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This amazing program, designed especially for students completing the seventh and eighth grades, is a perfect introduction to the Pacific Northwest. Hike thought emerald rain forests and along wilderness beaches, watch for Orca Whales from your sea kayak on the placid waters of the San Juan Islands, raft exciting whitewater, then canoe a fjord-like lake into the magnificent North Cascades and hike amidst gardens of wildflowers.
 Hike the Olympic Rainforest
After meeting in Seattle, we'll travel by ferry across Puget Sound to the lush and beautiful Olympic Rainforest, where we'll break in our gear as we hike amidst towering Sitka Spruce and Western Red Cedars of the only temperate rainforest in the lower forty-eight states. Backpack the Olympic Beaches
From the Olympic Mountains, we'll travel a short distance for our initial backpacking trip along the last remaining wilderness beach in the contiguous United States. Lush rainforests of Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, and Western Red Cedar contain some of the largest trees in the world. Once on the coast, we round headlands, pass sites of historic shipwrecks, and see the remains of an ancient Makah Indian whaling village. There's ample time to hunt for crabs, take a swim, or explore tidal pools rich with marine life. This easy introduction to backpacking enables us to learn safe wilderness travel skills while enjoying sightings of Bald Eagles, deer, seals, otters, and often whales. Sea Kayak the San Juan Islands
Next we ferry to the beautiful San Juan Islands situated in placid Puget Sound. The next four days are spent kayaking. We'll learn fundamental paddling skills in our safe and stable sea kayaks, then visit some of the smallest and most pristine uninhabited islands of the Archipelago. Gliding through a glassy sea by kayak is truly a thrilling experience, and provides sightings of seals, Bald Eagles, loons, and usually Orca whales traveling in pods of as many as thirty.
Whitewater Raft the Suiattle River
A short ferry trip east takes us to the mainland where we�ll pack our gear in dry bags, then begin an exciting two-day whitewater adventure on the swift-flowing Suiattle River through the Cascades. We'll navigate paddle rafts through numerous thrilling rapids, developing valuable team communication skills. Canoe and Hike the North Cascades
Our next adventure takes us to the "American Alps" as the North Cascades are so aptly called. For three days, we canoe into the mountains on thirty-five mile Ross Lake where we will be surrounded by jagged snow capped peaks. On our fourth day, we'll leave our canoes and begin a wonderful hike into this magnificent alpine wilderness of flower-filled meadows and hanging glaciers. This culminating adventure in one of America's most scenic gems will be an experience we'll remember for the rest of our lives.
Returning for an afternoon in Seattle before departing, we have time to visit some of the outstanding scenic and cultural aspects of this northwest environment, concluding with our traditional celebration banquet.
All of the major components of this trip have been offered by us over the past thirty-five years.
For students completing 7th, 8th grades, grouped according to age.
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