OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
Did you really enjoy your sophomore outdoor experience & want to experience another? Or perhaps you didn't get the chance to attend an outdoor trip last year and would like to go on one this year? Juniors have the option to join one of our Outdoor Adventure Programs this summer.
Program offerings range in length from 1 - 3 weeks and take place within California, such as the Bay Area or High Sierras, and out-of-state in Colorado. Most experiences include a backpacking component that varies in intensity and can include other activities such as kayaking, rafting and climbing.
program details
Program details will vary based on Outdoor Adventure Partner. Below is a summary of information about our Partners.
You'll receive more specific info about each Partner once we confirm them in early 2025.
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Locations: There are in-state (California) & out-of-state options! Possible locations include:
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Bay Area: Point Reyes Seashore, American River, or Angel Island
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Sierra Nevada Mountains
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Colorado
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Program Length: Varies based on program you choose but can range from 1 week to 25 days.
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Dates: Varies based on program! Check back in early 2025 for more details and dates.
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Transportation: Out-of-state adventures will require a flight (a California REAL ID is required to fly)
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Participant Mix: Some adventures will include a majority of Sophomore Summer Searchers. Others will be Open-Enrollment adventures, which include youth from all over the country. You may not have another a Summer Searcher on your adventure.
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Accommodations: Majority of the time, you'll be sleeping in tents without full bathroom facility access.
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Phone Access: No access during the program; only during travel days.
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES & SKILLS
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Backpack, raft or kayak a few miles each day with rest periods or days to recover and relax
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Be leader for a day, where you may be responsible for reading the map and directing the group
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Help cook, clean or set-up camp for the whole group
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Self-reflection, council or group circle, and downtime every evening
YOU'LL GET FROM THIS EXPERIENCE...
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Gain practical skills and knowledge about how to connect responsibly with nature
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Develop self-confidence and leadership skills
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New friendships built around a shared experience
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A deeper appreciation for the outdoors and the natural environment
THIS EXPERIENCE IS A FIT FOR students who...
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Interested in a more physically rigorous experience or learning more about outdoor education
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Enjoy a smaller and more tight-knit group experience
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Seeking physical and emotional challenge in the outdoors
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Want to unplug and step away for a few days
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If traveling out-of-state, are able to apply for and receive a California REAL ID so you can fly
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Have more flexibility with their summer plans, as outdoor adventure dates won't be confirmed until early 2025
2025 outdoor adventure program partners
Explore the descriptions below and click on the blue buttons to visit their website to learn more about our Partners and what participants will be doing on their courses.
Location: Portola, CA & Sierra Nevada Mountains
Group Mix: All Summer Search, mostly Sophomore SSers
Trip Length: 2 weeks
Join Sierra Nevada Journeys for a 2-week outdoor adventure in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and at their camp, Grizzly Creek Ranch. After learning the basics of backcountry living and bonding as a team, participants will backpack and choose to engage a wide range of activities that can include rafting or rock climbing.
Location: Lake Tahoe or Yosemite
Group Mix: Mostly non-Summer Searchers, youth from all over California
Trip Length: 11 days
Explore the beauty of nature on an 11-day course through Lake Tahoe or Yosemite National Park. Participants will be challenged academically, emotionally and physically, as they backpack through the mountains; study language arts & environmental science; and write poetry and personal essays. Each course ends with a ceremony where participants can share some of their writing and celebrate.
Location: Sierra Nevada Mountains & Bay Area
Group Mix: All Summer Search, mostly Sophomore SSers
Trip Length: 2-3 weeks
Depending on the course, participants have the chance to sea kayak in San Francisco or Tomales Bays, backpack along the Point Reyes seashore or High Sierras, or whitewater raft on the American river. Each trip provides opportunities to challenge yourself in a supportive environment, build leadership skills, develop your sense of self-awareness and self-confidence.
Location: Colorado (requires an ID to fly)
Group Mix: Mostly non-Summer Searchers, youth from all over the country
Trip Length: 2-3 weeks
Located in the American Southwest, participants will spend half of their experience in Colorado and Utah backpacking and rafting, while the other half will be spent working with and learning from Navajo or Hopi hosts. Participants will be challenged physically and mentally, reflecting on what they achieved and learned each day during closing circle.
Location: Sierra Nevada Mountains or Bay Area
Group Mix: Mostly non-Summer Searchers, youth from all over the Bay Area
Trip Length: 1-2 weeks
GirlVentures inspires girls* to lead through outdoor adventure, inner discovery and collective action. As you embark on a 1-2 week, you'll form friendships, build confidence, develop social emotional tools and explore concepts of social justice. Some trips will include backpacking, rock climbing or kayaking, and GirlVentures offers trips specifically for youth of color or youth who identify as queer.
*GirlVentures believes in practicing radical inclusivity. Girls* refers to gender expansive youth (cis girls, trans girls, non-binary youth, gender non-conforming youth, gender queer youth and any girl-identified youth)
