Find Your Way

The itineraries are intended to be a sample schedule of each trip. These may change due to circumstances such as weather and the skill level of participants.

BOLD & GOLD     Camp Orkila Teen Expeditions

BOLD & GOLD 

Beyond City Limits

This trip will begin and end at the BOLD & GOLD basecamp in Seattle. Participants will experience kayaking, rock climbing, and backpacking.

Sample Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive at basecamp in Seattle for gear check and safety briefing. Travel to boat launch for day of kayaking and return to Seattle at the end of the day.
• Day 2: Arrive at basecamp in Seattle for gear check. Travel to climb site for day of rock climbing and return to Seattle at the end of the day.
• Day 3: Arrive at basecamp in Seattle for gear check and safety briefing. Travel to trail head and backpack to overnight campsite.
• Day 4: Explore the area, practice outdoor skills, and play games.
• Day 5: Hike out to trail head and return to basecamp in Seattle.

Tahoma

This trip will begin and end at the BOLD & GOLD basecamp in Seattle. Participants will explore the beauty of Mt. Rainier National Park and sleep in front-country campsites.

Daily Travel Time
Hiking mileage will vary, but groups will cover between 2-5 miles a day.

Sample Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive at basecamp for gear check, safety briefing, lunch, and shuttle to first front-country campsite.
• Days 2-3: Explore the area, day hike, cook dinner, and enjoy team-building activities.
• Day 4-5: Move to a new front-country campsite, day hike, practice outdoor skills, and play games.
• Day 6: Return to basecamp in Seattle to unpack gear and complete closing circle.

All Backpacking Trips

Daily Travel Time

Hiking mileage will vary from trip to trip, but groups will cover between 3-10 miles a day.

Sample Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive at basecamp for gear check, safety briefing, lunch, and bus to first campsite.
• Days 2-4: Hike to new camping destination, explore around the campsite, cook dinner, and enjoy team-building activities.
• Day 3, 4 or 5 Rest Day: A chance to camp at the same spot two nights in a row. Day hike, explore the area, practice outdoor skills, and play games.

One-Week Trips

Backpacking & Fishing, Call of the North Cascades, Cascade Challenge, Olympic Coastal Backpacking, Olympic Challenge, Peaks & Creeks, and Taste of Adventure

• Day 6-7: Final backpacking day.
• Day 8: Return to basecamp in Seattle to unpack gear and complete closing circle.

Two-Week Trips

American Alps, Backpacking & Leadership, Heart of Nature, Powerful Gifts**

• Days 6-7: Participants continue to learn about each other through team-building activities and take turns being “leader of the day” on the trail.
• Day 8: A staff member will meet the group at a front-country campsite with a re-ration of food and supplies.
• Days 9-13: Participants will take on more responsibility and leadership, practicing Leave No Trace principles, cooking meals for the group, and navigating the terrain. There will be another rest day.
• Day 14: Final backpacking day.
• Day 15: Return to basecamp in Seattle to unpack gear and complete closing circle.

Powerful Gifts: Backpacking, Service, and Leadership

Daily Travel Time

Hiking mileage will vary from trip to trip, but groups will cover between 3-7 miles a day, with at least one rest day each week to relax and explore. Participants will earn 30-40 service hours during this two-week trip.

Sample Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive at basecamp for gear check, safety briefing, bus to trail head, and hike to first campsite.
• Days 2-7: Throughout the first week, participants will hike to new camping destinations, explore the beauty of the outdoors, learn to cook, enjoy team-building activities, and develop leadership skills. Part of this first week will also include completing a service project in partnership with the park.
• Day 8: Hike out to a nearby trailhead for re-supply. Camp at that front country campsite for the night then head back out on the trail in the morning.
• Days 9-14: The participants will continue along the trail stopping at several different campsites along the way. They will be supported by park rangers who will be leading each of the different service projects at the different campsites.
• Day 15: Return to basecamp in Seattle to unpack gear to complete closing circle.

All One-Week Climbing Trips

Sea to Summit

Daily Travel Time

Travel will vary from trip to trip.

Sample Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive at basecamp for gear check, safety briefing, and bus to campsite.
• Days 2-3: The first few days will be spent getting comfortable on the rocks. There will be an extensive “ground school” so that common climbing language and techniques are established.
• Day 4, 5 or 6 Rest Day: A day off from climbing. Participants can spend the day hiking, exploring the area, build on some outdoor skills, and have mini lessons on climbing techniques.
• Day 7: Final climbing day.
• Day 8: Return to basecamp in Seattle to unpack gear and complete closing circle.

All Two-Week Mountaineering Trips

Call to the Summit, Fire & Ice

Daily Travel Time

All climbs will depend on the weather windows as well as the groups’ goals and abilities. Travel time will vary.

