Best Outdoor Adventure Summer Programs — 2026

February 21, 2026

Daydreaming of spending your summer—or at least part of it—testing your limits in the great outdoors? Is a longing for adventure baked into your identity? Alternatively, are you a self-proclaimed glamper looking to push yourself out of your comfort zone? In addition to strengthening your connection with and appreciation for our planet, outdoor adventure summer programs foster qualities like independence, leadership, teamwork, and decision-making. Moreover, all programs on our list receive high marks for risk management, communication, and reputation. Most are also device-free, meaning that you’ll have the rare opportunity to be completely off the grid while forming new friendships and connections. If hiking, biking, camping, white water rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, and surfing sound right up your alley, keep scrolling to check out our list of the best summer outdoor adventure programs for high school students.

Want a full look at our searchable database of the best 2026 summer programs? Click below to sort summer programs by discipline and location, and view important data points such as tuition costs, deadlines, course listings, and more!

2026 Best Summer Programs

Best Summer Outdoor Adventure Programs

1) Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions Summer Treks

Location: Four Corners States (New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado)
Program Length: 1-5 Weeks
Cost: Varies by program
Eligibility: All ages (varies according to program)
Application Deadline: Rolling

Cottonwood Gulch’s treks use a project-based experiential learning model to provide a framework for learning, which involves negotiation, compromise, dissonance, challenge, and evolving perspectives. A wide array of treks are available including a Prairie Trek, a Southwest Art Trek, a Mountain Desert Trek, a Paleontology Trek, a Family Trek, and more!

Summer Treks are open to students (and families) of all ages and offer hiking, hands-on science, cultural exploration, and place-based education in the American Southwest.

2) Outward Bound High School Summer Expeditions

Location: US and international
Program Length: 1-4 weeks
Cost: Varies
Eligibility: Middle school to adults (varies according to program)
Application Deadline: Rolling

Outward Bound’s objectives are straightforward: they aim to push students socially, emotionally, and physically by allowing them to experience the natural triumphs and consequences of making their own decisions. Dozens of outdoor adventure programs for high school students are available, of varying lengths and in multiple locations. Moreover, most teen summer travel programs are US-based.

Each program focuses on imparting both technical and interpersonal skills to its participants. For example, the 8-day Southwest Rafting expedition in Utah or Colorado teaches technical skills like basic paddle strokes, river reading, knot tying, and sheltering strategy in addition to interpersonal skills like camaraderie, leadership, resilience, and self-awareness.

Alternatively, the 10- or 14-day High Sierra Alpine Backpacking expedition, which begins in Fresno, CA and journeys into remote backcountry, stresses technical skills like campcraft, map and compass, as well as natural history while developing interpersonal skills like conflict resolution, positive risk-taking, and responsibility. To choose the best fit, prospective students should review the skills they’ll learn alongside the program locations & activities.

To apply to these summer adventure programs, students will need to complete a 5-10 minute application. They’ll also need to provide a $500 deposit that secures their spot.

3) Wilderness Adventures

Location: US and international
Program Length: 2-6 weeks
Cost: Varies
Eligibility: Middle to high school students (varies according to program)
Application Deadline: Rolling

Wilderness Adventures has served more than 30,000 students over the past fifty years, and holds more outdoor adventure permits than any other provider. These include permits for eighteen national forests, fifteen national parks, and nine additional national monuments, state parks, and conservation areas. Accordingly, they offer a number of unique overnight expeditions, or High Trails Adventures, for high school students.

Wilderness Adventures’ mission is to encourage students to “Do Something Wild,” or push themselves outside of their comfort zone. As such, students will receive plenty of leadership opportunities and hands-on activities. They’ll also be pushed mentally and physically. For example, in the month-long Alaska Southcentral trip, students will spend nine days backpacking in remote backcountry, three days whitewater rafting, two days ice climbing the Matanuska Glacier, and eight days kayaking Prince William Sound.

Finally, each of these outdoor adventure programs is typically composed of 6-13 students and two trip leaders. They are also completely electronics-free, although photo updates will be provided to families throughout the experience.

4) Adventure Treks

Location: US and international
Program Length: 1 to 4 weeks
Cost: Varies
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 (varies according to program)
Application Deadline: Rolling

With fifteen programs across North and South America as well as Europe, Adventure Treks has served over 20,000 teens since 1993. In addition to exploring locations overflowing with natural beauty and gaining practice outdoor skills in areas like rafting, climbing, hiking, and camping, participants also build skills in teamwork, leadership, risk-taking, and self-awareness, among others. All students are expected to take on leadership responsibilities and contribute to the success of the trip.

