W.I.L.D. (Wilderness Immersion and Leadership Development): Transformative summer backpacking camp for teens

Wilderness Immersion & Leadership Development (W.I.L.D.) is a one of kind skill-building and leadership development backpacking program for teens in the Sierra Nevada mountains. These 7- and 10-day backpacking adventures in Yosemite and the high Sierras run throughout June and July. In addition to our full roster of trips for boys, we now also offer a select number of trips for girls, ages 13+. See the full schedule on our website.

Current openings: 
Boys 13 and 14 years old - 7 day trips departing June 10, June 24, and July 29
Boys 15+ - 10 day trips departing June 10, June 14, June 26 and July 12

Girls 13 and 14 years old - 7 day trip departing July 13
Girls 15+ - 10 day trip departing July 26

No backpacking or camping experience is required. 

These trips cover a lot of bases. They're fun, they're meaningful, they're transformative. They nourish teens' joy, gratitude, and confidence, and strengthen their connections to themselves, other people, and the natural world. Participants learn how to travel safely in the backcountry, manage risk, and practice on-trail leadership skills. Through a variety of awareness and mindfulness practices, we develop relationships with nature that sustain physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. A unique combination of hard skills training, expressive arts, and rites of passage work fosters a culture of growth and resilience. The challenges of wilderness immersion allow young people to explore their edges and abilities, while learning to care for themselves and support each other. 

Watch our new video to hear participants describe their experiences in their own words. 

Tuition assistance is available, and no teen is ever turned away for lack of funds. 

Reach out with any questions. Look forward to being in touch,

Eli Marienthal
Director, Back to Earth

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