. He is a Wilderness First Responder, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, and American Canoe Association Level 4 Whitewater Instructor. In his spare time, Dmac can be found mountain biking all over the southeastern U.S.
Erica Van Steenis, regional director
Originally from southern California, this is Erica’s sixth season as a regional director and trip leader. She has a master’s degree in community development from the University of California, Davis, and is currently working on a PhD in education at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She is an experienced sea kayaking and backpacking guide, a Wilderness First Responder, and holds her Avalanche Level 1 certification.
Joe Sisti, regional director
Joe is our staffing director and regional director for the 10th season. He grew up hiking and camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. After earning a bachelor’s degree in history from Virginia Tech, Joe began leading outdoor education programs, focusing on using the outdoors to build close-knit and strong student communities. He is a Wilderness First Responder and Leave No Trace trainer, and he is an avid mountain biker and skier.
Allison O’Brien, California Challenge 1 & Pacific Northwest Adventure 2
Originally from Minnesota, Allison graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a bachelor’s degree in environmental education and interpretation. She’s worked with AmeriCorps in northern California, as an outdoor educator in North Carolina, ski instructor at Steamboat, and interpretation intern in Glacier National Park. Allison is a Wilderness First Responder and PSIA certified ski instructor. She is excited to return to Adventure Treks for her ninth season as a trip leader.
Kate Brown, British Columbia 1 & 2
Kate is our logistics coordinator and returning for her sixth season as a trip leader. Kate graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with degrees in anthropology and African studies. She worked at Albuquerque Academy’s experiential education department after spending five years as a lead instructor, facilitator, and logistics coordinator at UNC’s outdoor education center. She is a lifeguard and Wilderness First Responder.
Tess joins us for her fourth season as a trip leader. Tess holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Middlebury College in Vermont. She has led backpacking and canoe trips in the greater New England area and enjoys bringing her knowledge of wildlife ecology and forestry into the field. Tess is a graduate of a NOLS Alaska backpacking course, Wilderness First Responder, and Swiftwater Rescue Technician.
Alex Coffin, California Challenge 2
Alex is returning for her third season a trip leader. She graduated from Colgate University with a bachelor’s degree in biology and mathematics. Alex has led backpacking and sea kayaking trips all over New England and currently works as a high school math teacher in Boston. Alex is a Wilderness First Responder.
Katy Ebner, Yellowstone Teton Adventure 1, 2, & 3
Katy hails from New Hampshire, and is a graduate of Lyndon State College in Vermont with a bachelor’s degree in adventure leadership and human services. She has led backpacking, canoeing, and rock climbing trips throughout New England. Katy is a Wilderness First Responder and AMGA Climbing Wall Instructor. She spent her winter teaching snow sports in Colorado, and is returning for her fourth season as an instructor.
Nate Humphries, Alaska Expedition 2
Nate was a five-year Adventure Treks student before transitioning into his eleventh season as a trip leader. Nate graduated from St. John’s College in Santa Fe, NM. He has led backpacking trips in Utah and Oregon, and thru-hiked the Long Trail. Nate currently lives in Asheville, NC, where he performs as a musician, and is a Wilderness First Responder.
Nico Grin, Alaska Expedition 1
Originally from the Bay Area in California, Nico has a bachelor’s degree in outdoor recreation leadership from Feather River College. She has traveled through 13 different countries, rock climbed in Thailand, swam in the Mekong, and volunteered on farms across New Zealand. Nico has worked as a rock climbing instructor, taught at a preschool, and facilitated high ropes challenge courses. She is a Wilderness First Responder and Swiftwater Rescue Technician, and she is returning for her fourth seasonas a trip leader.
Angelique Carl, Colorado Explorer 1, 2, & 3
Angelique is thrilled to return to Adventure Treks for her third season as a trip leader. She graduated from Northland College with a bachelor’s degree in sustainable community development. After college, Angelique developed a passion for outdoor education after working as a VISTA volunteer with AmeriCorps, a science camp instructor in Michigan, a YMCA girls leadership development instructor in Washington, and a ski instructor for six seasons. Now, she works as a full-time outdoor educator leading ecology and backpacking trips all over the west coast. She recently returned to the USA after spending the last four months in New Zealand. Angelique is a Wilderness First Responder.
Kiko Sweeney, Ultimate Northwest 1 & Pacific Northwest Explorer 2
A former Adventure Treks student, Kiko graduated from Colorado College with a double major in film and new media studies and classics. She has led backpacking trips in Alaska and Colorado, and spent her winter working for an adventure film production company. Kiko is currently working as an instructor for the Boojum Institute in California. She competed in the Junior Nationals as a ski racer and is joining us for her fifth season as a trip leader. She is a Wilderness First Responder, Leave No Trace Trainer, and has an AIARE Avalanche Level 1 certification.
