ADVENTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE PROGRAM
JULY 3 - JULY 16, 2025
JULY 20 - AUGUST 2, 2025
LENGTH 14 Days
COMPLETING GRADES 9-12
SERVICE HOURS 15-25
ARRIVE / DEPART Anchorage, Alaska (ANC)
TUITION $6,195
Immerse yourself in nature on this 14-day adventure and environmental service program. Days are busy with kayaking, backcountry hiking, biking, and exploring. In the nights we relax and spend time taking in the beautiful natural environment we are traveling through. We support local organizations with our service work helping protect, restore and maintain the natural environment while learning about the positive impact we can have.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO LEARN MORE!
TRIP OVERVIEW
ACTIVITIES
Bike: Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
Sea Kayak: On the glacial waters around Whittier
Explore: The glacial lakes as we try to spot the local wildlife including bears, whales, sea-lions, moose and bald eagles
Backpacking Hiking Experience: Backcountry trekking on the Kenai Peninsula
Learn: Tour of the Alaska Native Heritage Center
Boat Trip: To Peterson Bay
White Water Raft: The Matanuska River
SERVICE
A Certificate of Community Service indicating the total number of hours worked and a group Presidential Volunteer Service Award will be issued upon successful completion of the program. Service work could include some of the following:
Trail building and clearing
Species ID tidepooling
Learn about research projects at the Peterson Bay Field Center
Bench building
Marine debris clean up
WHAT IS INCLUDED AND EXCLUDED IN TRIP TUITION
The trip tuition listed above includes accommodations, activities, meals, and group gear. The tuition does not include personal gear and clothing, travel insurance, spending money, and travel expenses such as airfare to and from the start and end of the program, unaccompanied minor fees, and baggage fees.
ACCOMMODATIONS AND SHOWERING
Accommodation is a mixture of tent camping (4 nights), yurts (4 nights), and Airbnb-style accommodation in a private home (5 nights). For the tent camping, it is at established campgrounds and we aim for it to be 2 participants in a 3-person tent or 3 participants in a 4-person tent with luggage, divided by gender. Bedrooms in the Airbnb will be divided by gender, and participants will sleep slumber party-style – in sleeping bags, rotating available beds nightly, and sharing beds as needed.
Bathrooms and showers can be rustic so please be prepared. In an effort to save time and conserve water resources in the areas we are traveling, participants will have access to showers every 1-2 days. Bathrooms are a mix between flush toilets and latrines.
FOOD
Participants on this trip will plan, prepare, and eat meals as a group. Split up into smaller cook crews, each crew will have the chance to prepare a meal approximately once per day. This process is supervised by staff who offer advice on nutrition, and menu planning, and ensure safe food storage, preparation, and handling.
Meals are prepared on back-country-style camp stoves. Meals are nutritious and filling, but the back-country nature of the program often necessitates a simpler menu than a restaurant or home cook might allow.
We are able to accommodate all dietary requirements and preferences.
TRAVEL
Families are individually responsible for booking their own airfare or making their own travel arrangements to get their students from home to the Anchorage Airport (ANC) on the first day of the trip, and from Anchorage (ANC) to home on the last day of the trip. RLT will provide exact windows of time that we require all students to arrive and depart within. It is imperative that no one make any travel arrangements until RLT directs them to do so.
TRAVEL INSURANCE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Road Less Traveled does not provide its own insurance nor do we require travel insurance for domestic trips. However, travel insurance can protect your investment in your participant's trip from the risk of unexpected expenses from last-minute cancellations or early trip departure. If you are interested in more details regarding travel insurance, please visit our FAQ page or you may contact a member of our team at info@theroadlesstraveled.com or 773-342-5200.
TECHNOLOGY
As part of the RLT experience, our trips are electronic-free. While it is encouraged to travel with cell phones, leaders will collect phones and any other personal devices after all participants arrive on the first day. It can feel tough initially to not have access to your phone, but it really helps everyone in the group to connect and have a really great trip experience. This includes phones, iPods, tablets, gaming devices, music devices, smartwatches, etc. All electronics will be held by RLT leaders, kept safe and dry for the duration of the trip, and returned at the end of the program. All cameras, go pros, etc. are acceptable and can be kept with you! If you do not have a camera, please note that leaders will also be taking photos throughout the program, and these photos will be shared through an online gallery.
“You were completely correct about Alaska. They had so many reservations about their ability to complete the journey. But they rose to the occasion every time with the help of your team. The leaders you send with them are always amazing. They’re so encouraging and attentive. If there was a trip to the moon I’d let them go with you.”
- SUMMER 2023 ALASKA ALUM PARENT -
SAMPLE ITINERARY
*Please note the itinerary listed below is the intended itinerary for this trip. No two trips are exactly the same. All itineraries are subject to change to ensure the best possible program experience. Weather, group dynamics, new opportunities, and the unpredictability of travel all shape the final trip itinerary - and it's all part of the adventure!
Arrive in Anchorage and set up camp (Day 1)
Fly into Anchorage and get to know the group. In the evening we can visit Glen Alps to see a panoramic viewpoint of the Anchorage area.
Alaska Native Heritage Center and biking the Coastal Trail (Day 2)
On day 2, we visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Experience a private tour where we will visit six authentic life-sized Native dwellings situated in a wooded area around beautiful Lake Tiulana. We will learn about the traditional lifeways of Alaska’s diverse Native cultures from one of our Culture Bearers. Later in the day, we jump on two wheels to bike on the Tony Knowles Coastal Path, keeping an eye out for resident moose, bald eagles, and other native wildlife!
Kayaking trip and exit Glacier (Day 3)
Today we drive to Whittier, which is only accessible through a 13,000-foot one-way tunnel. From here we sea kayak on Prince William Sound. The picturesque surroundings are a wonderful backdrop as we explore a rockery and a waterfall along the way. As we continue south, we hike to see and learn about Exit Glacier. Derived from the Harding Icefield in the Kenai Mountains, it is sadly a very visible indicator of glacial recession due to climate change.
Whitewater rafting the Matanuska River (Day 4)
Rafting the Lions Head section of the Matanuska River is an exhilarating adventure through Alaska's wilderness. With Class III and IV rapids, it offers an adrenaline rush amid stunning scenery. Bald eagles, moose, and bears are possible sightings in this remote, unforgettable Alaskan wilderness experience.
Visit Kenai National Park & explore the Kenai Peninsula (Days 5-7)
Spend a day in Caines Head State Recreation Area. This exciting coastal hike offer us unique views of the Kenai Peninsula, the coastal town of Seward, and the opportunity to see abundant wildlife. We also spend a day visiting Kenai National Park by boat. Majestic glaciers, marine wildlife, and stunning fjords are highlights of this tour, offering chances to see eagles, humpback whales, puffins, and sea otters in their natural habitat.
Transfer to Homer, AK (Day 8)
We head to Homer, AK to prepare for the next leg of our adventure.
Service Days (Days 9-12)
The next section of the trip we give back, with environmental service projects in partnership with the Peterson Bay Field Station. We learn about the ongoing work they are doing and help with projects they are working on. Exact project details will be released soon! After our service work, we learn about Alaskan native cultures, go on an ecology forest hike, and explore the local area.
Anchorage exploring and trip wrap up (Day 13)
For our last full day we explore Anchorage and reflect on the adventures of the last two weeks. We finish our trip with our famous last night RLT banquet, and watch the sunset from Beluga Point.
Homeward Bound (Day 14)
We say our final goodbyes and head home from Anchorage.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Check out #alaskarlt and follow @therlt on Instagram for trip updates this summer!