Middle School Student/Parent Backpacking Trip

Middle School Student/Parent Wilderness Trips

You are invited to step away from everyday distractions that compete for your time and attention and escape with your kid on a weekend of guided adventure through breathtaking alpine scenery. These weekend trips are an incredible time for mothers, fathers or other caring adults to pursue intentional time with their kids as you meet with Jesus, play, speak encouragement, and make incredible memories together.

These trips are designed for middle school students and their parents or caring mentors! We welcome same or mixed gendered adult-student pairs or trios. We aim for our trips to be accessible and enjoyable for families whether you are first time backpackers or seasoned backcountry enthusiasts. No matter your experience level along the way your guides will help equip you with basic backcountry skills!

On these trips, your group will hike into a basecamp where you will camp for both nights, freeing up the middle day of your trip for an adventure without full packs!

Dates

This summer we have trips available for Calvary middle schoolers at all three campuses.

Erie Campus Trip

July 13-15

Erie & Thornton Campus Trip

July 26-28 (Full)

Boulder & Thornton Campus Trip

August 2-4

Where

On Calvary Wilderness trips we are more interested in a wilderness journey in community than we are in a specific destination! Your trip guides will select a wilderness area as your trip gets closer based on a variety of factors including weather, trail conditions, fire bans, etc. Once the trip guides have selected a location for your adventures we will let you know!

Trip Kickoff
Meet at 7:30am at the Erie Campus.

Upon arrival your trip guides will spend time checking your personal gear, divvying up group gear and coaching you on how to pack up your backpack!

Trip Return
We will aim to return by 6pm to the Erie Campus.

Registration

All Middle School/Parent trips for 2024 have concluded.

Cost

$170 per person ($340 per pair)

Registration & Refund Policy

Payment is due in full at the time of registration.

Refunds
Refunds are available until 2 weeks before the trip.

No refunds will be issued for cancellations within 2 weeks of the trip.

If you need to cancel your registration prior to that point a partial refund of $175 per person will be available.

Activity Level

These backpacking trips are beginner friendly, but will likely require some physical preparation in order to maximize your enjoyment of your time in the wilderness. You should be prepared to do the following:

Adults: Carry a 35-40 lb pack for 2-3 miles in to your basecamp for the weekend
Students: Carry a 20-25 lb pack for 2-3 miles in to your basecamp for the weekend
Hike 3-4 miles with a 5-10 lb day pack
Complete around 2,000 ft of elevation gain
Hike and camp at elevations of 9,000 ft. and up

Complete up to 9 miles of total hiking

We understand the physical requirements may be a bit intimidating, but we find most people can train and do great! If you aren’t sure what it looks like to prepare physically, we’ve got you covered. We will send a training plan your way once you register.

Sample Itinerary

On Calvary Wilderness trips our hope is to challenge you to simply be present and not to worry too much about managing time or what is coming next on the schedule–you guide team is on it and has a great trip planned for you and will also adjust their plans to the changing needs of your group! That said, here is a glimpse into what your 3-day trip could look like, though times may vary greatly depending on your group:

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Meeting Place and Time

Trip Kickoff
Meet at 7:30am at the Erie Campus.

Upon arrival your trip guides will spend time checking your personal gear, divvying up group gear and coaching you on how to pack up your backpack!

Trip Return
We will aim to return by 6pm to the Erie Campus.

What's Included

2-3 trained volunteer backpacking guides from Calvary who will facilitate your group’s trip. These guides have training in the following areas:

Wilderness First Aid
Backcountry Navigation
Leave No Trace Priciples
Backpacking Basics
Wilderness Ministry

Transportation to and from the trailhead

Backpacking gear including:

55-70L Backpack
Pack Cover
Shared Tents
20-30 Degree Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Bag Liner
Inflatable Sleeping Pad
Camp Chair
Stoves
Cooking Gear
First Aid Supplies
Safety Whistle
Emergency Communication Device
2 Nalgene Water bottles
Water Purification
Rain Fly
Rope
Meals & snacks for your 3-day trip

Note: If you have your own backpacking gear like a pack, sleeping bag or sleeping pad that you would prefer to use, bring it to the trip kickoff and your guides will make sure it looks sufficient for your trip!

What to Bring

Clothing:

Please bring the following non-cotton items:

Long underwear/baselayer (top & bottom)
Short Sleeved Shirt
1-2 Pairs of Hiking Shorts and/or Pants
Fleece Pants
2-3 Fleece and/or Down Jacket Layers
Rain Jacket
Lightweight Gloves
Fleece Hat
Baseball Cap or Sun Hat
2 Pairs of Underwear
2-3 Pairs of Wool Socks
Hiking Boots
Sandals or Camp Shoes

Other Items:

Pen & Small Notebook
Small Bible
Sunscreen
Insect Repellent
Sunglasses
Lip Balm
Toothbrush & Toothpaste
Headlamp
Personal Medications

Optional Items:

Wet Wipes
Camera
Hammock
Hiking Poles

Please do not bring many additional items–every little bit of weight adds up! For more details regarding the items on the packing list please see our gear page!

Frequently Asked Questions

What will I be carrying?
Each person will carry a 35-40 lb pack that contains their own clothing and other personal items, backpacking gear (like a sleeping bag, pad, and camp chair), group gear (like tents or cooking gear) & some food for the trip.

Where do we sleep?
Your group will sleep in a combination of 2, 4 or 6 person tents. We will keep families together. Same gender pairs may be grouped together with other same gender pairs. Mixed gender pairs will have their own sleeping spaces. Weather permitting there will also be an opportunity to sleep out under the stars.

What do we eat?
Each participant will carry some food for the group. The trip guides will prepare delicious meals for the group. A sample menu for the day might look like protein pancakes and dried fruit for breakfast, pizza bagels for lunch and burrito bowls for dinner!

What if I have dietary restrictions?
Our goal is to accommodate any dietary restrictions that you might have. Simply note any restrictions or allergies when you register for the trip and we will connect with you before the trip to ensure that we are prepared to accommodate your needs. We will let you know if you need to bring any additional items!

What training do the trip guides have?
All trip guides have a Wilderness First Aid certification. In addition they have gone through training in wilderness navigation, cooking, camping and have been equipped to facilitate Christ-centered experiences and conversations in the back-country.

What communication can my family expect while the trip is out?
Trip guides will have a GPS device that they will use to check in with a predetermined member of our guide team back in the front-country. They will send their location daily as well as some basics about how the trip is going. The front country team will communicate with families in the event of any emergency or change of plans. Otherwise, no news is good news.

What does transportation look like?
Calvary Wilderness trips will use 15 passenger vans to transport groups to and from the trailhead. All drivers will have passed Calvary’s driver check.

Stay in the Loop!

Questions? Connect with Lindsay to learn more!

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