Devin Wilkinson, Leadership Summit
Born and raised in Colorado, Devin has spent her life backpacking, hiking, and skiing. She has completed a semester with NOLS in Patagonia and led backpacking trips for the outdoor program at Fort Lewis College. Devin is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in adventure education from Fort Lewis College. She is a Wilderness First Responder and Leave No Trace Trainer. Devin spent her winter as a ski patroller in Utah, and is returning for her fifth season as a trip leader.
Sam Haines, California Adventure & California Challenge 3
Sam is returning to Adventure Treks for his sixth season as a trip leader. Sam graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a bachelor’s degree in jewelry and metalsmithing. He is a graduate of the NOLS Pacific Northwest Semester and spent three summers leading backpacking trips for Mass Audubon Drumlin Farm. He spent his winter in Boston working as a climbing instructor and youth climbing coach. He holds certifications as an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor and Wilderness First Responder.
Casey Clark, Alaska Expedition 1
Casey grew up exploring the mountains, rivers, and canyons of Colorado. She graduated from Fort Lewis College in Durango with a bachelor’s degree in adventure education before working with Camp Tahosa as the backpacking director and lead guide. Casey spent this winter teaching skiing at Big Sky mountain in Montana and recently returned from traveling in New Zealand. She is a Wilderness First Responder and is returning for her sixth season as a trip leader.
Congratulations to our graduating class of 2017, soon to be the class of 2021! We are always impressed—but never surprised—at the remarkable colleges Adventure Treks students will soon be attending. Below is the list of the colleges that you, our students, have chosen.
We feel privileged and grateful to have been a topic of many of our students’ college essays. We know that navigating through the college “sorting hat” has been difficult, and we want to applaud every one of you for all the hard work you have put into your successful high school careers.
We thought we would share an excerpt from former student Eli Burk’s acceptance letter from the University of Rochester: “For a major research university to thrive with just 5,300 undergraduates, each student has to make a personal and immediate contribution to campus life. The counselors recommended you for admission because of the lessons you learned from your experience climbing Alaska’s Matanuska Glacier. The committee and I are confident you will both stand out and grow stronger as part of the Rochester family.”
We’re so happy that you all have chosen schools that are a good fit for your personalities, abilities, and interests. We’d like to emphasize that what you will take away from your college experience has little to do with the prestige or rank of a given college, and everything to do with the mindset and attitude with which you approach your collegiate career. Success in college is about the effort poured into the experience, your desire to fuel your passions, the relationships formed with new friends and faculty, and your ability to thrive in new and sometimes ambiguous situations. We urge you to form relationships with faculty, while it can be more difficult than getting to know your AT instructors, these relationships are a key indicator of what makes a successful college career!
At a time when only 58 percent of students at four-year colleges graduate within six years, and many needing some kind of psychological counseling during their first year at school, we’re proud that the graduation rate of Adventure Treks students remains consistent at 98 percent! We believe the resilience, social confidence, collaboration, and community mindset skills you’ve strengthened through your Adventure Treks experiences will help you thrive in college (and the world beyond).
Having talked to dozens of our graduates currently in college, here are some examples of how the Adventure Treks experience helped them prepare for college life:
“AT did a phenomenal job preparing me for the transition to college. I had the ability to adapt to new and changing situations. I knew how to meet friends and how to work with different kinds of people. I have seen many of my friends struggle with the transition, but it’s been easy for me.” – Christopher, University of Richmond
“AT made me more comfortable in my skin; when I got to college, I didn’t have to try to be anybody but myself. It was refreshing and empowering.” – Max, Stanford University
“At AT, you learn how to help out and look out for others, how to thrive when things aren’t easy, and how to see a bigger picture beyond yourself. AT gave me the confidence to lead a school organization my freshman year, and it means I am always the one doing more than my share in project groups.” – Jake, University of Nevada, Reno
2017 Adventure Treks Freshmen
Stephen Yan, Princeton University
Jack Kanzler, Tulane University
Ethan Kugler, University of Florida
Logan Branagh, University of Sydney, Australia
Hannah Petersen, Georgia Institute of Technology
Harper Swing, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Jennifer Jacober, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Laura Glanz, Washington University in St Louis
Alana Bojar, Washington University in St Louis
Rudy Sutton, Union College
Rebecca Carroll, US Navy
Eli Hess, University of South Carolina