For example, in the California Challenge, students backpack the Shasta-Trinity Alps, mountain bike at Lake Siskiyou, rock climb at Mt. Shasta, whitewater raft the Rogue and Trinity Rivers, and summit Mt. Shastina. Alternatively, students who attend the Peru trip will hike and backpack in Peru’s mountains and cloud forests, hike to Macchu Picchu, whitewater raft, and engage in cultural activities like making chocolate.

As with many other providers on our list, Adventure Treks’ outdoor adventure summer programs are all completely device-free. Moreover, you can expect to be in a group with 20-24 students and 5-6 instructors, and engage in a variety of large-group and small-group activities. To have the best possible experience and be able to contribute at the highest level, you should come prepared in good physical shape.

Finally, to ensure a good fit, all prospective students and families must complete questionnaires and provide a health history during the application process. Students also need to submit a character reference from school and may be asked to interview.

5) Apogee Adventures

Location: US and international
Program Length: 1-5 weeks
Cost: Varies according to program
Eligibility: Students aged 11-18 (varies according to program)
Application Deadline: Rolling

Adventurous spirits come in all shapes and sizes, and Apogee seeks to appeal to different interests by offering a range of hiking, biking, and community service programs. Sixteen trips are currently available, organized by age and challenge level. Most hiking and biking trips require students to be at a fairly high level of physical fitness, and it’s recommended that students train ahead of time for the best risk management. Moreover, some trips include camping and/or backcountry hiking.

For example, in the Costa Rica Mountains & Coast hiking trip, designated at a Challenge Level of 4/10, students spend twelve days exploring Manuel Antonio National Park and Chirripó National Park before heading to the coastal town of Uvita, where they’ll learn to surf. Hoping to get around on wheels instead? In Europe Coast to Coast (Challenge Level: 9/10), students bike from the North Sea (near Amsterdam) to the Adriatic Sea (Venice). Along the way, they’ll traverse seven countries: the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy.

Most trips are capped at 10-12 students and 2 leaders each. Phones and other technological devices are not allowed, but some trips allow students to call home halfway through. Most trips include at least one mail stop, though, so get those pencils and stamps ready!

To apply to these outdoor adventure programs, students will need to fill out a short application form and submit two references. Trips often fill quickly; applications typically open a year in advance and are full by February.

6) Bold Earth Adventures

Location: US and international
Program Length: 1-3 weeks
Cost: Varies according to program
Eligibility: Ages 13-18 (varies according to program)
Application Deadline: Rolling

Whether you want to stay domestic or travel internationally, Bold Earth offers an incredible array of programs in the US as well as Europe, Africa, Asia, and Central America. As one of the oldest outdoor adventure providers on this list (founded in 1976), Bold Earth is highly experienced at crafting program itineraries that are rewarding, immersive, and safe. Moreover, their goal is to create strong communities within every trip, marked by friendship, inclusivity, and kindness.

What can you expect on a Bold Earth trip? On the Bold West trip, you’ll embark on a 21-day camping expedition through California, Nevada, and Utah, including rock climbing in St. George, hiking in Zion National Park, volunteering at Sequoia National Park, whitewater rafting the American River, learning to surf at Stinson Beach, and touring San Francisco. Itching to leave the country? Thailand’s Best offers eighteen days of international adventure, including cooking classes, rock climbing, waterfall climbing, animal sanctuaries, and snorkeling, among other activities. On this trip, you’ll stay in a combination of eco-resorts, homestays, and hostels.

All programs are capped at 13 students, led by two trip leaders. Moreover, most programs contain some type of community service activity, from environmental projects to repainting local schools. All programs are completely device-free. However, students can call their families once a week, and families have access to daily trip blogs and photos.

So that the enrollment team can make informed decisions about whether a student will be a good fit for the program, prospective students will need to submit an application, questionnaires, health history, and a reference.

Final Thoughts — Outdoor Adventure Summer Programs

Regardless of whether your goal is to explore domestically or internationally, the best outdoor adventure summer programs offer you a safe space in which to engage with the world around you. Moreover, they test your mental and physical limits while honing lifelong skill sets like leadership, problem-solving, adaptability, and communication. At the culmination of your trip, you can expect to emerge as a more independent, compassionate, and confident person ready to take on whatever challenges lie ahead.

Looking for additional summer program resources? You might consider checking out the following:

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Summer Programs

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).