Where can I send my 13-year-old daughter that is like Outward Bound?

March 15, 2022 7:37 AM

Outward Bound looks awesome, but it's expensive. It also gets some mixed reviews. Do you know of any other summer programs like Outward Bound that would cover a couple of weeks in the summer? My daughter is completely out of shape but is willing and loves cold weather. She's done one outdoor week in Wyoming in the past.
posted by atchafalaya to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (13 answers total)

Sierra Club outings are really fantastic . They are affordable since it's non-profit and volunteer-led. Their teen trips are waitlisted for now but worth keeping an eye on.
posted by dum spiro spero at 7:55 AM on March 15, 2022 [2 favorites]

Kroka Expeditions might be worth checking out.
posted by Grandysaur at 8:03 AM on March 15, 2022

This YMCA camp Menogyn does longish canoe trips in the Minnesota Boundary Waters and adjacent Canadian lakes.
posted by janell at 8:18 AM on March 15, 2022 [2 favorites]

In my area the Girl Scout camps generally offer a bunch of camps that are like regular sleepaway camp + one or two options (sometimes within a "regular" camp) that are more adventurous.
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:35 AM on March 15, 2022 [2 favorites]

I did an Overland bike trip around that age and loved it. It was challenging but I wasn’t particularly in shape before I signed up and managed it fine with some solo training in the months leading up to it.
posted by ghostbikes at 10:38 AM on March 15, 2022

YMCA camps might be a good resource. I went to this one in northern Michigan. One summer, I did a canoe trip; another, I did a long horseback camping trip. Can fly into Traverse City.
posted by quadrilaterals at 11:10 AM on March 15, 2022 [1 favorite]

The amazing Laketrails camp in northern Minnesota was probably the best experience I ever had outdoors as a kid. Young guides outline a trip, and campers choose whch one to join -- then they set off across Lake of the Woods for the next week.

Absolutely transformational for a lot of kids -- which is the whole point of the place!
posted by wenestvedt at 12:15 PM on March 15, 2022

My sister-in-law did Philmont when she was younger and loved it. It's a BSA camp.
posted by plinth at 2:00 PM on March 15, 2022

In a year or two, she'll be ready for NOLS, which tends to run longer, more educational, adventures. They're still not cheap overall, but they are definitely cheaper per day than OB.

Among people who work in the wilderness, experience with NOLS is respected far more than Outward Bound as well.
posted by toxic at 2:58 PM on March 15, 2022 [2 favorites]

(I should have clarified in my answer about Girl Scout camps: you don't need to be a scout to attend.)
posted by BlahLaLa at 3:32 PM on March 15, 2022

I work for NOLS. Have worked for a bunch of different summer camps too.

NOLS has a good pool of money for scholarships. But the youngest students are 14. I think one of the philosophical differences between OB and NOLS is that NOLS is offering leadership training and we spend a lot of time helping folks understand themselves so that they can work together as a team, and OB tends to be more self awareness/inwardly focused.

Unless your child is SO excited for it, I wouldn't send her off for a month at that age. 2-3 weeks is usually perfect.

At 13/14, a week or two week long summer camp that focuses on "tripping" could be just the thing. Some YMCA camps are very big on trip programs, including backpacking, llama packing, sailing, and canoing. And YMCA camps are definitely more affordable than NOLS.

If you want specific recommendation for camps that I have interacted with personally and think might be good, memail me.
posted by grinagog at 8:03 PM on March 15, 2022 [5 favorites]

North Cascades Institute in WA state is a very well-run organization funded by National Parks, Seattle City Light and private foundations. Their Youth Programs have been transformational for teens. Contact them to inquire about a program that will fit the aims of your teen (and you). Their programs are run on the shores of Diablo Lake, Ross Lake and trails nearby.

I have attended a great many of their adult programs over the years, and have interacted with some of the teens in their younger-facing programs, hence my enthusiasm in recommending the Institute.
posted by seawallrunner at 6:41 AM on March 16, 2022

Camp Natarswi is a Girl Scout camp that is within the gates of Baxter State Park in Maine and has a variety of programs that included overnight trips out of camp. Baxter is the home of Katahdin and several other mountains. My daughter did it for years (and wasn’t a scout) and the fitness levels varied. My son did several programs at Bryant Pond camp in Maine - Lakeside Leadership and the Junior Maine Guide program (age 15 - 17, something to work up to) were his favorites.
posted by Sukey Says at 12:14 AM on March 17, 2022