Supporting educational Yosemite adventures for underserved youth since 1997

Since the summer of 1997, Lasting Adventures has provided more than 1,500 scholarships for disadvantaged youth and families to explore the wonder of Yosemite National Park. We believe that all youth should have the opportunity to experience and learn from wild places, regardless of their financial circumstances. If you would like to join in our goal of making life-changing educational adventures in Yosemite accessible to underserved youth, please consider a tax deductible contribution to our scholarship fund. Thank You for supporting Lasting Adventures, Inc!

Support A Youth Participant in Yosemite!

Yosemite National Park Summer Camps Overview

Yosemite backpacking summer camps are the Lasting Adventures’ specialty. We offer a 6-day Young Adventurers’ Program for ages 11 to 13, a choice of a 6-day or 13-day High Country Adventure for teens ages 13 to 18, a 6-day & 13-day Young Women’s Program for young women, and a 27-day Leadership Expedition for teens ages 14 to 18 looking for a more advanced adventure.

For all our Yosemite Summer Camps, participants are equipped with top-of-the-line gear provided by Gregory Packs, Taos Bakes Bars, and our other outstanding partners. The primary goal of our expertly managed, professionally outfitted Yosemite youth programs is to provide unforgettable experiences that intimately connect each child with nature, themselves, and the greater world around them.

The Adventure Camp Experience

Throughout our youth and teen outdoor summer camps, participants are guided along some of the most famous trails and to the top of some of the most iconic peaks within Yosemite National Park. Our experienced leaders have extensive knowledge of the backcountry and are trained to share their expertise personally with each participant.

In addition to taking participants to many of Yosemite’s famous destinations, our leaders guide them to lesser-known areas, such as off-the-trail high alpine lakes (where fish are plentiful), backcountry waterfalls, alpine meadows, and spectacular vistas. Participants will walk on Yosemite’s fabled polished granite, experience the park’s famous sunsets from unparalleled vantages, and discover the nuances of its majestic wilderness teeming with life.

The Yosemite Journey

On most trips, we backpack every day except one (the team usually agrees upon a layover day and location) and are on the trail for an average of 3 to 5 hours each day. Throughout the experience, we take our time, take in the views, and break at some awesome watering holes. Even so, views of the Yosemite backcountry are just one of the many outcomes that come from these adventures. Inspiration, passion, and life skills are the paramount takeaway for our youth and teen backpackers in Yosemite.

 

Our Yosemite Summer Camp Mission

Our primary mission for our outdoor summer camp is to use the natural environment and outdoor activities to teach participants the necessary skills and attitudes for living successful lives. We also strive to foster a deep-seated appreciation for the world around us. In addition to unique individual backgrounds and certifications, our leaders are all trained in Adventure Based Programming. Through Adventure Based Programming, participants will be challenged to improve their sense of self-esteem, self-worth, and self-confidence. Participants will participate in daily goal setting, group activities, and debriefing (usually mixed with marshmallows around the campfire.) This is all done within an environment of fun and support. All participants will also learn basic backpacking skills, wilderness ethics, wilderness appreciation, and Leave No Trace principles. Along with creating lasting memories, it is our goal that participants will finish this adventure with a greater knowledge and appreciation of themselves, the world at large, and the environments around them.

Check Out Our Yosemite Summer Camps

YOSEMITE BACKPACKING SUMMER CAMPS:
6-DAY HIGH COUNTRY ADVENTURE

HIGHLIGHTS
Our flagship program for youth ages 13-18. Most trips generate from Tuolumne Meadows, and all include amazing Yosemite backcountry adventures that are sure to last a lifetime. This program runs weekly from Sundays to Fridays.

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YOSEMITE BACKPACKING SUMMER CAMPS:
13-DAY HIGH COUNTRY ADVENTURE

HIGHLIGHTS
The common response after a 6-day program is that they want more! Our 13-day program capitalizes on this while providing even closer connections to the natural world around us and a greater development of our team in the backcountry.

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YOSEMITE BACKPACKING SUMMER CAMPS:
6-DAY YOUNG ADVENTURERS’ PROGRAM

HIGHLIGHTS
Our Young Adventurer’s 6-day program is geared towards younger participants ages 11-13. Participants will engage in a mix of front-country and back-country camping in and around the Yosemite high country.

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YOSEMITE BACKPACKING SUMMER CAMPS:
6-DAY & 13-DAY YOUNG WOMEN’S PROGRAM

HIGHLIGHTS
Our 13-day Young Women’s Adventure Program is aimed at instilling confidence and leadership skills to the next generation of female adventurers and entrepreneurs while teaching the practical skills of backpacking and outdoor safety.

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YOSEMITE BACKPACKING SUMMER CAMPS:
27-DAY LEADERSHIP EXPEDITION

HIGHLIGHTS
This 27-day Yosemite experience is geared toward youth aged 14-18 years old who have some backpacking experience or have been on a trip with Lasting Adventures. Over the course of the trip, participants will learn and practice their leadership skills and develop backpacking experience and competency.

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