Sample Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive at basecamp for gear check, safety briefing, bus to trail head, and hike to first campsite.
• Days 2-4 Snow and Glacier School 101: During the first few days of the trip, participants will hike up and establish a high basecamp in the alpine region. They will then go through a ground school and snow school to ensure every participant has the skills necessary to competently navigate the terrain. This will help build a foundation for alpine climbing and skills as they prepare for several summit attempts
• Day 5 or 6 Rest Day: A chance to sleep in, explore the area, outdoor skills, games, and some mini lessons to build on leadership styles or additional climbing skills.
• Days 7-10: The group works on personal and group goals, and practice skills as they get ready to summit. The group will move their base camp to get in position for their summit attempt.
• Days 11-13: Summit attempt
• Day 14: Final climbing day and start of descent.
• Day 15: Return to basecamp in Seattle to unpack gear and complete closing circle.

While we spend the better part of two weeks preparing for a summit attempt and closely watching weather to put ourselves in the best position for a successful climb, there have been many trips where the incredible achievements of the group have not included a summit. The journey is the destination and successful climbing trips do not always lead to summits! The art of enjoying the mountains and the freedom they provide are the most important skills we wish to foster.

Camp Orkila Teen Expeditions

San Juan Kayaking 

Daily Travel Time

Kayak 1-6 hours  

Sample Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive at Camp Orkila and complete swim check.
• Day 2: Day paddle and skills instruction at Orkila, camp at Pt. Doughty. 
• Day 3: Paddle to Jones Island.
• Day 4: Paddle to Turn Island. 
• Day 5: Paddle to Shaw Island. 
• Day 6: Paddle to Orcas Island for a shuttle back to camp.
• Day 7: Closing and return home. 

San Juan Kayaking 2.0 

Daily Travel Time

Kayak 1-6 hours  

Sample Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive at Camp Orkila, swim check
• Day 2: Day paddle & skills instruction at Camp Orkila 
• Day 3: Paddle to Jones Island 
• Day 4: Paddle to Blind Island 
• Day 5: Paddle to Shaw or Lopez Island 
• Day 6: Day Paddles 
• Day 7: Paddle to Obstruction Pass - resupply
• Day 8: Paddle to Lopez Island 
• Day 9: Paddle to Pelican Beach 
• Day 10: Rest day on Pelican Beach 
• Day 11: Paddle to Clark Island 
• Day 12: Paddle to Matia Island 
• Day 13: Paddle to Sucia Island 
• Day 14: Paddle to Camp Orkila 
• Day 15: Closing and return home 

Leadership Development Institute (LDI)

Teens spend two weeks learning to develop their leadership and communication styles, working with youth and exploring the San Juan Islands on a multi-day sea kayaking adventure. Participants generally spend 4-5 nights on expedition and the rest of their session at Camp Orkila.  

Daily Travel Time

1-6 hours  

Sample Itinerary

• Day 1: Camp Orkila to Jones Island. 
• Day 2: Stay on Jones island, day paddle in Wasp Islands.  
• Day 3: Jones Island to Turn Island.  
• Day 4: Turn Island to Orcas Island.  
• Day 5: Paddle to pick up area, return to Orkila.

Leadership Development Institute 2.0 (LDI 2.0)

Over the course of three weeks, teens build on their leadership skills learning facilitation techniques, exploring the importance of storytelling, community building, service, and taking on more youth work challenges. They will also embark on a seven-day sea kayak expedition with the goal of circumnavigating Orcas Island. 

Daily Travel Time

1-7 hours  

Sample Itinerary

• Day 1: Camp Orkila to Jones Island 
• Day 2: Jones Island to Blind Island 
• Day 3: Blind Island to Doe Island 
• Day 4: Doe Island to Clark Island 
• Day 5: Clark Island to Matia Island 
• Day 6: Matia Island to Sucia Island 
• Day 7: Sucia Island back to camp 

Islanders

Daily Travel Time

Kayak 1-10 hours 

Sample Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive at Camp Orkila and complete swim check.
• Day 2: Day paddle and skills instruction at Orkila. 
• Day 3: Paddle to Jones Island. 
• Day 4: Paddle to Turn Island. 
• Day 5: Paddle to Blind Island. 
• Day 6: Paddle to Orcas Island, stay at Obstruction Campground (resupply) 
• Day 7: Paddle to Lopez Island, stay at Spencer Spit Campground 
• Day 8: Paddle to James Island 
• Day 9: Skills day at James Island
• Day 10: Paddle to Washington Park
• Day 11: Paddle to Cypress Island
• Day 12: Rest Day and service project on Cypress Island
• Day 13: Paddle to Clark Island (resupply)
• Day 14: Paddle to Matia Island
• Day 15: Paddle to Sucia Island
• Day 16: Paddle to Patos Island
• Day 17: Paddle to Jones Island
• Day 18: Skills day at Jones Island
• Day 19: Paddle to Posey Island
• Day 20: Paddle to San Juan Island
• Day 21: Rest day, resupply and watch for whales!
• Day 22: Paddle to Stuart Island
• Day 23: Paddle to Satellite Island
• Day 24: Service project and celebration on Satellite Island
• Day 25-26: Leading day paddles on Satellite Island
• Day 27: Paddle to Camp Orkila
• Day 28: Closing and return home