FAQ

There are really many answers to this question that basically break down into the following categories:

Staff – Our Guides/Summer Camp Counselors are the key ingredient to success for Lasting Adventures. Although we all come from different backgrounds, we all share a passion for Adventures, National Parks, and sharing it with others in a way that will create memories to last a lifetime. We seek to hire staff with both wilderness experience and experience in working with youth. We have a rigorous and highly competitive hiring process which also includes a DOJ fingerprint background check. Additionally, we require that all of our Outdoor Educators hold a Wilderness First Responder certification as well as complete our own in house extensive, week long, staff training. This training includes positive youth development, risk management, outdoor skills/knowledge, and adventure-based programming.

Ratio – Our ratio of staff to youth never goes over 1:6 and is often times 1:4. Total group size never exceeds 12 people and often maxes out at 10 participants. Due to our small group size we are able to make group decisions based on the input from all the team members. Such decisions may include how far we travel on any given day, where we make camp, what and when we eat, etc. Unlike other camps that have over 300-500 campers a week, our program maximum (for the entire summer) is between 500-600. Thus, we get to know our participants well and run a highly effective program.

Safety – With any outdoor activity there is an inherit risk. Our staff is trained in ways to limit and respond to these risks. A basic requirement for all of our staff members is completion of a Wilderness First Responder (80-hour) certification. All leaders carry extensive first aid kits, a Satellite phone and/or text device, and have been trained in risk management, evacuation protocols, and crisis response. We are also fortunate to have the additional support from the National Park Service and local Search and Rescue to assist us if necessary. Lasting Adventures has invested in the quality of its risk management practices by participating in Risk Management Training offered by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), an organization with over 50 years of experience managing risk in wilderness environments. As a result of this training, while NOLS doesn’t endorse or certify our practices, Lasting Adventures is further enhancing its risk management strategy. We have invested time and resources in these practices because the health and well being of our participants is one of our highest priorities.

Knowledge – One of the biggest points that divides us from other guide services is that we have extensive backcountry experience within the few national parks where we operate. Unlike other youth adventure travel programs that lead trips all over the place, we have become experts in just these areas. Our leaders know the trails, weather patterns, terrain and what lies around almost every corner. We also have extensive knowledge on the locations of many secret locations (backcountry waterfalls, alpine meadows, amazing bluffs, and many awesome sunsets). We know the locations of all the ranger stations and High Sierra Camps should we need help. Additionally, we know the rangers on a first name basis, and they know us. Lasting Adventures guides more people into the Yosemite backcountry than any other single permit user, and we are en route to do the same in the new parks we are operating in.  Frequently we are asked for assistance and/or knowledge from other organized programs also using the parks.

Price – Because we do not have an actual facility or camp, we are able to keep cost down and pass this savings on to you. Additionally, when compared to similar adventure programs, we strive to offer a better program at a lower cost.

The Lasting Adventures Summer Camp series is open to ALL youth ages 11-18 and/or entering the 6th grade through the summer after 12th grade graduation. Know a young adult who is older? We encourage you to check out our Guide Service.

Yes, we believe that EVERY child should be able to have this opportunity. See here for our Scholarship Application.

You know your child best! If your 13-year-old is athletic, in shape, plays sports regularly, and is a mature 13-year-old; then he/she is probably capable of doing well on our 6-day or 13-day High Country Adventure programs. If your 13-year-old is developing physically and emotionally, and has limited outdoor and/or sporting experience, then the Young Adventurer’s Program is likely the best fit.

Typically on every week of our programs we have at-least two to three groups. In forming these groups we always group with like ages whenever is possible.

Overall almost 35-40% of our participants come without other friends, yet this can vary from trip to trip. From day one our guides begin activities and games to bond all youth. This is also done in an ongoing fashion throughout the week. It is almost all too common for youth who come with friends to leave with new and better friendships with others. It’s just the nature of how we have run our programs for the past 25-years; to be all inclusive and fun for every attendee.

Our goal is not to have you spend extensively to prepare for this trip. Most items can be found around the house or borrowed. By request, Lasting Adventures provides use of backpacks, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads at no extra cost. (Just check off what you’d like to borrow on our gear request located on the required Medical Form.) Lasting Adventures also provides all group gear (cooking gear, water treatment, toilet paper, soap, hand sanitizer, bug repellant, suntan lotion, etc.). Click here for a detailed Equipment List. Please note you do not need to arrive early if you are borrowing gear.

Nope! Just show up on-time. We re-pack all participants at the meeting time, so it doesn’t matter if you’re bringing your own gear or borrowing ours.

