Camp Echo’s Adventure Trips are an experience unlike any other: canoeing through thousands of lakes in the Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoe Area, backpacking through spectacular Porcupine Mountains of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and the list goes on… Camp Echo’s Adventure trips take the fun, community, and growth opportunities (self-confidence, group living, leadership, and technical outdoor skills) of summer camp on the road and expose participants to a whole new world of experiences.
COVID Safety Our primary goal will be to prevent COVID from coming on our trips to begin with. Due to this, trips will share the same pre-camp protocols as the rest of our programs. Once on the trip, we will be implementing COVID precautions to mitigate the risk of spreading and coming in contact with it during our travels. Most of the updates to our trips will be consistent with practices that our campers will be used to in other settings and with the practices implemented for our on-site programs. Final safety practices will be updated in the spring and shared with families then. A few things we expect include: FAQs A big difference this summer will be some trips departing directly from Evanston, IL, and even more trips returning directly to Evanston, IL instead of stopping at Camp Echo in Fremont, MI. The primary goal of our wilderness trips is for our campers to learn and grow together in the wilderness destinations of the trips. Time spent at Camp Echo helps foster a sense of belonging to the Camp Echo community and simplifies logistics of gear, food, guides, etc. During Summer 2021, shared transportation to camp on buses and large group living at camp have slightly higher COVID risk factors than traveling by van and shifting quickly to a wilderness environment. We also want to prevent many groups from returning to camp after visiting multiple locations. Though these risks are low, it is worth avoiding them when possible, which is why several trips will depart directly from the Y and/or return to the Y instead of camp at the end of the trip (Note that pre-COVID, many of our trips already returned directly to the Y). However, because the trips will be going directly to or returning from their wilderness destination to Evanston, they will have the same amount of time on trail for their trip! This means we are not sacrificing any of the experience of being in the outdoors and exploring nature. We will be putting a great deal of thought into how we still build intentional community building time into our first day plans in Evanston as well as the last day close of the trip so that the group starts and ends in a meaningful way. More Questions?
The best way to share your questions and thoughts with us is through this Google Form! We will be notified when you fill it out and get back to you as soon as possible. Please be patient as we respond to many questions. Thank you!
Click below to learn more about Camp Echo’s Adventure Trip opportunities:
During this one-week trip, the group will establish a base camp from which they will day hike and explore the nearby area for the next few days.
Note: Mini-Blazers is single-gender, with boy-Identifying and girl-Identifying campers participating in separate sections. Campers are free to choose to go on whichever section they identify with or where they would feel more comfortable
Trailblazer groups spend three days canoeing under a canopy of trees on the Big Manistee River and camping on the river bank. They also spend four to five days hiking In Michigan’s lower peninsula. In the past, they have ventured t0 historic North Manitou Island in Lake Michigan where wildflowers, fresh air, and starry nights abound. Between paddling and hiking, participants enjoy a layover day spent relaxing, swimming, and cooking delicious meals. Trailblazers return to Echo on the second Thursday of the session and spend their final day celebrating their accomplishments.
Note: Trailblazers trips are single-gender, with boy-Identifying and girl-Identifying participating in separate sessions or sections. Campers are free to choose to go on whichever section they identify with or where they would feel more comfortable
Campers arrive to Echo on the first day and dive right into learning the basics of backpacking. They will go over how to pack, fitting boots, and pack out food and gear from our trip center as well as going on a practice hike with loaded packs. After fully preparing the group sets out on their adventure.
The group will spend their backcountry hiking and camping along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Participants and guides alike have expressed a strong love for Pictured Rocks in previous years and we are excited to keep this as a mainstay of our program!
Superior Backpacking will end a day early directly in Evanston.
Note: Superior Backpacking is single-gender, with boy-Identifying and girl-Identifying participating in separate sessions or sections.Campers are free to choose to go on whichever section they identify with or where they would feel more comfortable
Campers arrive to Echo on the first day and begin learning the basics of canoeing. They will learn about canoes and the strokes needed for success, as well as pack out food and gear from our trip center. After fully preparing the group sets out on their adventure.
The group will venture to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for a multi-river canoe adventure on the Manistique and Indian Rivers. Campers will hone their canoeing skills and work together to navigate the rivers as they flow south towards Lake Michigan. Each night of camping will be on the shores of the rivers, a refreshing and peaceful way to end the day. The group will combine their paddle experience with visits to nearby popular Upper Peninsula destinations such as the Seney National Wildlife Refugee or Kitch-iti-kipi springs.
