Go Wild Summer Adventures

Looking for Go Wild Summer Adventures for youth 14 - 19? Stay on this page!

Looking for Go Wild school-based expeditions for whole classes?

For the first time this summer, Wildsight is running two Go Wild trips that are open to any youth—not just through the schools!

These backpacking trips in the Purcell Mountains are just the ticket if you want to:

learn to live for a week in the mountains
climb a peak—with professional guidance
learn how to find yourself on a map
lead others—and yourself—to greater heights
make a difference in your community
experience the wilderness in your own “backyard”

Unfortunately, the 2010 Go Wild Summer Adventure on August 20-25 has been cancelled. Please check back next spring for 2011 program details.

Nitty-Gritty details and costs
Apply now!

What exactly is Go Wild?

Go Wild is a guided hiking/camping trip into the wilderness of the Purcell Mountains for people aged 14 to 19.

Up until now, Go Wild has been limited: Students that weren’t in Grade 9 or 10, and who weren’t in the right classes, didn’t get to go. And that’s a shame, because all the classroom learning in the world cannot give you the experience of spending time in the wilderness.

So Wildsight developed a way to bring Go Wild to more young people, and more young people to the wild.

Go Wild Summer Adventure

This summer, we are running Go Wild for everyone. (Everyone between the ages of 14 and 19, that is.) We have customized the excellent Go Wild youth leadership wilderness program for individuals and small groups. We still provide professional instructors, food and learning opportunities, but there is no classroom component. Don’t let that fool you, though: you will come away from Go Wild having learned a lot.

What does a Go Wild Summer Adventure look like?

For the real nitty-gritty details, download the Go Wild Summer Adventure program description.

For a basic description, read on . . .

Day 1: You’ll spend the day on trip orientation: checking gear, loading your backpack, packing the food, planning the route and meeting the other trip participants. The whole group will camp at the trailhead to get ready for Day 2.
Day 2: You’ll head out from the trail head after packing up camp. From then, you’ll be following the planned route through the backcountry. Camping.
Day 3 and for the rest of the trip: More camping and backcountry hiking. Sometimes you’ll have a fully loaded pack, sometimes just a smaller day pack. You’ll have the chance to climb some stunning peaks. And there will be time for reflection, group activities and learning. You’ll camp in 4-person tents in single gender groups. Most fun, you’ll learn how to cook in the backcountry. (Can’t cook? Don’t worry—in the great outdoors, nearly everything tastes pretty good.)

Where?

The trip begins in Kimberley. Transportation to and from the trailhead is provided by Go Wild.

Who?

Instructors are local professional wilderness educators with years of guiding experience. They’ve led trips with Outward Bound, NOLS and high school outdoor education programs. All Go Wild instructors are certified Wilderness First Responders. Each Go Wild Summer Adventure is led by Liz Harwick.

Backcountry grub

Food cost is covered by the single Go Wild fee. You’ll get healthy, nutritious food suitable for the backcountry. You’ll help with meal planning and food packing and be responsible for taking turns at cooking food for your group during the trip. Please inform the Wildsight office of any special dietary needs or restrictions.

Even more details . . .

Wildsight has been offering innovative, award-winning environmental education programs to elementary students for the past 9 years. This program has developed out of a growing need to provide wilderness experience, environmental education and leadership opportunities for secondary school students. The program idea was developed through the support of several secondary school students, community members, teachers, and school administration to strengthen our youths’ connection to the natural world. The Go Wild Program has been offered in secondary schools in the Kootenays for the past four years. We are pleased to be offering a Go Wild summer program again in 2010.

Who is Go Wild for?

Go Wild is particularly enjoyable for young people between 14 and 19 who are motivated to participate in a potentially life changing wilderness expedition. It’s for young people who want to learn how to travel and camp comfortably in the backcountry, and who want to develop their leadership skills by making decisions, leading their peers, living in a group, facing challenges and accomplishing goals.

Participants learn about the mountain and wilderness issues, develop a stronger connection with the wilderness and find ways to transfer wilderness ethics into daily life.

In short, Go Wild might be perfect for you or your favourite young person.

August 20th -25th, 2010 - 6 day adventure - $375

Nitty-Gritty details and costs

Apply now!