In Yosemite, Lasting Adventures has been running Summer Camp backpacking trips for kids for over 25 years! In fact, this is the park where it all began! Yosemite really does have that something special and many kids got to experience what that special ‘thing’ is this summer. We waved goodbye to 12 groups of kids going out on our Youth High Country Adventure trips. We watched the parents reluctantly walk away as 7 Young Adventurer groups gathered in anticipation. Four 13-Day High Country Adventure trips tested the limits of weather, weariness, and increasing appetites. We even had the debut of our 6-Day Young Women’s program, which was a feminist success!
Many Miles Traveled…
Overall, we facilitated 186 kids’ epic journeys into the wilderness and watched them grow as hikers, naturalists, and leaders. Some groups experienced hail so extreme it looked like a blanket of snow had covered the ground, others perfect Sierra Summer weather. A few expeditions got to explore the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne route which was some new terrain for our Summer Camp trips. This challenging hike had them chasing bears and ascending elevation alongside famous waterfalls (Waterwheel Falls) that not many get to see. Quite a few groups got the opportunity to travel almost the entire length of the North Rim in Yosemite Valley, checking out the views from the top of El Capitan, Eagle Peak, Yosemite Falls, and North Dome along the way.
Get Learnt!
While our stellar guides have many different styles, you can bet that they all shared the origin of Yosemite and its people, fascinating facts about the flora and fauna, the principles of Leave No Trace, and why this land needs protection from future generations. The outdoors is one of the best classrooms and these kids got to have fun while learning about the environment and themselves. All groups in the end got to experience making new friends and memories that will last a lifetime.
We’re looking back at these memories with a smile on our faces. We hope you do too.
If you want to make memories next year don’t hesitate, JOIN US for a Lasting Adventure!