UP Paddleventures will end a day early directly in Evanston.
Note: Upper Peninsula Paddleventures is a single-gender trip, with boy-identifying and girl-identifying campers participating in separate sessions or sections. Campers are free to choose to go on whichever section they identify with or where they would feel most comfortable.
When campers arrive to Echo on the first day, they begin by reviewing backpacking skills– packing a multiday pack, hiking with loaded packs, fitting boots, and packing out food and gear from our trip center. After fully preparing the group leaves camp on their journey to Porcupine Mountain State park in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
The group will be on trail for the next 8 days, hiking approximately 6-8 miles per day. There is something for everyone on this trip – the breathtaking coastline of Lake Superior, countless waterfalls, and acres of shady forests. Participants build confidence and strength as hikers while enjoying the beautiful landscapes and lots of group fun throughout the trip.
Porcupine Mountain Backpacking will end a day early directly in Evanston.
The next 8 days are spent “on trail.” By day, participants experience the beauty of waterfalls, rock cliffs, and abundant wildlife including bald eagles and moose. At night, the group enjoys incredible sunsets, dinner around a campfire, and falling asleep beneath a blanket of stars. The group will then get off the water and start their journey home.
Minnesota Canoe will end a day early directly in Evanston.
The trip logistics will be very similar to Minnesota Boundary Waters Canoe I, in that they will meet their guides in Evanston and head straight for northern Minnesota. They will have the chance to explore a whole new area along with all the comforts that make our trips special before heading back home.
Minnesota Canoe will end a day early in Evanston.
Isle Royale Backpacking will end a day early directly in Evanston.
The Adventurers goal is to promote confidence in leadership of wilderness trips. This goal is achieved through development of technical camping skills, more exposure to the behind-the-scenes planning that is required to run a trip, and various service opportunities. In order to achieve these outcomes, the Adventurers program is three weeks comprised of an extended wilderness component to spectacular adventure destinations and more time on camp.
During their time on camp, Adventurers will take a deep dive into the essential trip skills. Adventurers will learn about proper pre-trip equipment checks, the permitting and reservation processes for their itinerary, food rationing, team-building, and other critical trip planning skills. To full review and practice these skills, the Adventurers will have 3-4 full days on camp before departing on their trip (opposed to the 1-2 days of two-week trips). As they are learning these skills they will get to see them in action first hand in our Trip Center as the other groups prepare for their own excursions.
They will then get to experience one of our nation’s most underrated national parks, viewing exceptional wildlife, such as abundant moose, and expansive vistas of Lake Superior while backpacking as a group through the trail system on the island. Upon return to camp, Adventurers will have additional days on-site at Birches to complete end of trip clean-up, de-brief the trip individually and as a group, and share their learnings with others. By the end of the program, participants will have the tool to plan an adventure of their own!
When we conducted focus groups with campers this fall, we heard that our trippers weren’t too concerned with where our advanced hiking trips went as long as there are MOUNTAINS!!! So Mountain Trekkers is going to find some mountains. Our preliminary destination is the High Peaks area of the Adirondack Mountains but we have also considered other areas in the Appalachian Mountains. It will be good to have a few possibilities to choose from should travel restrictions be in place.
This trip will consist of 7-8 days of backpacking and exploring wilderness new to us before returning back to Evanston.
Mountain Trekkers will end a day early directly in Evanston.
Click on the slides below for more information related to leadership, safety, and physical preparedness for adventure trips!
All participants entering tenth grade or higher will receive a camper letter, which is a letter from the counselor written directly to the camper (as opposed to a parent letter). This letter highlights the camper’s strengths as well as opportunities for growth to help teen participants when they later apply to work on staff. We believe this process of evaluative feedback provides a growth opportunity for teen program participants.
Trip Guides play a key role in the success of our program. All of our guides have been hired for their experience working with youth as well as their specific skills and knowledge of adventure travel. All of our Adventure Trips have at least two staff members. At least one, though often both, members are certified as a Wilderness First Responder and Lifeguard. These guides receive extensive training on camp and in wilderness settings so that they can support all of their groups’ needs, from physical wilderness first aid to providing mental emotional social health support.
Trips are physically and mentally challenging. A challenge well worth it, but does require some preparation to be successful. We encourage Adventure Trip participants to establish a home regimen for building strength and endurance and to be as successful in the new environment as possible. Another option is to sign up for physical conditioning classes at their local YMCA.
