7 total days • 4 nights backpacking (Itineraries subject to change)

Call to Adventure invites young people ages 10–12 to step beyond the familiar and discover what’s possible in the wild. During a week of beginner-friendly camping and backpacking on the coastal trails and beaches of Olympic National Park, a small group of young people and adult guides will explore, play, learn, and grow together.

Opportunities abound for curiosity and fun: exploring tide pools, spotting wildlife, playing games along the trail, sharing stories and songs around the campfire, and sleeping beneath the stars. Along the way, participants will learn the basics of backpacking and backcountry living: how to travel as a group, care for the natural world, and contribute meaningfully to a shared journey. When possible, the group will also visit Makah cultural and archaeological sites to learn how tribal nations steward this land.

At the heart of Call to Adventure is an opportunity to practice intentional ways of being with yourself, others and the earth. Through talking circles, shared rituals, and time for solitude and reflection—including a solo experience of up to 12 hours—participants plant the seeds of confidence, independence, and connection that will grow for years to come.

Inspired by Joseph Campbell’s description of the Hero’s Journey, ”a call that beckons each of us toward an experience … beyond our level of comfort and current understanding,” Call to Adventure celebrates the moment we venture beyond what we know. As they answer the Call to Adventure, each participant takes a meaningful first step toward adolescence, carrying with them interpersonal skills and inner resources to meet the challenges and possibilities ahead.