Program Spotlight: We’ve Got Teen Expeditions Far and Wide

Looking for a teen expedition this summer? We here at NCOAE are excited to announce that our 2022 season of backcountry and wilderness adventures for teen-agers is already up and running and in full swing.

At the end of February, a dozen students led by a team of NCOAE field instructors, headed down to Ecuador for a cultural immersion and rafting adventure. For those of us on the administrative side of things, couldn’t wait for the students experience the Palugo Farm — a sustainable organic farm that feeds 30 families each week.

NCOAE students and instructors at Palugo Farm, Quito-Ecuador.

To be sure, we have a busy season ahead, with backcountry adventurers to be found anywhere, from paddling in the Everglades to rafting Oregon’s beautiful Three Sister’s wilderness, as well as backpacking all around Pisgah’s National Forest.

Any of this sound good to you? Are you looking to step out of your comfort zone this summer? We still have openings on many of our summer teen leadership expeditions. It’s an opportunity to learn what it takes to navigate the backcountry, push your limits with new activities, and make life-long friends as you work together to cultivate the adventure you never knew you needed.

With activities that include backcountry cooking, campsite set-up, compass and map navigation, Leave No Trace training, as well as exposure to the NCOAE curriculum, you’ll leave the backcountry feeling accomplished and ready for more.

Spend seven days rafting down the Deschutes River, one of Oregon’s most wild and scenic waterways. The Deschutes River runs clear and cold as it flows to the Columbia River. Learn to paddle through exciting rapids, and explore canyons filled with sage brush, soaring osprey, and incredible basalt rock formations. The Deschutes River Canyon provides habitat for more than 300 different species of wildlife, including birds, mink, mule deer and many reptiles and mammals.

Perhaps a backpacking trip through some of America’s most historic terrain — the majestic Blue Ridge mountains — sounds more appealing. As you travel along cold-mountain streams, cascading waterfalls, and mountain passes, you’ll not only be taken aback by the beauty of the wilderness, but also your own new-found strength.

Want to spend your summer in the heart of Alaska? Join us for a 12-day backpacking trip that leads over and through glaciers in Americas largest National Park — Wrangell-St. Elias. Put your skills to the test as you brave the summit upon graduating.

Below are the scheduled expeditions for the summer months:

• North Carolina Backpacking and Whitewater Teen Expedition
  • June 21^st – July 2^nd
• Pacific Northwest Backpacking
  • June 24^th to June 30^th
• North Carolina Backpacking Teen Expedition
  • June 10^th– June 16^th
• Pacific Northwest Whitewater Paddling Teen Leadership Expedition
  • July 6^th-July 10^th
• North Carolina Kayaking Teen Expedition
  • July 15^th-July 21^st
  • July 8^th – July 14^th
• Pacific Northwest Backpacking and Whitewater Teen Expedition
  • July 16^th – July 27^th
• Alaska Backpacking Teen Leadership Expedition
  • Aug. 1^st – Aug. 12^th

Here at The National Center for Outdoor and Adventure Education, we’re committed to providing experiences that capture the true essence of adventure. Through human-powered recreational activities and a customized curriculum, , our trips are made for just about everyone.

To learn more about what we are offering this summer, visit the Summer Teen Expeditions section of our website, Or, give us a call at (910) 399-8090.

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About the Author: Julia Knight is the Assistant to the Program Director in The National Center for Outdoor and Adventure Education’s outdoor education division. A former NCOAE intern who has certifications in Swiftwater Rescue and Recreational Rappel Operator, Julia is slated to receive her bachelor’s degree in environmental studies in 2023 from Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla.