Yellowstone Teton Explorer

for 8th-12th graders

Yellowstone’s two million acres stretch across a landscape as varied and magnificent as any on the planet, boasting mountains, lakes, waterfalls, geysers and abundant wildlife. During our three weeks together in a small, spirited group (no more than 12 students or fewer than 2 leaders), we’ll explore Yellowstone’s beauty on two back country hikes, rock climb in the Tetons with world-famous Exum Mountain Guides and spend four days learning to kayak on the legendary Snake River.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover Yellowstone's wildlife
• Backpack the Yellowstone High Country
• Learn to kayak on the scenic Snake River
• Rock climb with Exum Mountain Guides

GRADE

For students who will finish grades 8-12 in June 2008.  We plan on 1 group with 8th & 9th graders and 1 group with 9th-12th graders. Call us (800.458.0588) to check on current availability.

CHALLENGE LEVEL

6 (1-10, 1 is easiest)

START & END LOCATION

Starts and ends in Jackson, Wyoming

2008 DATES & FEES

3 Weeks

Sunday, June 22 to Friday, July 11 (for students who will finish grades 8-9 in June 2008)
Sunday, July 13 to Friday, August 1 (for students who will finish grades 9-12 in June 2008)

$3995 (airfare not included)

APPLY TODAY

Most groups fill in January & February. To download an application, click here.

"The combination of the great outdoors, great leaders and a small dynamic group gave Kate an experience of a lifetime." Barrie McDowell, Richmond, Virginia 

Itinerary

Trip Start

We'll meet in Jackson and spend our first day together checking over our gear, learning how to pack our backpacks and getting to know one another before heading out on our first hike.

Yellowstone National Park

Our backcountry hikes will take us to the beautiful lands of Yellowstone National Park (www.nps.gov/yell/), the world’s oldest national park. Both backcountry hikes will be five days in length, our first averaging five to six miles per day and our second averaging seven to eight miles a day on the trail. We'll carry all of our gear, learn about Leave No Trace principles and work together to enhance our backpacking skills. Each morning we'll rise early, pack up camp and get out on the trail in hopes of tackling most of our mileage before the mid-day heat and arriving at camp in time to relax, play games or swim before dinner. Along the way we'll hope to glimpse some of Yellowstone's spectacular wildlife including grizzly bear, wolf, moose, coyote, bison and elk.

Kayaking the Snake River

Taking a break from the trail, we'll spend four days at kayaking school on the Snake River just south of Jackson. We’ll work with Jackson-based Snake River Kayak and Canoe (www.snakeriverkayak.com) as we learn to paddle hard-shell kayaks and navigate the river. We’ll start out in a flat-water lake or pool to go over safety procedures, adjust to our equipment and learn some basic kayaking strokes. We’ll then head out on a calm section of the Snake to learn to read and navigate the river—negotiating peel-outs, eddy turns and ferries. Building on our skills, we’ll progress from flat water to moving water, and by day four, we'll have the option to tackle some Class II and III rapids. No previous kayaking experience is required—just a sense of adventure and a willingness to learn.

Rock Climbing

We’ll also spend two days rock climbing in Grand Teton National Park with world-renowned Exum Mountain Guides (www.exumguides.com). Exum has been guiding climbing trips for over 80 years and is well known for its superior guides and safety record. Our first day will be spent learning the basics of rock climbing: tying knots, anchoring, belaying, basic rappelling and top-roping. We'll expand on this knowledge our second day, spending more time climbing, rappelling and working on our new skills. No previous climbing experience is required—just a sense of adventure and a willingness to learn.

Trip End

At the end of our three weeks together, we’ll head back to Jackson for an evening out to celebrate our adventures together in Wyoming on Yellowstone Teton Explorer, a life experience with value and resonance that extend far beyond the boundaries of a single summer.!

Supervision & Safety

Overland’s two leaders, a man and a woman, provide 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week supervision of the highest standard. Our leaders, while loving the outdoors and being experienced hikers, are dedicated, first and foremost, to making each student's experience with us a safe and enjoyable one. By creating a supportive and wholesome environment, our leaders help each student to feel comfortable and at home. In this kind of setting, friendships flourish and teamwork grows; challenges are welcomed and accomplishments are celebrated. For nearly 25 years, Overland's students have felt safe and secure in our talented and conscientious leaders’ hands.

