Start exploring Wilderness & Adventure summer programs for middle schoolers

Dates:

Jul 18–31, 2027

Length:

2 weeks

Cost:

$4,985

Location:

Smith College, Northampton, MA

Grades:

Students entering grades 9–12 in fall 2027 (completed grades 8–11)

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Priority Feb 1, 2027 · Tuition assistance Mar 1, 2027 · Final May 1, 2027

Two-week residential program at Smith College on the causes of and solutions to climate change, with time on New England trails, farms, and community gardens, hands-on farm work, and study of sustainable agriculture and Smith's carbon-neutrality efforts.

Dates:

6 sessions between Jun 1–Aug 6, 2027 (4 days and 5 days options)

Length:

4 days–5 days

Cost:

$560

Location:

San Diego, CA (Mission Bay)

Grades:

Entering grades 5–8 in fall 2027 (completed grades 4–7)

Format:

Commuter

A marine science day camp on Mission Bay: daily ocean activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, boogie boarding and stand-up paddleboarding, paired with labs on invertebrates, fish, sharks, sea turtles and marine mammals, including dissections.

Dates:

4 sessions between Jun 7–Aug 6, 2027 (5 days and 1 week options)

Length:

5 days–1 week

Cost:

$650–$1,505

Location:

Wilmington, NC (UNCW campus and coast)

Ages:

10–14 (completed grades 4–8)

Format:

Residential / Commuter

Deadline:

Registration opens mid-Nov 2026 · closes 2 weeks before each session

Students surf, paddleboard, kayak, snorkel and fish while learning how weather and tide predictions are made, study tidal forces in the salt marsh and on the beach, collect fish population data, build a weather station and test water quality.

Dates:

2 sessions between Jun 14–Jul 30, 2027 (5 days options)

Length:

5 days

Cost:

$850–$1,705

Location:

Wilmington, NC (UNCW campus and coast)

Ages:

10–14 (completed grades 4–8)

Format:

Residential / Commuter

Deadline:

Registration opens mid-Nov 2026 · closes 2 weeks before each session

Mornings bring four surf lessons and a paddleboard adventure at Wrightsville Beach, learning to read waves and tides; afternoons explore a different marine science topic each day, from nearshore organisms and beach and dune formation to lab tests of coastal water quality.

Dates:

2 sessions between Jun 14–Jul 18, 2027 (5 days options)

Length:

5 days

Cost:

$2,000

Location:

Colorado Rockies (course starts in Denver, CO)

Ages:

12–14 (completed grades 6–8)

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Apply until the course fills; $500 deposit with application

Outward Bound wilderness expedition in Colorado Rockies for middle school students (backpacking, rock climbing, ropes course), where a crew of 8–12 teens and 2–3 instructors live in the backcountry, share daily roles like navigator and cook, and build leadership and teamwork skills.

Dates:

2 sessions between Jun 26–Aug 4, 2027 (5 days options)

Length:

5 days

Cost:

$2,000

Location:

Colorado Rockies (course starts in Denver, CO)

Ages:

14–16 (completed grades 8–10)

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Apply until the course fills; $500 deposit with application

Outward Bound wilderness expedition in Colorado Rockies for high school students (backpacking, rock climbing, ropes course), where a crew of 8–12 teens and 2–3 instructors live in the backcountry, share daily roles like navigator and cook, and build leadership and teamwork skills.

Dates:

August 16 - August 21, 2027

Length:

1 week

Cost:

$2,550

Location:

Huntington Lake, Sierra National Forest, California

Grades:

Completing grades 4-9

Format:

Residential

A one-week, standalone waterskiing, wakeboarding, and kneeboarding session held at the camp's island outpost in the middle of Shaver Lake, where campers sleep under the stars. Only available to returning Gold Arrow campers.

Dates:

2 sessions between Aug 16–Aug 28, 2027 (1 week options)

Length:

1 week

Cost:

$2,550

Location:

Huntington Lake, Sierra National Forest, California

Grades:

Completing grades K-6

Format:

Residential

A one-week introductory session including nightly campfires and a range of the camp's activities (sailing, kneeboarding, rock climbing, ropes course, archery, riflery), with wakeboarding and water skiing available to campers who take part in early-morning or free-time activity periods. Not all of the camp's full activities are offered during this shorter session.

Dates:

3 sessions between Jul 12–Jul 31, 2027 (1 week options)

Length:

1 week

Cost:

$2,850

Location:

Huntington Lake, CA (Sierra National Forest)

Grades:

Completed 5th-10th grade

Format:

Residential

One-week lakefront overnight camp at Huntington Lake in the Sierra National Forest, with a horseback trail ride available.

Dates:

6 sessions between Jun 14–Aug 14, 2027 (1 week and 2 weeks options)

Length:

1 week–2 weeks

Cost:

$3,525–$5,450

Location:

Soquel, CA (Santa Cruz Mountains)

Grades:

Completed 1st-8th grade

Format:

Residential

Coed overnight camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains redwoods with ropes courses, riding, climbing, arts, beach days, and overnight outpost campouts.

Dates:

17 sessions between Jun 20–Aug 20, 2027 (6 days, 10 days, and 13 days options)

Length:

6 days–13 days

Cost:

$1,990–$3,890

Location:

Olympic National Park, WA

Grades:

5–12 (varies by track)

Format:

Residential

Guided backpacking trips in Olympic National Park. Groups hike and camp in the backcountry with their guides.

Dates:

18 sessions between Jun 6–Aug 13, 2027 (6 days, 10 days, 13 days, and 20 days options)

Length:

6 days–20 days

Cost:

$1,990–$6,585

Location:

Yosemite National Park, CA

Grades:

5–12 (varies by track)

Format:

Residential

Guided wilderness trips in and around Yosemite National Park. Groups hike and camp in the backcountry with their guides.

