What clearly separates Wilderness Ventures from all other similar-appearing programs? We encourage you to consider the following information before making such an important decision for your son or daughter.
When we founded Wilderness Ventures 40 years ago, our program was a new and unique concept. Because of our extraordinary success, we soon became a model for others. While we are flattered that so many programs have attempted to duplicate a Wilderness Ventures experience, we are proud that we still remain the most widely recognized and respected program in this field.
Our Family Atmosphere
Though we offer a great variety of summer experiences, we remain a small, family-owned and operated program. As owners-directors, we have had more personal “hands on” experience than any directors of all similar appearing programs. We personally led our early trips for the first nine years between 1973 and 1981, and our two sons Chris and Nick participated in a total of ten different trips. As parents of teenagers, we have been acutely aware of what other parents expect of us and of our staff. Each student who enrolls receives the same personal attention we have given our own sons.
Our Personal Attention
Our personal attention to each student and trip group is unmatched in this field. As founders, owners, and directors of Wilderness Ventures for the past 39 years, we are proud of the fact that we have personally met nearly all of our 20,000 alumni either during our winter travels or during the summer. Since 1973, we have personally greeted nearly every domestic student upon their arrival. We have visited most domestic groups during the summer and we have spent the final evenings with many of our groups, sharing their successes during their trip ending banquets.
Our Unmatched Experience
No other similar appearing program has had more experience than Wilderness Ventures conducting safe and successful outdoor adventure travel experiences for young people. Over the past 39 years, more than 20,000 young people have participated in nearly 2,000 trip groups.
Our Small Compatible Groups
Our teen summer programs are conducted in small groups, where each individual becomes a valued and important contributor to their traveling community. Typically our groups range from 10 to 15 students with 2 to 3 leaders, always maintaining the lowest student-to-leader ratios. We spend a lot of time balancing trips by age, gender and maturity in order to ensure the best possible group experience. At Wilderness Ventures, you will not be lost in a mass of 30 or more people.
Our Exceptional and Exclusive Destinations
Where we are licensed to operate our domestic programs on federal lands clearly separates Wilderness Ventures from all other similar appearing programs hands down. People with knowledge of federal lands, our national parks and wilderness areas, are always amazed by the extent and quality of the exclusive destinations where we are allowed to operate. (Please be sure to read "Our Last Best Places" here.)
Our Limited Vehicle Travel
Adventurous teens don’t want to spend their summers looking at scenery from a van window. Because of our extensive and exclusive federal permits, we are able to conduct our domestic adventures in much smaller geographical locations with far less time-consuming vehicle travel than any other similar-appearing program.
Our Enthusiastic students
The key to a great trip is a group of students who are highly motivated and enthusiastic to participate. Wilderness Ventures is not the type of program where students are sent against their will or to be rehabilitated. Our trips are full of positive, wholesome young people who are fun to be around.
Our Minimal Use of Sub-Contractors
Because of the shear breadth of our domestic permits (see above), we are not forced into using sub-contractors for any of our domestic backpacking, hiking or sea kayaking trip components as most similar appearing programs must do. This affords us far better leadership continuity than any similar appearing program. It also ensures us the comfort of knowing that our students are led by our own leaders. Leaders, who are philosophically committed to our program goals, ideals and high moral standards. No other similar-appearing program has as much control over who leads their students than we do at Wilderness Ventures.
Our Outstanding Leaders
Our ability to attract the finest, most qualified outdoor leaders is a result of our years of unmatched experience, our professional reputation, our minimal use of sub-contractors, and our amazing, federally-permitted destinations. Only one out of six applicants receives a job offer from us, and we are always their first choice. (Click Here for more information about Our Leaders.)
