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Totally
Road
The America's Adventure teen travel site will
make you want to quit school and travel full time. If you're between
the ages of 12 and 18, you qualify to go on any of AAVE's remarkable
adventures: learning to surf in the translucent waters of Hawaii, sleeping
in stilt houses and cooking traditional meals in Vietnam, dune surfing
and horseback in South Africa… not to mention all the hot trips
to Wales, Belize, Costa Rica, and several American locations. There's
not enough space here to describe it all without sounding like hype,
so go directly to their web site—now!
Each trip includes a "give-back" project, typically something like replanting
damaged trees in a national forest. Excursions last for 2 to 4 weeks
and costs range from $2,300 to $4,700. Financial aid is available. www.aave.com
All Action, All the Time
Adventures Cross-Country specializes in trips
for younger students (13-18) who want to spend a 15 to 40-day journey
doing as many wilderness activities as they can. A backpacking trip
in Wyoming and Idaho will also have you mountain biking, rockclimbing
and chilling out in natural hot springs along the way. Sea Kayak Prince
William Sound, then pick yourself up and explore the Rocky Mountains.
There are European adventures that hit three different countries (like
Italy, Switzerland and France), as well as programs in Fiji and British
Columbia.
ARCC
groups are small (15 people, max) with two staff members each. They
take place in the summer and you'll want to reserve a place early on.
Trips start at $2,600. www.adventurescrosscountry.com
Northern
Flights
This Canadian adventure company is definitely
out to spread the Canuck love. Trippers ride snow coaches, soak in natural
hot springs, observe local animal life, mountain bike, and check out
some city lights in four different Canadian provinces. There's also
a cool sailing trip in Martinique, a French island in the Caribbean,
and a chance to camp out for 20 nights across Europe. Some outings are
more strenuous than others, but on the whole it looks pretty civilized.
Most adventures last two weeks and start at $2,000 (U.S.). www.adventureteentravel.com
If
It Fits
Being in shape isn't required for any of Longacre
Expeditions' 24 programs, but it looks like it sure helps. Trips cover
both U.S. coasts and offer a number of cool activities (like schooner
sailing, whale- and eco-study, ice climbing and sandboarding). Trips
that look especially good: surfing and snowboarding in Oregon, whale
watching off the coast of Maine, and getting your scuba certification
in the Virgin Islands. There's also a nature photography trip.
Trips run from one week to just under a month, and start at $2,200.
Be sure to check out the exciting scrapbook photos on their site. www.longacreexpeditions.com
Ultimate Trip
Outward Bound is the gold standard for outdoors
adventure, and the program that everyone swears by. It serves 60,000
students and adults each year, aged 14 and over. Depending on what moves
you, you could elect to go dogsledding in the Canadian Yukon, sea kayaking
in the Bahamas, mountaineering, snowboarding, desert backpacking…
or all of the above. Each trip is truly unique. You can search for courses
by region, length (minimum two days) or age.
Outward
Bound's instructors are super-competent, and their philosophy is all
about personal growth and challenge—but not beyond your capabilities.
In the meantime, you'll develop skills worthy of a pioneer scout. Shorter
courses Start at under $1,500. Semester-long courses can also available
for high school and college credit. www.outwardbound.org
Tough
Kid Stuff
If you were beginning to wonder whether all the
adventure trips are only for 18 year-olds, check out Trailmark's web
site. They offer great hiking, climbing, cave exploration, rafting,
and sailing adventures for 11 to16 year-olds, combining closer age groups.
Rappel down a cliff face in the Northern Rockies, canoe in Massachusetts,
horseback wild trails in Colorado—you get the idea.
Some longer trips (they average half a month) include light service
work, like clearing a hiking trail. Average cost (excluding airfare)
is around $2,500. www.trailmark.com/at_a_glance.html
More Links, More Action
Looking for more adventures? Check these sites
out too:
www.contiki.com
A hot holiday planner for 18-35 year-olds.
www.adventurepages.com
All outdoors adventures, all the time.
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