Suzy Weiner, University of Montana
Maria Rodriguez, Davidson College
Rafi Derringer, University of Southern California
Harrison Tankersley, University of Colorado, Boulder
JD LeRoy, University of Southern California
Sam Miller, University of Colorado, Boulder
Eli Burk, University of Rochester
Noah Ayers, Southern Methodist University
Brian Kreidberg, Hofstra University
Olive Welsh, Colorado College
Lauren Brodsky, University of Pennsylvania
Aaron Segal, Ithaca College
Holden Bradley, University of Colorado, Boulder
Ben Garelick, University of Virginia or Emory
Henri Emmett, Bates College
Krystin Langer, University of Iowa, School of Journalism
Eli Hess, University of South Carolina
Sam Pollack, Wesleyan University
Jayson Butts, Wheaton College
Spencer Butts, Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Lydia Welp, Quest University, BC Canada
Julia Woodson, University of Michigan
Madison Coleman, Auburn University
Matt Zenko, Ohio State University
Sam Lewis, Colorado School of Mines
Amara Cohen, University of Chicago
Oliver Holden-Moses, Northwestern University
Isabel Coletti, University of North Carolina, Asheville
Evan Nagareda, Northwestern University
Stephen Yan, Princeton or University of Chicago
Josh Martelon, University of Colorado, Boulder
Davis Wain, Gerogia Technical College
Sydney Kay, Ithaca College
Zach Zionts, Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Joey Michael, University of Colorado, Boulder
Sammie Hasen, University of Colorado, Boulder
Jamie Leonard, Fort Lewis College
Anna Gottesman, University of Michigan
Martin Capriles, Boston University
Kyra Wilkowski, University of Rhode Island
Ryan Grinnell, University of California, Berkeley
Ben Fertik, Purdue University
Nicholas Hopkin, University of Michigan
If we missed you, please tell us where you are heading so we can add you to this list and put you in touch with Adventure Treks students already at your new school!
https://www.adventuretreks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/College-blog-photo.jpg7501000Amanda Foxhttps://www.adventuretreks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/AT-logo-white-NEW.pngAmanda Fox2017-04-24 19:46:582025-02-28 14:06:53College 2017: Where Our Students are Headed Next
Devin will be joining us as a Trip Leader for her fifth season at Adventure Treks! She answered a few questions for us below.
Devin on ski patrol in Park City, Utah.
What are you currently doing?
I am currently a ski patroller at Park City Ski Area in Utah.
What made you want to work as an outdoor educator?
Growing up in Colorado, I’ve always loved being outside, but it wasn’t until I took a year off from college and spent 85 daysin Patagonia with NOLS that I realized I could make a living out of sharing my passion in the outdoors.
Out of your last several years with us, what’s your favorite AT memory?
I have a lot of great AT memories, but one of my favorites was summiting Mt. Olympus with my Leadership Summit students last summer. We had woken up at about 3:00 a.m., and the weather already seemed like it wasn’t in our favor. As we ascended through the forest and eventually onto the glacier, the clouds continued to roll across the summit. It was a constant mental balance between thinking we might have to turn around and feeling confident that we would make it. The game was holding both possibilities at once. Finally, standing on top of that summit around noon was incredible. Watching my students overcome challenges together and discover their own inner strengths throughout the process—these are the moments that make me proud to be an outdoor educator.
Devin (far left) and the Colorado Explorer crew in flair!
What keeps you coming back to AT?
I come back to AT because they are my people. There is hardly any other environment where one can find such a large collection of authentic, goofy, intelligent individuals—both instructors and students—and I’ve discovered some of my closest friends within this community. Even when I only get to spend a brief amount of time with some of them, I know they truly care about me. I also come back for the adventures. And the flair costumes, of course.
On a lighter note, what’s your favorite AT meal?
I LOVE peanut butter, so any meal that can incorporate this delicious spread has to be a favorite. I really like Gado Gado, which consists of rice noodles and a variety of sautéed veggies topped with a homemade Thai peanut sauce.
What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever been to?
This is a hard one… I’ve been lucky to see a ton of beautiful places in my life so far. One that sticks out was seeing a glacier for the first time while mountaineering in Patagonia. It made me cry, it was so beautiful. I will say Blue Glacier on Mt. Olympus is probably a close second. Emerging from the rich greens of the Hoh Rainforest to stand before the seracs and crevasse of the glacier at sunrise is pretty spectacular.
Devin on a backpack with friends.
Tell us something unique about you.
I know more recipes using figs as an ingredient than any one person should know. I love figs, probably even more than peanut butter.
Where did you attend college?
I spent two years at Colorado College and then transferred to Fort Lewis College where I earned my degree.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
My sister and I have been talking about a trip to Iceland. I’ve always wanted to see the Northern Lights, and I hear they have some fermented shark you can try. Who doesn’t love some good old fermented shark!