Dates:

4 sessions between Jun 21–Jul 24, 2027 (1 week (6 days), 2 weeks (13 days), and 4 weeks (27 days) options)

Length:

1 week (6 days)–4 weeks (27 days)

Cost:

$1,440–$5,985

Location:

Turtle River Lake, near Bemidji, MN (base camp)

Grades:

4–12 (varies by track)

Format:

Residential

French immersion camp at the Les Voyageurs base camp on Turtle River Lake. Campers live outdoors and use French through camping and canoeing.

Dates:

7 sessions between Jun 6–Aug 8, 2027 (6 days, 9 days, and 14 days options)

Length:

6 days–14 days

Cost:

$2,495–$5,145

Location:

Blue Ridge Mountains, NC (course starts in Asheville, NC)

Ages:

14–16 (completed grades 8–10)

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Apply until the course fills; $500 deposit with application

Outward Bound wilderness expedition in Blue Ridge Mountains, NC for high school students (backpacking, rock climbing), where a crew of 8–12 teens and 2–3 instructors live in the backcountry, share daily roles like navigator and cook, and build leadership and teamwork skills.

Dates:

4 sessions between Jun 5–Jul 29, 2027 (6 days, 5 nights options)

Length:

6 days, 5 nights

Cost:

$1,725

Location:

San Diego, CA (Mission Bay)

Grades:

Entering grades 7–12 in fall 2027 (completed grades 6–11)

Format:

Residential

A residential marine science camp on Mission Bay with labs, plankton and water chemistry studies, a shark snorkel at La Jolla Shores, kayaking, paddleboarding, boogie boarding and a full-day boat trip for snorkeling and marine mammal watching.

Dates:

2 sessions between Jun 29–Aug 11, 2027 (7 days options)

Length:

7 days

Cost:

$2,099

Location:

Maine

Ages:

11-12 (completed grades 5–6)

Format:

Residential

Entry-level hiking/backpacking trip on the Maine coast, designed for the youngest eligible age band.

Dates:

6 sessions between Jun 17–Aug 9, 2027 (7 days options)

Length:

7 days

Cost:

$3,580

Location:

St. Martin + St. Barths, Caribbean

Grades:

Completing grades 6-8 (must be 12 years old by program start)

Format:

Residential

Entry-level liveaboard week combining scuba and sailing, designed for middle schoolers; earns PADI Scuba Diver or Advanced Open Water plus one sailing certification. No experience necessary.

Dates:

10 sessions between Jun 27–Aug 14, 2027 (1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks, 6 weeks, and 7 weeks options)

Length:

1 week–7 weeks

Cost:

$2,450–$16,100

Location:

Hinsdale, MA (Berkshire Mountains)

Grades:

Completed 1st-9th grade (ages 7-15)

Format:

Residential

Coed overnight camp in the Berkshires with an elective-based program of more than 40 activities, offered in one- and two-week sessions that combine into stays of up to seven weeks.

Dates:

4 sessions between Jun 20–Jul 24, 2027 (1 week options)

Length:

1 week

Cost:

$1,975

Location:

Circleville, WV (starts and ends in Harrisonburg, VA)

Ages:

13-17 (completed grades 7-11)

Format:

Residential

One-week outdoor adventure program based at NROCKS Outdoor Adventures in Circleville, WV, with rock climbing, via ferrata, river paddling, ziplining, and an overnight backpacking trip.

Dates:

8 sessions between Jun 13–Aug 14, 2027 (1 week and 2 weeks options)

Length:

1 week–2 weeks

Cost:

$1,983–$3,950

Location:

Harrisonburg, VA

Ages:

6-16 (completed grades 1-10)

Format:

Residential

Camp sessions with different activities.

Dates:

6 sessions between Jun 13–Aug 14, 2027 (1 week and 2 weeks options)

Length:

1 week–2 weeks

Cost:

$2,450–$4,250

Location:

Harrisonburg, VA

Ages:

9-16 (completed grades 3-10)

Format:

Residential

English riding instruction, stable management, grooming, horse-show preparation, and trail rides, taught at levels from beginner through jumping, within an overnight camp.

Dates:

2 sessions between Jun 14–Aug 8, 2027 (7 days options)

Length:

7 days

Cost:

$3,000

Location:

Appalachian Trail, MD (course starts in Baltimore, MD)

Ages:

12–14 (completed grades 6–8)

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Apply until the course fills; $500 deposit with application

Outward Bound wilderness expedition in Appalachian Trail, MD for middle school students (backpacking, rock climbing), where a crew of 8–12 teens and 2–3 instructors live in the backcountry, share daily roles like navigator and cook, and build leadership and teamwork skills.

Dates:

2 sessions between Jun 26–Jul 25, 2027 (7 days options)

Length:

7 days

Cost:

$3,000

Location:

Appalachian Trail, MD (course starts in Baltimore, MD)

Ages:

14–16 (completed grades 8–10)

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Apply until the course fills; $500 deposit with application

Outward Bound wilderness expedition in Appalachian Trail, MD for high school students (backpacking, rock climbing), where a crew of 8–12 teens and 2–3 instructors live in the backcountry, share daily roles like navigator and cook, and build leadership and teamwork skills.

Dates:

Jun 26–Jul 2, 2027

Length:

7 days

Cost:

$3,000

Location:

Potomac River, MD (course starts in Baltimore, MD)

Ages:

12–14 (completed grades 6–8)

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Apply until the course fills; $500 deposit with application

Outward Bound wilderness expedition in Potomac River, MD for middle school students (canoeing, service), where a crew of 8–12 teens and 2–3 instructors live in the backcountry, share daily roles like navigator and cook, and build leadership and teamwork skills.