On an Overland trip the group stays together all day: hiking together, playing games together, swimming together, and enjoying our evenings together. We get up early (usually before 7:00 a.m.), have full, active days, and head to bed soon after dark (typically between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m.).

We set high expectations for each student’s behavior—we expect respect and consideration for others, a positive attitude, and an eagerness to help make the trip a success in every way possible.

In every decision we make, safety comes first. We plan our trips carefully choosing hiking trails that make sense for the age and abilities of each group. We hike with care, with a leader at the front and a leader at the rear—and we take frequent rest stops. Since our first trips in 1985 our safety record has been superlative; it's no wonder, then, that Overland is one of the few organizations of its kind to earn accreditation by the American Camp Association.

For nearly 25 years our caring and competent leaders, our superlative supervision, our high expectations, and our commonsense approach to safety have made Overland the number one choice for summer trips.

"The food blew my mind; I had no idea we would be eating that well in the backcountry. It was a great surprise." Kate McDowell, Richmond, Virginia

Overland Leaders

In a world where strong leadership skills make the difference between the average and the exceptional, Overland recruits and trains only the best to be our leaders. Not only do these remarkable people capably lead our groups, they also offer our students the kind of role modeling for which Overland has long been recognized.  Bright, charismatic and accomplished, our leaders ensure the safety and well-being of every Overland student, and then they provide much, much more, inspiring our students to reach for their potential in every way. 

You won’t find a more dynamic and talented group of people than Overland’s leaders. Most Overland leaders have played varsity sports and many have captained their teams; they have served as student government officers, volunteered as peer counselors and directed campus organizations. They are high achievers who come to Overland with a lifetime of leadership experience—but just as importantly, they are warm, wonderful people who are eager to work with Overland’s students.

Overland’s leaders prepare carefully for the summer. We know of no other program that requires certification in First Aid, CPR and lifesaving—every Overland leader has all of these plus our own 10-day training program that focuses on safety, supervision and leadership. All of our efforts prepare Overland’s caring and committed leaders to create safe, supportive and valuable programs where each of our students can flourish.

Meet some of our spectacular returning leaders.

How We Put Our Groups Together

We have a number of important criteria for every group:

Size: Every Overland group is limited to 12 students.
Gender: Groups are coed; the male/female ratio is always carefully balanced (6:6, 7:5 or 8:4).
Friends: We allow two pairs of friends in a group (we never allow three or more friends to travel together). With a maximum of two pairs of friends there will always be space available for at least eight students to come on their own without a friend. Furthermore, if we enroll two pairs of friends in a group and both pairs are of one gender, we generally try to: (1) enroll three or four more students of that gender in that group, or (2) close the group to additional students of that gender.

Trip Details

Getting To & From The Trip

Families are responsible for making travel arrangements to and from Jackson, Wyoming. Overland’s leaders will be on hand at the airport to provide supervision and assistance at trip start and end.

Preparing & Important Equipment

Please see the Preparing & Packing page for a complete equipment list. Note that the main pieces of equipment needed for this trip are: a backpack, hiking boots, sleeping bag and sleeping pad.

Additional Costs

Transportation to and from program start and end locations, spending money and personal gear are not included in the program fee. Overland provides group gear including tents and stoves; students provide all personal equipment (e.g., backpacks, boots, sleeping bags).

“My leaders were great and really fun—they made the trip a huge success!” Sarah Stevens, New Canaan, Connecticut

What's it like?

Here's what a former Yellowstone Teton Explorer leader had to say about the trip:

“Yellowstone and the Jackson area are probably two of the most naturally beautiful places I have ever seen. I think that I spent most of the three weeks in as much awe as the kids! For instance, one night we were sitting in camp eating dinner when a moose family strolled by on their evening walk – we couldn’t believe it! Every time I thought the views couldn’t get any more stunning, we’d crest a hill or round a bend in the river and I’d be proven wrong. The best part was that the entire group was seeing the area for the first time so people were constantly laughing and taking pictures in order to capture as many moments as possible – what a great trip!”

 

“Lily walked off the airplane with a confidence we had never seen, a smile the size of Canada and a new openness of heart and mind. Thank you!” Lisa Corbett and Rich Pfeifer, North Granby, Connecticut

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