While at Adventure Treks, students learn how to cook delicious meals in the wilderness. This helps students get more involved in the preparation and planning aspects of their trips, and it teaches them lifelong skills. There is a strong sense of pride that comes from creating a hot meal in a serene wilderness environment. Students and parents often wonder what type of food we eat at Adventure Treks trip. Here are a couple of classic meals that each trip cooks and prepares. Our hope is that the meals students make at AT become regular meals that they cook at home for their family!
Breakfast
For some people, “cooking” breakfast is easy: Grab a carton of milk and a box of cereal. At Adventure Treks, we like to spice up our breakfast options! On a few hectic days, we might have a cold breakfast, but we always strive for hot breakfasts with lots of vegetables, meat, and a vegetarian option. Here’s one of my favorite options—I’ve cooked this on every AT trip I’ve led.
Breakfast Burritos
Ingredients
Salsa
Peppers
Spinach
Avocado
Sausage or bacon
Veggie sausage
Black beans or refried beans
Cheese
Eggs
Tortillas (flour or corn)
Hash browns
Hot sauce / spices
Cooking spray
Lunch
We try to get creative with our lunch options at Adventure Treks. Healthy wraps with lots of fruit and snacks are a staple! Chicken Caesar wraps is a favorite meal of mine that we eat at least once on each Adventure Treks trip.
Chicken Caesar Wrap
Ingredients
Grilled chicken or pre-cooked chicken
Tofu or another meat alternative
Tortillas (flour or corn)
Lettuce
Spinach
Cucumbers
Baby tomatoes
Shredded cheese
Croutons
Caesar or Goddess dressing
Chips, pretzels, or veggie sticks
Grapes, clementines, watermelon (one or two fruit options)
Dinner
Students have more time during dinner to cook elaborate meals and learn new skills in the backcountry “kitchen.” During dinner, students often divide up into groups and each cook one item. We then come together in the large group to eat the meal as a community. Other times, a few students will volunteer to cook dinner while others help set up camp. This gives students who like to cook more opportunities to test out their skills. Cooking is a great way to get students involved, and it helps build solid communities. We cook stir fry in some form during every trip. It’s an awesome meal that students learn quickly!
Teriyaki Stir Fry
Ingredients
Teriyaki sauce (soy sauce also works)
Garlic
Onions
Carrots
Snap peas
Broccoli
Zucchini
Water chestnuts
Baby corn
Chow mien noodles (fun to sprinkle on top)
Pre-grilled chicken or steak
Minute Rice (Minute Rice is nice for a large group in the woods, but any rice works at home)
Snacks
Who doesn’t love snacks?! We always have snacks at Adventure Treks. We know that students are more active, in a new environment, and get hungry more often throughout the day. Each day, we offer multiple snack options: usually fresh fruit, peanut butter pretzels, Goldfish, hummus and carrots, etc. A classic snack that we eat on each trip is GORP (or Good Old Raisins and Peanuts). We have definitely added a few items over the years! Here is a list of ingredients that we use to create different versions of GORP.
GORP
Ingredients
Raisins or craisins
Peanuts or mixed nuts
M&Ms or peanut M&Ms
Dried fruits
Chocolate-covered raisins
Reese’s Pieces
Yogurt-covered raisins
Pretzels
Goldfish
Dessert
A tasty treat can go a long way after a hard day. We like to end the day with a sweet resolution. One of my all-time favorites is Worms In Dirt. It sounds weird at first, but check out the ingredients below!
Worms In Dirt
Ingredients
Chocolate/vanilla pudding
Milk
Crushed Oreos
Gummy worms
Oreo pie crust
Each student at Adventure Treks has their own favorite meal. We hope that students leave the trip with a new recipe that they love to make and new culinary skills that stay with them for life! If you have any favorite outdoor recipes please share them with us! We love to hear about different, fun food creations!
https://www.adventuretreks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Breakfast-Burritos.jpg340340Amanda Foxhttps://www.adventuretreks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/AT-logo-white-NEW.pngAmanda Fox2017-03-13 18:08:292025-02-28 14:06:53Meals at Adventure Treks: From the Outdoors to Your Kitchen
Joe on Mt. Olympus during the Leadership Summit trip.
As some of you may know, Josh Goldbach, our associate director, has moved on from Adventure Treks. After six years with us, Josh decided that while he did not want to leave AT, he did want to try on a new hat. He is still a part of the Adventure Treks family, and has been helping with staffing and new ideas for our upcoming 2017 season. While we miss having Josh in our office and are thankful for all of his hard work, we are excited to welcome Joe Sisti as the new staffing director. Some of you may already know Joe as one of our students’ (and staff’s!) favorite Adventure Treks instructors
Originally from Virginia, Joe received a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech. Instead of playing football, he decided to focus his time in the outdoors, and has since become an accomplished outdoor educator, rock climber, skier, and mountain biker. Joe has been working with Adventure Treks as an instructor, then a trip leader, and then our educational programs director for the past five years. So you all can get to know Joe a little better, he answered a few questions for us.
