Our youth backpacking camps are rooted in respect and gratitude for the environment, guiding campers through the essentials of backcountry living, natural observation, and outdoor skills. Participants will leave with some knowledge and confidence to explore the wilderness safely, along with a deep sense of connection to nature.
Overview
- Ages: 12 – 18
- Dates: June – August, 2025
- Locations: Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park
- Pick up and Drop off: Kingston Ferry Landing
Campers will carry everything they need into the magnificent Olympic Mountains, embarking on an immersive adventure designed to help them develop the skills and confidence to safely explore the wilderness. Our goal is to equip campers with the understanding and skills to enter the backcountry with a deep sense of respect, wonder, and belonging. This program fosters a connection to nature through backcountry living, natural observation, and inquiry.
Take a look at our 2025 camp sessions.
What’s Included:
- All meals, transportation, and equipment provided for each trip.
- A wide range of trips to suit all experience levels—whether you’re a first-timer or an experienced adventurer.
- Financial aid is available to ensure that all youth, regardless of background or ability to pay, have the opportunity to participate. No sensitive information is collected.
Guides & Staff:
All guides are trained educators and naturalists with current Wilderness First Responder and CPR certifications. Our trips are designed with a 1:5 staff-to-camper ratio, with each group consisting of 10 campers and 2 guides. Groups are all-gender.
Health & Safety:
Your safety is our priority. Please review our Health and Safety Policy for more information on our protocols and procedures.
Curriculum & Gear:
We build our camps on a foundation of respect and gratitude toward the living world. Our curriculum covers a wide range of skills and knowledge including trip planning, fundamentals of backpacking, survival techniques, ecology, ethnobotany, and natural science. Our guides have extensive backcountry experience, are certified in wilderness first aid and CPR, and are dedicated mentors. View our daily camp schedule to get a sense of the camp structure. Check out the camper packing list, remember that gear loans are available!
Join us for a transformative experience in the wild!
Our program is a blend of adventure, learning, and connection to the natural world. Reserve your spot today!
When we asked campers what the best part of the trip was they said:
I loved meeting new people and becoming friends by the end of the program. Everyone was very supportive of each other and when I was having trouble they were really helpful. The hot cocoa was really good too.
I loved every second that I was not sleeping. I really enjoyed hanging with the other campers, learning about them, and sitting by a fire. Hiking was fun too.
The views on the trip and the people – the guides and the other campers.
This trip meant a lot to me. I was very nervous going before the trip but now I am really proud of what I was able to accomplish. The hiking was hard but I pushed myself and we worked as a team and always accomplished our goal. And we had a lot of fun and a lot of bonding time.
Feedback from parents and guardians:
“Wild Society is amazing! My 2 teens have completed a total of 3 summer backpacking trips with Wild society during the past 2 summers. The trips were everything they (and I) hoped for – hiking with terrific views, great group experiences, lots of new skills learned, fabulous leadership and plenty of fun. They came home full of stories and with new friends from all over. Wild Society provides well-organized, safe, educational and fun experiences for kids and I’m so glad my kids have gotten to experience Wild Society backcountry trips!”
My three children attended the camp and it was a life changing experience. They learned so much about nature and made long term friendships. The counselor was so kind and patient to all my kids.
I was especially happy when my son told me that one of his favorite parts of the trip was the time for reflection and sharing each evening. That is a sign that your leaders did an amazing job of creating a strong community out on the trail. Max speaks so highly of both of you and I love that he got to hang out with awesome adults as well as a great group of teens. We are so thankful to you for giving him such a positive experience out there. He says he learned a ton about himself and he is fired up to live adventurously the rest of the summer.
Questions? Visit our FAQ page for additional help or email us at admin@wildsociety.org!