TEEN ADVENTURE TRIP THROUGH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
JUNE 15 - JUNE 21, 2025
(6th - 8th grade)
JUNE 22 - JUNE 28, 2025
(9th - 12th grade)
LENGTH 7 Days
COMPLETING GRADES 6 - 8 & 9 - 12
ARRIVE/DEPART Seattle, Washington.
TUITION $2945
Our 7-day teen adventure in the Pacific Northwest lets students explore the beauty of the San Juan Islands by kayak, as well as hiking the trails of the Olympic National Park. The overnight sea kayak trip takes us through prime Orca whale habitat to the picturesque Stuart Island with views of the Canadian Gulf Islands and the Olympic and Cascade Mountain Ranges. The second half of our adventure allows us explore some of these mountains as we hike the trails and camp out in Olympic National Park. This 7 day adventure trip is perfect for teen adventure lovers, with limited availability over the summer.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO LEARN MORE!
TRIP OVERVIEW
ACTIVITIES
Kayak Expedition: Take a multi day expedition through the San Juan Islands
Hike: The iconic trails of the Pacific Northwest
Discover: Koh Rain Forest
Explore: Olympic National Park
Tide Pooling: On Kalaloch Beach
Camp Out: Re connect with nature as we camp under the stars
SWIMMING ABILITY
It is highly recommended that participants in this program are comfortable being in the water and swimming.
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 tent camping 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.
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 3-4 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 Seattle airport (SEA) on the first day of the trip, and from Seattle airport (SEA) 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.
“I was a little worried about whether my son could handle the trip as he was the youngest and generally not super outdoorsy but he absolutely loved his RLT trip, including the other kids, the counselors and the activities. He came home asking to go back again next summer.”
- SUMMER 2024 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!
Arrival (Day 1)
After meeting at the airport in Seattle (SEA), we transfer to the campsite and get settled in. We spend the evening getting to know each other and getting ready for our week of adventure.
Kayaking Haro Strait to Stuart Island (Day 2)
We meet our local guides in the morning on the west side of San Juan Island. After packing our kayaks with our gear and a training session on some basic paddling techniques, we start our expedition. We paddle north, kayaking along the picturesque Haro Strait, with views of the Canadian Gulf Islands in the distance. We'll keep a sharp eye out for whales and other wildlife chasing the wild salmon. After paddling for a couple of hours along the rocky coastlines of San Juan and Henry Islands, we'll stop for lunch along the shoreline. After refuelling, we’ll cross the Spieden Channel to Stuart Island. Our home for the night is Reid Harbor on Stuart Island, which is only accessible by boat. Our campsite is nestled in a forest of Red Barked Madronas, Cedar and Douglas Fir trees. After setting up camp, we relax in the beautiful surroundings and have a hearty meal as we sit around the campfire and continue to get to know each other.
Stuart Island exploring (Day 3)
On our second day we'll circumnavigate around Stuart Island, passing by numerous uninhabited islands in the Boundary Pass and John’s Pass and staying in prime whale watching habitat. We kayak beneath the cliffs of the Stuart Island fog and light station and look out to Mount Baker all while sharing the coastline with resting harbor seals and nesting bald eagles. In the afternoon, we explore Stuart Island on foot as we discover the trails leading to a one room schoolhouse and light station. We finish our evening by the campfire and under the light of the stars.
Last day kayaking and transfer to the mainland (Day 4)
After a hearty breakfast we pack up camp and revisit the waters of the Speiden Channel and Haro Strait, maximizing our time in prime whale territory and increasing our chances of seeing the J, K, and L pods of the endangered Orca population. We complete our kayak excursion in the afternoon, landing back on the west side of San Juan Island. From here we catch the ferry back to the mainland, for the next leg of our trip.
Olympic National Park (Day 5)
For the next two days we explore Olympic National Park. We start off hiking the trails of Hurricane Ridge to take in the impressive views and wildflower meadows. There are a range of trails depending on group ability and energy levels.
Kalaloch Beach and Hoh Rain Forest (Day 6)
For our last full day, we explore the famous Hoh Rain Forest and Kalaloch Beach. From the vibrant green canvas of the mosses and ferns that dominate the Hoh valley, through to the tide pools and picturesque sunsets of Kalaloch beach, we take in the incredible variety of flora and fauna that this unique national forest has to offer. This is a great way to wrap up the trip, ending with an RLT banquet for our last evening.
Homeward bound (Day 7)
Following our final night banquet and celebration we say our last goodbyes and leave Seattle (SEA) to head home.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow @therlt on Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look at photos from past participants and leaders.
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