What’s your favorite AT activity? It’s not the most exciting on paper, but the backpacks are the best. Biking and climbing are exciting, but I feel like the real moments that make AT what it is happen on our backpacks. Everything changes once you leave the trailhead. You get time to settle down and take it all in. The hours on the trail allow everyone to have great conversations and get to know one another. After a few days of this, the guards come down and everyone is able to be themselves. You play tons of games and work together to get all the little chores done so you can have more time to enjoy the views, talk, or just hang out in nature. Backpacking with AT students is great, and most of the time, I forget I’m even working.
Joe on the Lost Coast during a California Challenge trip.
What made you want to work as an outdoor educator? I had some pretty tough times in college, and I really struggled to find my path. I had no idea what I wanted to do for a job or career. The one thing that seemed to make my worries go away was going for hikes in the mountains around Blacksburg. The Appalachian Trail runs pretty close to town, so there are tons of opportunities for great hikes. One day while outside, I thought, “I wish this could be my job.” After doing a little research and getting some helpful advice from my manager at Domino’s Pizza (I had a brief stint as a delivery boy), I took a NOLS course in Wyoming whereI spent nearly 30 days in the backcountry. I had never felt so good. One of my instructors, Claire Parrish, really inspired me. She was such a competent outdoorsperson—tough and strong—but also the most positive person I had ever met. She made brutal hikes through steep terrain a blast. I realized I wanted to be her. I thought if I could have the impact on at least one student the way she did with me, it would be worth it.
What’s your favorite AT memory? There are lots, but two come to mind immediately. In summer 2016 while on Leadership Summit, we stopped at Goodwill to purchase some summit flair before climbing Mt. Olympus in Washington. All of the students purchased purple clothing, and we held an impromptu purple prom at our group campsite in Sequim Bay. It was better than any prom I attended in high school, and I realized, once again, that the students who come to AT truly are special: inclusive, fun, and totally willing to be their weird selves. I loved it. The second one occurred on a backpack in the Trinity Alps in California. We made camp early due to some tough conditions, and to pass time, we played loads of games, wrote a group poem, and took a swim in an alpine lake. The icing on the cake, though: acting out books one through three of Harry Potter. There were only four of us involved, and the group asked us to stop at three, but there are not many times I can remember having more fun in the woods.
Joe showing off his AT colors in Colorado.
What keeps you coming back to AT? The people: the students, the instructors, the directors I get to work for. Our trips are great, and I haven’t had a course area at AT that wasn’t spectacular. Dock [John Dockendorf], though, has truly created something special at AT. It really is a second family. My friends there know me better than anyone else; they have seen me at my best, and also at my not-so-best, and they still love me. That’s a pretty rare thing to come across these days: total acceptance for who you are. At the end of a season, I think most people involved with AT feel that way, students and instructors alike.
What’s something unique about you? If we are talking about quirks, I could go on for a while. I’ll choose two. I love Reuben sandwiches. I have had one in every new place I have traveled to. I lost count of how many I have tried in how many restaurants, but the best one can be found at Choice City Deli in Fort Collins, CO. Seriously, I’ve tried them all over America and the corned bison Reuben there is just the best. I also have an odd connection to writing utensils. The pen I am currently using has been with me for nearly three years now. I can’t stand losing them.
Summer officially begins at Adventure Treks in just four months, and the first students of 2017 will be landing at their arrival airports a few short weeks later. In order to make planning your student’s transportation a little easier, here are a few lessons we’ve learned over the years.
*These suggestions are based merely on our experiences on flying more than 1,500 students in the last several years.
Choosing airlines and unaccompanied minors
Simply put, some airlines, like Southwest and Alaska Airlines, are easier to navigate when booking tickets for teenagers under 18. For example, students 12 and older can fly alone on Southwest and Alaska, meaning you do not need to purchase the extra unaccompanied minor (UM) service (which can cost upwards of $150 each way) which will assign an airline attendant to accompany your child during the flight. (However, you do still have the option for your child to fly as a UM with either airline.)
Delta has great customer service when dealing with UMs and travel complications. They do require UM service for students 14 and younger, and it usually costs about $150 each way, but on a rough travel day (e.g., with delays due to weather, etc.), we’ve found that they are the most helpful in helping students get from point A to point B. If flights are delayed and connections will be missed, they’ve often already re-booked a student on the next best flight before we’ve reached a human on their customer service phone number (but that also happens relatively quickly, too).
