Sample Itineraries Only.
2023 Schedule:
Coastal Departures: 6/18, 7/2, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30, 8/13, 8/27
Mountain Departures: 6/25, 7/9. 8/6, 8/20
Olympic 6-Day Teen Coastal Adventure: Sample Itinerary Only
Day 1: Join your guides and fellow campers at 12:00 PM at Fairholme Boat Launch, located beside the famous and stunning Lake Crescent. We’ll do a quick bag pack and check, map review, and goal setting before catching a shuttle to Rialto Beach to start our hike. As we hike along the beach with towering sea stacks, we’ll cover about 3 miles to reach Sand Point campsite. Here, we’ll relax and learn about marine life as we camp on the beach under a blanket of stars, sharing stories and playing games on the endless stretches of sand.
Day 2: Start the day with a refreshing stretch and breakfast, followed by our morning circle routine (stretches, map review, goal setting, etc.) before setting out for the approximately 5.5-mile hike to Yellow Banks.
Day 3: After our morning routine, we’ll set out for another 5.5 miles to our first primitive campsite at Norwegian Memorial. The relatively flat terrain offers an awesome interactive experience with the rugged coastline. We’ll spend another night camping on the beach, enjoying the sound of the ocean and each other’s company.
Day 4: Enjoy a morning stretch and breakfast before setting out for the approximately 5.5-mile hike to our next camp at Chilean. Along the way, we’ll practice navigating tides, hike through the coastal forest above the ocean, learn about geology and biodiversity, and explore the tide pools.
Day 5: Today, we’ll cover another 5 miles, starting the day with a hearty breakfast before packing up camp and making our way toward Hole in the Wall campground. This is our final night, so we’ll savor the experience by enjoying each other’s company while playing games, viewing the blanket of stars above our heads, and participating in our beloved bracelet ceremony.
Day 6: On our last day, we’ll hike out to the trailhead, meet our transport to the Fairholme Boat Launch for pickup with the parents, and say our final goodbyes.
Other: On all of our summer camps, we have a daily circle time in the morning where youth engage in group games, share highlights, offer encouragement and support to each other, stretch, review maps and day itineraries, and set individual and group goals for the day. Also, whether breaking on the trail or in the afternoon or evening at the campsite, our Guides facilitate additional opportunities for youth to develop a personal connection with nature. Problem-solving and initiative games are common as are smiles. Additional outdoor skills are gained as we practice Leave No Trace principles and promote environmental stewardship throughout the length of the program.
Note: Please remember this is only a sample itinerary and actual itineraries are subject to change. If we are unable to obtain the permits, or if various conditions make this itinerary unfeasible, we will provide an alternative trailhead and itinerary in Olympic National Park.
Olympic 6-Day Teen Mountain Adventure: Sample Itinerary Only
Day 1: You will meet your Guides/Counselors at 12:00 PM. You will have time to become acquainted with your group as well as your backpacking gear. We will then facilitate a group orientation, answering any last parent or participant questions before hitting the trail. We will hike to spike camp where we will settle in for our first night in the backcountry with dinner and the promise of incredible views and memories over the coming days.
Day 2: After morning circle time (stretches, map review, goal setting, etc.) we will embark on our second day of hiking along a nice roaring river to camp at Nine Stream. We will play plenty of trail games and tell stories keeping spirits high as we pass through forests draped in mosses and slime molds.
Day 3: Today will be our longest and hardest elevation day, hiking to Home Sweet Home Campground. Although strenuous, we will be rewarded with abundant wildflowers as we hike out of the thick forests and into the subalpine, where the views open up to the majestic Olympic mountains. Looking back on the valleys and lakes below, we will be able to see just how far we have come already.
Day 4: Today we will turn around and head back down the hill toward another evening at Nine Stream.
Day 5: On our second to last day, we will continue to Spike camp. Because of the familiar low elevation and lower mileage day, we can have a relaxed morning and take our time identifying all of the flora and fauna of the forest. We will spend the afternoon learning about the geological, cultural, and human history of the park as we relax in the shade of giant trees near the river.
Day 6: On our final day we will conclude our trip by taking a solo walk our way out to the trailhead. Stopping to visit some secret spots to view the roaring rapids of the river, and enjoying some salmonberries before the trip ends.
Other: On all of our summer camps, we have a daily circle time in the morning where youth engage in group games, share highlights, offer encouragement and support to each other, stretch, review maps and day itineraries, and set individual and group goals for the day. Also, whether breaking on the trail or in the afternoon or evening at the campsite, our Guides facilitate additional opportunities for youth to develop a personal connection with nature. Problem-solving and initiative games are common as are smiles. Additional outdoor skills are gained as we practice Leave No Trace principles and promote environmental stewardship throughout the length of the program.
Note: Please remember this is only a sample itinerary and actual itineraries are subject to change. If we are unable to obtain the permits, or if various conditions make this itinerary unfeasible, we will provide an alternative trailhead and itinerary in Olympic National Park.
