British Columbia Adventure

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British Columbia Adventure

Destination

British Columbia

Current Grades

8th, 9th

length

21 Days

view dates and prices
Meeting Place

​Arrive & depart: Seattle, WA (SEA)

Surround yourself with the splendor of Super, Natural British Columbia. Backpack (and have a snowball fight!) in E.C. Manning Provincial Park among lush rolling hills and alpine meadows. Head to the dry, warm Okanagan Valley to rock climb at Skaha Bluffs, one of Canada’s best climbing destinations. Learn the meaning of teamwork as you navigate class III and IV rapids on Clearwater River, and then spend some bonding time canoeing on the most pristine lake you’ve ever seen: Clearwater Lake. Take your backpacks out again for hiking in Wells Gray Provincial Park, where the wildflower fields will blow you away!

*Students need a valid passport to attend the British Columbia trip.

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British Columbia Adventure Itinerary

Backpack in E.C. Manning Provincial Park

Spend three days exploring the diverse landscape of Manning Provincial Park in the heart of the Canadian Cascades. Rocky peaks, high-mountain meadows, and wildflowers dominate this beautiful landscape. Atop Mt. Frosty, the highest mountain the park at 7,950 feet, marvel at a 360-degree view; you can even see the United States!

Rock climb at Skaha Bluffs

In British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley sits the soaring Skaha Bluffs, whose gneiss cliffs can reach 250 feet! For two days, learn the basics of tying knots, belaying, and climbing, and progress to more difficult routes as you feel ready. People come from all over North America to ascend these beautiful walls, and there are an abundance of routes for every level. You may even get to rappel into a cave or try a Tyrolean traverse!

Whitewater raft Clearwater River

Get your feet wet for two days on the big and wild Clearwater River. Fed by glaciers and shaped by lava flows, the Clearwater’s class III and IV rapids make for thrilling descents and lots of laughter. Determine the king or queen of your raft with fun splash wars. You’ll set up camp on the banks at night while taking a side hike to the 115-foot-tall Moul Falls!

Canoe Clearwater Lake

Spend four days exploring the unspoiled waters of Clearwater Lake. Try to spot the ospreys and eagles as you practice your paddling strokes—you may even see a caribou swimming! After relaxing next to a fire with your crew, gaze at the brightest stars you’ve ever seen.

Backpack in Wells Gray Provincial Park

For four days, surround yourself with some of the most beautiful and rugged terrain in North America. Sharpen your backpacking skills and take turns being “leader of the day” as you meander through wildflower fields, around snowfields, past one of the park’s dozens of waterfalls, and beneath the jagged, snowy peaks of the Cariboo Mountains. Photo ops with your friends are endless with the lush fields of vivid flowers!

Dates and Prices

Departure 1
  • Departure Day
    06/23/24
  • Return Day
    07/13/24
  • Price
    $5,695
Departure Day Return Day Price
06/23/24
07/13/24
$5,695
Included in tuition:
  • All meals
  • Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack, and all group gear
  • Guided activities
Not included in tuition:
  • Airfare to and from Seattle, WA (SEA)
  • Trip insurance (more info here)
  • Personal clothing and items (packing lists available for enrolled families)
Camping

More than half of our nights are spent at “frontcountry” campsites, where we’ll generally have a more developed campsite with running water, toilets, and sometimes cell phone service. This may be a public or private campground. We often stay at the same frontcountry site a few days in a row.

The other nights will be spent “backcountry” camping, referring to wilderness locations where we are most likely out of cell phone service and away from our vehicles, electricity, and other amenities. Multi-day activities like backpacking and canoeing take place in the backcountry.

Challenge/fitness level

No experience necessary; all skill levels welcome!

Fitness and physical challenge are subjective, so Adventure Treks does not “rate” its trips based on challenge. However, because we’ll be engaged in different outdoor activities throughout each trip, our students have the responsibility to be physically fit. We know physical fitness looks different for everyone, but it’s important to come prepared so that you and your fellow students can succeed. One student not coming prepared with physical fitness will negatively impact the entire group. In the months leading up to their trip, students should develop a routine that emphasizes stamina and sustaining a moderate level of exertion for many hours, several days in a row. Running, swimming, bicycling, aerobics classes, and team sports are all beneficial and will help improve cardiovascular fitness in preparation for a student’s trip.

Activities

​Backpacking

Rock Climbing

Canoeing

Whitewater Rafting

Reviews

Mike Jung, parent from Cary, NC

Our son described the British Columbia trip as one of the most amazing experiences of his life to date. Despite so many new and challenging activities, he enjoyed all aspects of the trip, including cooking meals, cleaning, and steering a whitewater raft. Andrew said everyone he met was great and friendly, and everyone got along despite kids coming from all over the country. He’s made several friends he’s still keeping in touch with. AT is exceptionally well run; from top to bottom, they have a great team with great leadership. Andrew is enthusiastically looking forward to attending next year—and plotting with others from the BC trip to plan to go together if possible.

Marco Marangoni, parent from Milan, Italy

Adventure Treks was a truly excellent experience for Giorgio, because of the quality of activities and from an educational point of view. He was warmly welcomed by his tripmates and his instructors. The native language (Italian, in his case) was never an obstacle in feeling integrated in the group. He came back truly happy.

Monica Macia, parent from New York, NY

Adventure Treks was a great experience for my daughter to open herself to new challenges, to make long lasting friendships, and to learn to work in a community helping each other, cooking, and taking different responsibilities. I sincerely congratulate you for such an amazing program. It was an invaluable experience for my child.

Gail Serruya, parent from Merion Station, PA

Adventure Treks was a fantastic experience in terms of appreciating incredible nature, making new friendships, and being challenged in a safe and nurturing environment—all this while having a break from the phone!

Nikki Reed-Nicoll, parent from Encino, CA

Our daughter grew so much on her first trip in California in 2017. She wanted to do another one as well as see a friend she made on the first trip who lives in New Jersey. We love the fact that the kids are disconnected for a few weeks. Our daughter comes back reenergized about the ability to make new friends.

Bo Lane, parent from Boca Raton, FL

Tyler loves the adventure and the time to explore nature in a variety of ways. I think he also likes that he gets to challenge himself in such a nurturing environment. Also, I love your customer service before, during, and after the trip. I have two other boys who go on other camps and programs, and your customer service is so much better than any organization we have been involved with.

Susan Alderson, parent from Atlantic Highlands, NJ

Adventure Treks provides a positive life experience that will boost your child’s confidence in themselves and in their peers. The program grows with the student, and the student grows with the program.