Now onto our least favorite: Last year, United quietly changed its UM policy mid-winter, upping its age requirement from 15 to 16, and restricting those under 16 to nonstop flights only. We had several families who had to pay for new plane tickets last-minute due to this policy change, costing thousands of dollars. We encourage families to look at other airlines first, and only choose United if necessary or if your student is older than 16.
Choosing early flights and connections
It may sound nerve-wracking, but remember—it’s OK to book flights with connections! In fact, most of our students will fly with at least one connection during their journey to or from Adventure Treks. However, look closely at connection times before purchasing a ticket. We highly recommend at least an hour between flights, as it is our experience that anything less can result in travel complications. Last summer, the students who most often missed their second flight leg were those with connection times of about 30 minutes.
For our east coast students, please book the first flight of the day. We know it will mean an early morning for you and your child, but it offers much more breathing room in case of delays, missed connections, bad weather, cancelled flights, etc.
Adventure Treks is there to help!
Flying to and from Adventure Treks sometimes causes more stress for parents than students! Adventure Treks is with you every step of the way.
We have the confirmation code of every student’s flight so that we can quickly and easily confirm and/or note any changes in flight details.
We check flights three to four days before opening and closing days, again the day before, and again the morning of.
We are in the office by 7 a.m. on airport days, even if it’s a weekend, for support.
On opening days, our instructors and regional directors arrive at the airport early. We (both the office staff and instructors/directors) track all flights—from before the first student takes off at his or her home airport to when the last student lands at his or her destination airport.
We pay close attention to weather all over the U.S., and we try to get ahead of any potential complications as much as possible. It is not uncommon for one of us to call a parent with information regarding a flight delay, possible missed connection, etc., and a plan B (or C!) before the parent is aware of that change.
Someone from our office is always on call (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) during the summer. If a student experiences a significant travel delay, we’re available to help, even if it’s 3 a.m. We also ask for our students’ cell phone numbers so we can be in direct contact with them while they are traveling. Please stress to your child the importance of turning their cell phones on when they land at every airport, and to answer any calls or text messages from strange phone numbers, as it is likely a staff member. Also, it’s a good idea to plug our office phone number (828-698-0399) into your child’s phone.
A few tips for your child
It’s a good idea to sit down with your child and look over a map of the airport your child will be flying into; this gives your child a head-start on navigating the terminal. If your child feels lost at any point inside the airport, tell him/her to look for a mom with kids—she will always stop and help your child! Here’s more helpful information on airport days, and we suggest watching this video for both you and your child:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmSJvhe0u4U
Read all the paperwork
Before booking airline tickets, read your student’s Travel Information document, which you’ll find in the “forms and documents” section of your CampInTouch account. You’ll find all the details you’ll need to book your student’s tickets, along with other valuable travel information, including a description of how the unaccompanied minor program works. A note to new families: feel free to browse tickets, but please don’t purchase anything until your student has been officially accepted.
We treat all of our students as if they are our own kids. If you have any questions or concerns, or just need to chat through the process, please give us a call at 828-698-0399. We’re always here to help and make the travel process as smooth as possible.
Thank You for Being Late by New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman is the most powerful book I have read this year, and it does an outstanding job of explaining the current state of the world and the “accelerators” driving the insane pace of change. Friedman’s accelerators include Moore’s Law, Big Data, the markets, population growth, and global warming—all whose effects are expanding exponentially. At this point, the pace of change has exceeded most humans’ ability to adapt.
Throughout the book, Friedman points out suggestions to help one thrive in the years ahead. Without knowing it, he makes a compelling case for the Adventure Treks experience by emphasizing the importance of three of our most defining outcomes:
1. Time to reflect
By temporarily removing kids from their busy, tech-filled lives, Adventure Treks provides a natural environment where students have the opportunity to be alone with their thoughts and reflect on their place in the world. “To whiz through our obligations without time for a single mindful breath has been a model for a successful life,” Friedman writes. But a pause is important; wisdom comes through reflection, and we are building a world that isn’t giving anyone the time to turn information into wisdom. “Not everything is better faster or meant to go faster.”
An extended break, surrounded by wilderness, is a unique opportunity to realize what is most important and help choose, how in our terms, we want to fit in with 21st-century life.
2. The 4 C’s
Intelligence used to be defined by the breadth of what we knew. Now, with the advent of artificial intelligence, information is becoming a commodity—and intelligence is instead knowing what questions to ask. “Not only are we required to think both inside and outside of the box, but now we need to be prepared when there is no box at all,” writes Friedman. While technological skills are important to thrive in this accelerating and changing world, Friedman emphasizes the importance of “stempathy skills,” which include the ability to communicate, collaborate, empathize, flourish with uncertainty, and think creatively and critically. Friedman notes that the only occupations that have shown consistent wage growth since 2000 require not only cognitive skills, but, more important, strong social skills.
