My son had been quarantined in his room in Los Angeles for 16 months when I started my search for camp options. I was determined to get him off screens and into nature. To my great good fortune, I stumbled upon Adventure Treks. Three weeks in the Pacific Northwest, a place he had never been, living with a small group of peers and learning how to fend for himself in nature. I took a leap of faith and signed him up. He cried two nights before he was to get on the plane, “Why are you making me do this? I don’t even like camping!” he wailed. At the airport he pulled his hoodie down and boarded anyway. Eight days later, the young man who called us from the road sounded like a different person. Exuberant, joyful, and in complete wonder at the sights, sounds, smells, and even tastes of this literal adventure. He made friends he will keep for life, he jumped off a 15-foot ledge into water, and he loves to boast regularly how I could never do what he did. We will always be grateful to Adventure Treks for giving our son this experience at a time when he needed it most. These folks have passion and heart and are experts at creating community far away from everything familiar. Do it.

Ford had a fabulous time in the Pacific Northwest. His description of the geography and the activities gave me confidence that he was having a wonderful time and appreciating being able to go on that trip.

Adventure Treks was exactly what we’d hoped for and more. Our daughter had so much fun thanks to hard-working instructors and a thoughtful plan and group. The friends and role models with similar interests were a valuable part of the program. Thank you so much; what a special summer you gave her!

This trip was the highlight of our son’s summer! It is definitely for adventurous kids who are looking to do more than traditional camps allow and want to push themselves to be something more. My son made really good friends with all the kids and instructors.

Adventure Treks is my daughter’s happy place. She loves the activities, the incredible scenery, the physical challenge, and the feeling of being outdoors for 3 weeks. But the best part is the friendships, the bonding, and the feeling of being completely herself with a group of supportive, inclusive people. She loved the entire group, and loved that they came from many parts of the country and came together with no preconceived ideas of each other. She misses them all terribly and hopes to reunite with many of them soon. After the most difficult year of her life, AT was exactly what she needed.

I couldn’t have asked for a better experience for my 13-year-old. The Pacific Northwest trip provided the adventure and (supervised) independence that I felt was most necessary for my child as she enters her last year of middle school. From day one of the trip, my child was able to have fun and new experiences, make friends, and be outside of the little world she has been forced into by the circumstances of the past few years. She appreciated her peers’ differences and was grateful for their similarities. These were the things that also made the trip special; she could bond over similarities and learn about how differences can sometimes be beneficial or a challenge, depending on the circumstances. I couldn’t be more grateful for the experience Adventure Treks provided for her. There was just the right amount of challenge mixed in with laid back moments to keep her happy. I will forever refer my friends and family to Adventure Treks.