Adventure Camps - Expeditions

With over 30 years of experience, Awesome Expeditions is a national leader in outdoor programming and adventure travel.

Exciting and challenging overnight camp expedition trips for teens ages 11 to 16.  Destinations throughout the northeast, including the Adirondacks, Berkshires, Maine, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.  It's sure to be an adventure you will remember for the rest of your life!  Choose from backpacking, canoeing, sea kayaking, whitewater rafting, sailing, caving, rock climbing or biking.  With the guidance of our trained and certified leaders, you'll see incredible sites, meet great people, and learn new skills.  Prior experience is not necessary for any of our overnight camp expedition trips, only your good attitude and your love of the outdoors.

Mission

To build strong, responsible, self-reliant teens through outdoor experiences and adventure travel. We strive to educate and help develop self-confidence through safe challenges designed to take teens out of their "comfort zones." Our goal is to help teens connect with the natural world and instill values that will create mentally and physically strong individuals and passionate stewards of the environment.

What To Expect

Campers will be part of a small group living together and participating in challenging activities.  Following the precepts of experiential education, campers will be actively involved in decision making, leadership, setting camp, meal preparation, clean-up and route finding.  Campers will be asked to set goals for themselves and the group.  To achieve goals, a commitment to be a positive team member is required.  One, non-negotiable, program element is individual and group safety;  inappropriate or unsafe behavior will be dealt with swiftly by the trip leaders.

Group Size

All expeditions trips run with a minimum of 6 and no more than 10-12 campers and two adult staff members.  All programs are offered as co-ed, with one male and one female staff member assigned to each group. This small group allows for full group participation, interaction and decision-making, as well as, individual instruction.

Transportation

We travel in passenger vans for all of our expedition trips.   Trips begin at our pick-up location at Branchville Elementary School in Ridgefield, CT.  Please contact the office in advance if you would like to arrange an alternate pick-up location.

What Mountain Workshop Provides

All meals (except first day lunch), all camping and program equipment (except bikes for bike touring trips), all fees and transportation are provided.  A gear list is provided for each trip that includes personal clothing and gear required.

Accommodations

We will be staying in campgrounds, backpack shelters, or hostels.  For trips that include camping, we will be sleeping in single gender 3 or 4 person tents.  Tents are provided by Mountain Workshop.  Campers need to provide their own sleeping bag and sleeping pad.  With advance notice, rental of a Mountain Workshop sleeping bag and pad can be arranged for $25, due on program's first day.  

Camper Commitment

Reasonable physical condition and a desire to participate is needed.

All campers share in Mountain Workshop's Contract, agreeing to work individually and as a group towards goals set together, to adhere to behavior and safety rules and to give and receive feedback during daily "Group" meetings.  The group provides the opportunity to share insights, concerns, plans, successes, difficulties and appreciations.

Safety

Safety is our primary consideration at all times. It is the bottom line in all decisions regarding the outdoors. While outdoor activities do entail certain risks, we greatly reduce the chances of injury with strict guidelines and thorough instruction. Our staff is certified in First Aid, CPR, Lifeguard and/or Waterfront Lifeguard, Wilderness First Aid, and all are trained in the safety aspects of the activities according to the industry standards. We are extremely proud of our excellent safety record.

Unsafe or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.  With a serious infraction, parents are called. The camper, counselors, and parents will discuss the situation and if unsafe behavior continues, parents will be asked to pick up their child without compensation.

Awesome Expedition Trips: