Summer Programs > Age 14-16 > Root and Roam
Root and Roam
“I have made deeper connections here than I ever did at school or at home. Being in the wilderness and going on a solo journey has changed my life for the better. I've made friends to keep, gathered thoughts to remember fondly, and found more respect for other people and myself. This was a great experience.” – Jane, age 16
Program Details
Root and Roam
Root into your strengths. Roam beyond your comfort zone. Discover what you’re capable of. Designed for young people ages 14–16, this program invites participants to find their personal edge—the place where challenge meets possibility. Through outdoor adventures, creative activities, group challenges, and a beginner-friendly, two-night backpacking trip, participants will practice embracing uncertainty, building resilience, and discovering the confidence to take on challenges in their own lives.
Everyone’s edge looks different. For one person, it might mean speaking up in a group; for another, trying a new activity, taking on a leadership role, or staying with a situation when things get hard. Through mentorship, guided reflection and an individual solo experience of up to 36 hours, participants will have space to listen inward, recognize their own growing edges, draw on their existing resources, and consider what they’re ready to take on.
The experience culminates in a beginner-friendly, two-night backpacking trip, where participants put their learning into practice beyond the familiar comforts of basecamp. Along the coastal trails and beaches of the Olympic Peninsula, they’ll take on new responsibilities and discover what they can do when they choose to venture further afield.
Finding your edge isn’t about pushing past every limit or measuring yourself against others. It’s about learning when to stretch, when to rest, and that courage doesn’t always mean going it alone. Participants leave with a deeper understanding of their strengths, greater resilience, and a growing sense of what’s possible when they root into who they are while remaining open to who they might become.
Want more information? Download the Welcome Letter!
At A Glance
Dates Session #1: July 3-9, 2027
Dates Session #2: August 13-19, 2027
Cost: $1495
Duration: 7 days
Who: All-Genders, Age 10-12
Location: Backpacking, Olympic Coast
Quick Links
8 Days
All Genders
Olympic Coast
$1795
June 26-July 3 2027
Meet The Team
2027 Guide Teams
Our guides bring years of experience working with young people. With an average age of 30+, most are beyond their college years and bring experience from across youth education, wilderness, wellbeing, and rite of passage fields.
We pride ourselves on the care and supervision we provide, historically maintaining an average 1:3 guide-to-participant ratio. This means individual attention, stronger relationships, and the support kids need to grow.
Check back in early 2027 to meet the Call To Adventure guide teams!
Sample Itinerary
-
![Call To Adventure]()
Day 1
Participants and families meet at the Journeys basecamp for a gear check and send-off ceremony. After a ferry ride and some van games, we arrive at a front-country campground, have a fire, get to know each other and prepare for adventures ahead.
-
![]()
Day 2
Time to start up the trail! We will embark on a backpacking expedition through the forest and then set up camp upon reaching the coast. Along the way, we’ll learn and practice backpacking, wilderness & community skills, while also playing fun games, enjoying the great outdoors, exploring nature, and hanging out on the beach.
-
![]()
Day 3 & 4
These days bring new heights of exploration and fun - and a bit of challenge as we complete our longest hike yet. We also take a day off from hiking, enjoy time along a river, check out petroglyphs and play beach games. Through it all we deepen our connections with the natural world, experience time alone in nature and participate in spontaneous art projects and talking circles.
-
![]()
Day 5 & 6
After having learned and seen so much already, we’ll spend our next days preparing for an embarking on a solo experience. We’ll craft intention statements about who we dream of being, hike up the beach, and each choose a spot alone where we can sit with just our thoughts and the natural world for company. When we return back to the group, we’ll have stories to tell and time to listen!
-
![]()
Day 7
Time to return home! Full from the wonders and sights experienced and our new friendships, we'll make the triumphant journey back across the ferry to basecamp and waiting families. And yes, we'll have some stories to tell...