Friedman implores educators to focus on the 4 C’s (communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking—and to this he adds coding); these line up with what the research and advocacy by the Partnership for 21st-century skills. He emphasizes that these 4 C’s are not innate skills, but ones that can be taught. He warns that any skill without a strong human component will be replaced by computers or robots. We feel, and research from University of New Hampshire on Adventure Treks supports, that there are few better ways to improve one’s communication, collaboration, creativity, and pro social skills than an Adventure Treks outdoor experience.
4. The importance of community
In a technological world, we spend a lot of time in cyberspace where there are essentially no rules. There is a general feeling that the world is becoming less stable and that fewer people know the “rules” of living in society. If we want society to remain stable, Friedman emphasizes the importance of community, character, and values, and knowing how to live as a contributing member to one’s community. Anthropologically speaking, humans are meant to live in a community, and studies show that we are happier when we are connected to others. Relationships are the hallmark of the human experience, and they can only be nurtured with time. Our ability to forge human relationship is a unique human capacity and is what separates us from nature or machines.
Friedman affirms that character is rarely an individual accomplishment; rather, it emerges through “joined hearts and souls and in a group.” Our focus at Adventure Treks is “cultivating the intense, thick community” that Friedman and David Brooks emphasize. Once students have experienced the power and joy of a close community experience, they seek it out elsewhere and facilitate community in the groups they work and live in. A strong community experience provides important grounding in a constantly changing world.
As the world becomes more technological, we feel a great way to build skills to thrive in this world is to actually take a break and spend time outside with friends. While our students are having fun in the outdoors, they come home with a skill set that better prepares them to thrive in this new age of accelerators.
https://www.adventuretreks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/CC1-16-14-600.jpg600600Amanda Foxhttps://www.adventuretreks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/AT-logo-white-NEW.pngAmanda Fox2017-02-07 18:12:192025-02-28 14:06:53Adventure Treks in the Age of Acceleration
My son Thomas (far right) had a blast on his third AT trip to British Columbia.
The holidays and first round of exams are in the rear view mirror. Because the days are shorter and school dynamics help everyone get more into the academic groove, our teens are spending less time playing outside. They begin to relax into a slumber of sorts regarding the outdoors world that they so enjoy in the summer.
For some, the magic of last summer seems so far away, and a disconnect of sorts begins to seep in. You may hear your child say something like, “I’m not sure I want to do that trip this summer.” It’s normal for our kids to voice reluctance about things that they were so sure about just months ago. Part of it is the confidence in themselves to once again rise to the challenge, taking steps into an unknown or unclear arena. Listening to them, helping them process, and validating that they are nervous can help ease that anxiety. Little reminders like helping them get in shape is always a good idea. Make it fun—go for a hike this weekend, even if that is just a stroll around the lake or a long walk with the dog. Break it down and try to figure out where the ominous feeling comes from. My two kids (ages 15 and 17, who have done a total of nine trips) tend to think the bonds they formed the past summer won’t be the same or as good this summer. Remind them about the richness of showing up and finding out the back stories of each person and how fun it can be—kind of like opening a gift that you have no idea what’s inside.
My daughter Sarah (bottom row, middle) could not have had a more fun or fulfilling time on Leadership Summit this year.
After completing the Alaska trip in 2015, my daughter was certain she didn’t want to continue to Leadership Summit. We talked about it several times through the school year, and even looked up her friends who would be attending. It wasn’t until May that she approached me to ask if she could go on Leadership Summit. At that point, it was of course full, which was a great disappointment to her. And the only reason she got to go was because of a last-minute cancellation. But I think she realized, as it got closer to summer, how much she would miss her Adventure Treks community—especially after five incredible trips.
On the way to school this morning, my son and I noticed a lot under construction near our house that was muddy from all the recent rain. We both remembered how he used to play in the mud and loved it. He asked, “how could that have been so much fun then?” Maybe because it was simpler and you didn’t care who was watching or how you looked, you just played.
That mysterious zone between childhood and adulthood has so many gray moments. Our teens often think: Which am I—a kid or an adult?What would people think? How do I look? These thoughts are all pretty common, but they’re also very constricting and confusing at times. Our kids want to have fun, love the outcome of connected community, and appreciate and cherish the feeling of being able to do more than they thought they could. But while their memories are a bit faded, returning to this experience may feel overwhelming. So if your kids are getting cold feet, remember that it is to be expected. They are doing their job. It is a good thing that they don’t just jump into something without thinking it through. That is a skill we all hope they will utilize throughout their lives.
https://www.adventuretreks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/img_0227-scaled.jpg19202560Amanda Foxhttps://www.adventuretreks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/AT-logo-white-NEW.pngAmanda Fox2017-01-30 16:40:032025-02-28 14:06:53Cold Feet about the Summer is Normal
Becoming “experts” together on our first mountain summit!