Trips do not include transportation. For more information on transportation resources please visit: Yosemite Transportation,  Olympic Transportation, and/or Lassen Volcanic Transportation.

Late arrivals (by 5pm)  can be coordinated on most programs based on permitting. Please contact our office to inquire on specific dates.

We eat good food! Over the years we have experimented with many different backpacking foods and freeze dried foods. With the help of the many of the youth participants, we have been able to learn what is in and what must go. Breakfasts and dinners are prepared and eaten together. Lunches consist of trail food and fruits and veggies. Examples include: pita, bagels, salami, cheeses, hummus, fresh veggies, dried fruits, peanut butter, trail mix, energy bars, etc. Lunches are carried in a shared bear can or stuff sack that the participants’ can pull from as needed. Typical breakfasts might include breakfast burritos, oatmeal, eggs & breakfast meats, dried fruit, bagels, etc. Dinner examples include a variety of pastas (Mac & Cheese and others), burritos, stews, veggies, etc. Dinners, breakfasts, and other group food are also packed into bear cans that are carried by our group.

Nobody carries too much. The average pack weighs between 25lb – 45lb and never more than 1/3 of the participants body weight. When the participants are packing up, and when they first put on the pack, things can look and feel scary. But not to worry. As we settle in and begin our hike, we are constantly re-shuffling and re-packing the children until everything evens out and no one is carrying too much. Although we all may become tired and exhausted, we have never lost anyone due to a heavy backpack.

Yes, it is true. Dating back to the summer of 2000, Lasting Adventures Program Director, Scott Gehrman, did earn the reputation of sleeping with the bears when he awoke to a bear crawling over him. It was his fault however, as he chose to sleep next to the one bag of food that did not fit into a bear canister.

Every year we have multiple bear encounters, but as past participants can tell you, the bears are really not a problem. They are easily scared away. The black bears (actually brown, cinnamon blonde in color) come into campgrounds looking for food. They look into backpacks, around tents, and anywhere where they may smell it. As their natural fear of people fades, they become more aggressive in finding food. When this happens, they often have to be killed.

In order to stop this devastating cycle, the National Park service is investigating and trying a variety of methods to reduce bear-humans interactions. Their goal is to keep the bear population wild and to retrain conditioned bears to live on natural food, rather than human food. This is also why we practice “Leave No Trace” and why we have to carry bulky bear-proof canisters. These methods are working! Over the past ten years Lasting Adventures, Inc. has seen a marked decrease in the number of bear-human interactions. No longer can we guarantee a bear sighting on every trip; however, it still is very likely.

In addition to the bears, we encounter many other animals and critters ranging from deer, squirrels, marmots, birds, and even rattlesnakes and scorpions. We work with the participants to teach them how to respect the animals and critters and thus we do not encounter any problems with these animals. Yet, like the bears, many of these animals do come and visit us as they prowl around looking for food.

No. We do no technical climbing. Yet, at times, participants are able to scramble on rocks and boulders not exceeding 8-10 feet in height.

No. We sleep in the great outdoors! Although Lasting Adventures does own a collection of 3-4 person tents, we choose not to use these on our youth trips. We have found that the participants enjoy sleeping under the stars on a large tarp with their friends. Thus, we choose not to separate the participants from each other, or the great outdoors, and we all sleep under the stars. This concept itself adds to the overall experience, adventure, and offers many more opportunities for great memories. The one rule however is that boys and girls are separated (10-25 feet apart) and that the leaders are a short distance away and in between both groups.. When it rains, we make our own tents/shelters with extra tarps.

Unfortunately no, and NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS. Because these groups backpack in remote wilderness locations there is mostly no cell service and communication is limited. However group leaders do use satellite technology to send required nightly “All-ok” check-ins that also sends their GPS location which we track as well. They can also send custom messages for all other emergencies or if they need support for any other issue. So we go by “No news is good news.”  As always if there is any emergency or concern involving your child, you would be notified as soon as possible.

We will send a follow-up email with links to pictures within approximately 2-3 weeks after the end of the summer camp trips.

Gratuities for guides are not required but are appreciated. Typically gratuities range from 10-20% of your trip’s total cost; not per guide.

For 2022 all of our summer camps will run from Sundays to Fridays and specific meeting and ending locations are included on the specific program website page you select as well as the original confirmation email you receive.

Lasting Adventures offers a very forgiving and structured Cancellation Policy. For a full description visit our Terms and Conditions page.

Please use our online system to register which can be found on our Summer Camp page. Once confirmed additional forms will be emailed to you. If you would prefer to fill out paper copies and email or mail them in, please see our our Forms page.