Adult (18+) Outdoor Adventure — Pacific Northwest, Whitewater Paddling & Backpacking Trip

This 14-day Backpacking & Whitewater Paddling course is a multi-day trip where you’ll learn the skills you need to plan and prepare for backcountry outdoor adventures. You will develop a wide-range of wilderness and leadership skills, including kayaking, rafting, backpacking, backcountry cooking, wilderness camping, travel planning, environmental and civic responsibility, leadership and communication styles, decision-making, and teamwork.

You’ll visit a variety of remote areas in the Cascade Mountains, Deschutes National Forest, Deschutes River, and the Three Sisters Wilderness Area. Along the way, you’ll explore these mountain areas as you practice the basics of camp setup, whitewater paddling, backpacking, and other outdoor skills.

We’ll be living in tents and enjoying our evenings in different areas most nights, identifying the stars and sharing highlights of our learning.

If you’re looking for a longer course with more time for additional exploration and adventure, we suggest you consider joining us for a 25-day or Gap Semester course. You’ll go even more in-depth, combining the highlights of local topography, geography, and culture with our exceptional Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course.

Your tuition with NCOAE covers all major costs related to your room, board, and lodging, except when specified in the itinerary. You may request an optional meal out when we are in an urban area, which you would need to pay for separately. Additionally, you’ll need to budget a small stipend for your personal items, including souvenirs, extra snacks, and gifts

Since we will be carrying all of our food with us, we’ll be eating many of the items that begin in their dehydrated forms; water weight is not something we want to carry. Expect meat, vegetables, fruits, grains, and even fresh baked bread and pizza! Of course, you’ll be making them all from scratch — learning to cook backcountry gourmet on the trail.

Yes. NCOAE provides all necessary group gear and food, but you will want, or be required, to bring certain items for yourself. We encourage you to contact NCOAE with all of your gear questions as early as possible. Start planning now by viewing the NCOAE pack list for this course.

Physical preparation depends on your fitness level. You don’t need to be a triathlete to participate, but you will be responsible for carrying your own equipment and some of the group gear while maintaining a positive attitude. The backpacking section will require you to carry 40 pounds or more over rough and rugged terrain, through various environments. The paddling sections will require sitting and paddling for long periods of time and walking on rugged, slippery shorelines or through the water while carrying or pulling your boat.

Each group has one to three instructors and eight to 12 students. We maintain an instructor-to-student ratio of no less than one instructor for every six students.

The minimum age for this course is 18. The average age range is 19-27 years old.

Part of every NCOAE course is the solo experience. You will have the opportunity to spend a set number of days alone in the backcountry to meet your personal needs and desired outcomes. You’ll also have re-supply days between legs of your course, which provide time for resting, relaxing, and exploring local attractions.

We offer Adult Leadership Expeditions in a variety of locations and during different periods throughout the year to accommodate the destination and schedule that works best for you. You can also explore Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, North Carolina , Patagonia, and Ecuador at various times of the year.

If during regular business hours (8am-5pm EST), please call (910) 399-8090 and you will be connected to an NCOAE staff member in the office that will assist in connecting you with the NCOAE participant/student or help you navigate the reason for your emergency contact.

In case of an after-hours emergency and you need to contact an NCOAE student, please call (910) 399-8090 and press 9.

You will be routed to a live NCOAE member or an answering service that will immediately notify an NCOAE staff member who will assist in connecting with the NCOAE participant/student or help you navigate the reason for your emergency contact.

At NCOAE, emergencies are defined as:

• Medical emergencies involving members of the participant’s family.
• Urgent family matters requiring the participant’s immediate attention.
• Unexpected travel disruptions affecting the participant’s return home.
• Any situation posing an immediate threat to the safety or well-being of the participant’s family.