Getting acquainted with outdoor activities can be both challenging and intimidating. There are a lot of factors to consider, especially if you are new to the outdoors. But it doesn’t have to be scary! Our first recommendation: Do not make being a beginner one of those factors.
We’re all beginners at some point. But when we first try a new activity, sometimes thoughts of inadequacy creep up within us. During my first extended outdoor experience on a seven-day backpack trip in Pisgah National Forest, I fell in love with the sense of self-awareness and calmness I achieved—even though it was my first time ever wearing a heavy pack! But I also thought, “I will conquer this new skill to be a master, and only then I will truly receive the benefits of the outdoors.” It has taken me a long time to realize that being the best at something, or at the very least surpassing “beginner status,” is not the reason to go out into nature—and is not the only way to receive benefits from nature.
In fact, the whole reason I was flocking to the wilderness was to find some peace from the constant competition in my daily life. We are immersed in a culture that values performance. In education, career advancement, even the local rock climbing gym, there is a looming presence of competitiveness. It is hard not to engage in this culture, and instead simply enjoy being outside. I felt torn and confused: I began engaging in that competitive culture outside, though I was going there in the first place to specifically avoid it. It’s hard to break free of something so ingrained in us, though, even in the wilderness. I started to make an intentional effort to focus more on enjoying the experience of being surrounded by nature, and working toward getting to know myself and my fellow companions. I tried to think less of how far or fast I went, and think more about what it felt like to climb over a mountain ridge or walk silently in the forest. I had enough outdoor skills to keep myself safe, of course, and loved learning new tricks from fellow backpackers, but I stopped comparing myself to other people (the “masters”). Think about what Theodore Roosevelt said: “Comparison is the thief of joy.”
Rock climbing for the first time.
If I could give one piece of advice to Adventure Treks students, it would be to not let fear of being new at something prevent you from having a wonderful experience in the outdoors. Many of our students come to Adventure Treks having never backpacked or rock climbed or whitewater rafted. It is not until the second day or so that they realize that most of the other people on the trip are in the same boat! Instructors teach students everything they need to know throughout the entire adventure, and by trip’s end, students usually aren’t beginners anymore—without any help, they can set up a tent, clean up camp, tie a figure-eight knot, pack their backpack, and much, much more.
As my love for the outdoors continues to grow, so does my desire and capability to learn and improve on new outdoor skills. For teenagers and adults alike, this is a great way to build confidence and increase your comfort level in both the wilderness and at home or school. I make more of an effort now to focus on my mindset and intention when I’m learning new outdoor skills. My goal is to not let my fear of “looking weird” or not being good at something prevent me from having an awesome outdoor experience. Living by this sentiment has greatly increased the quality of my outdoor experiences and my happiness.
Dave McGlashan, regional director
Erica Van Steenis, regional director
Joe Sisti, regional director
Allison O’Brien, California Challenge 1 & Pacific Northwest Adventure 2
Kate Brown, British Columbia 1 & 2
Tess Sneeringer, Pacific Northwest Adventure 1 & Ultimate Northwest 2
Alex Coffin, California Challenge 2
Katy Ebner, Yellowstone Teton Adventure 1, 2, & 3
Nate Humphries, Alaska Expedition 2
Nico Grin, Alaska Expedition 1
Angelique Carl, Colorado Explorer 1, 2, & 3
Kiko Sweeney, Ultimate Northwest 1 & Pacific Northwest Explorer 2
Devin Wilkinson, Leadership Summit
Sam Haines, California Adventure & California Challenge 3
Casey Clark, Alaska Expedition 1
Breakfast Burritos
Chicken Caesar Wrap
Teriyaki Stir Fry
GORP
Worms In Dirt
Summer officially begins at Adventure Treks in just four months, and the first students of 2017 will be landing at their arrival airports a few short weeks later. In order to make planning your student’s transportation a little easier, here are a few lessons we’ve learned over the years.
Thank You for Being Late by New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman is the most powerful book I have read this year, and it does an outstanding job of explaining the current state of the world and the “accelerators” driving the insane pace of change. Friedman’s accelerators include Moore’s Law, Big Data, the markets, population growth, and global warming—all whose effects are expanding exponentially. At this point, the pace of change has exceeded most humans’ ability to adapt.
1. Time to reflect
4. The importance of community
