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Trailblazers Older middle school boys and girls learn the basics of backpacking and wilderness living on Echo's peninsula. -
Trailblazers Preparing for a day of paddling on the Big Manistee River and hiking on the scenic North Manitou Island. -
Trailblazers Campers connecting with nature and each other while hiking. -
Superior Backpacking The Superior Backpacking trip offers a chance to hike the beautiful Superior Hiking Trail -
Superior Backpacking Enjoying the vast wilderness and views of Lake Superior from the bluffs carved out by the lake over the centuries of its existence. -
Superior Backpacking -
Backpacking in the Porkies Described as the most scenic hiking in the Midwest, campers will experience the amazing wildlife and scenery of Michigan's Porcupine Mountains. -
Porcupine Mountains You don't have to be an experienced hiker to enjoy the breathtaking views in the Porcupine Mountains. -
Backpacking in the Porkies Campers watch the sunset over the waters of Lake Superior. -
Backpacking in the Rockies Climbing to new heights in beautiful Estes Park, Colorado. -
Backpacking in the Rockies Campers stop to rest and pose for a quick picture during their 8-day high-mountain trip through Colorado State Park. -
Backpacking in the Rockies Campers celebrate at the summit of a 13,000 foot peak in Colorado State Park. -
Backpacking in the Rockies Nearly to the 13,000 foot summit in Colorado State Park. -
Georgian Bay Cooking on the islands after a day on the water -
Georgian Bay Sea Kayak You can be sure to catch breath taking sunrises and sunsets while kayaking the waters of Lake Huron. -
Georgian Bay Sea Kayak Kayaking the crystal clear waters of Lake Huron. -
Georgian Bay Sea Kayak After a full day's worth of exploring the waters of the Georgian Bay, campers experience yet another spectacular sunset. -
Michigan Bike The whole camp comes together to cheer in Michigan Bike as there ride to the lakefront -
Minnesota Boundary Water Untouched waters just begging to be explored. The scenery of this protected watershed promises campers an experience of countless waterfalls and wildlife sightings. -
Minnesota Boundary Water Taking a break from canoeing for a quick dip in the river. -
Minnesota Boundary Water Just a taste of the peaceful waters that is connected to over 1,000 lakes and streams near the US/Canadian border. -
Taste of British Columbia ToBC adventure trip is a four week program, combining hiking in the North Cascades National Park -
Taste of British Columbia How about that view! -
North Cascades Backpacking This trip offers a chance to explore the unique climate of the Pacific Northwest’s temperate rainforests while hiking in the Ross Lake National Recreation Area -
North Cascades Backpacking With views of snow-capped mountains, glaciers, and turquoise blue lakes the North Cascade Backpacking trip offers views to remember for a lifetime
Camp Echo’s Adventure Trips are an experience unlike any other: kayaking among Lake Huron’s thousands of islands, 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.
Click below to learn more about Camp Echo’s Adventure Trip opportunities:
During this one week trip, campers will travel to Leland, MI and take a ferry to South Manitou. Once on the island, the group will establish a base camp from which they will spend time day hiking for the next few days.
South Manitou is part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and offers beautiful beaches and interesting views – such as a historic lighthouse and a visible off shore shipwreck.
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 on 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.
UPDATED for 2019, the group will spend their backcountry hiking and camping along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Participants and guides alike have expressed strong desire to spend more time at Pictured Rocks in previous years and have determined that we can enhance the quality of the trip with this change!
Campers will hike approximately 4-6 miles a day, camping at established campsites along the trail. On the second Thursday of their session, the group will return to Camp Echo to wrap up a final evening of cleaning up and celebration. Campers return home on the buses to the McGaw YMCA on the final Friday of the session.
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 lake 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 an introductory lake-to-lake canoe trip throughout the Sylvania Wilderness. Campers will hone their canoeing skills and work together to portage (carry) their canoes across small stretches of land that divide various lakes. Each night of camping will be on the shores of the lakes, a refreshing and peaceful way to end the day. The group will combine their paddle experience with a visit to Picture Rocks National Lakeshore along the Lake Superior coast.
Note: Sylvania Canoe 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
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. On the second Thursday of their session, the group heads back to Camp Echo for a final evening of cleaning up and celebration. Campers return home on the buses to the McGaw YMCA on the final Friday of the session.
Campers on Minnesota Canoe spend eight days paddling and portaging through the Boundary Waters on the border of Minnesota of Canada, an environmentally protected watershed composed of over 1,000 lakes. Participants spend a day on camp packing out of Echo’s trip center and getting prepared for their adventure. Once ready to go, the group will make its way to Northern Minnesota, where they begin paddling the first Wednesday of their session.
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. On the second Thursday of their session, participants bid farewell to the Boundary Waters and begin their drive home. On the final Friday of their session, the group returns to the McGaw YMCA in the late morning where a parent or guardian will need to meet them for pickups.
On the first Wednesday of the session, the group spends a day with the professional staff at White Squall Paddling Center in Parry Sound, ON, where they learn about paddling technique, water safety, and weather identification. On Thursday, everyone sets out for a week of kayaking through the crystal blue waters of Lake Huron. Days on the Bay are spent paddling, swimming, and scouting out jumping rocks. In the evenings, the group pulls off the water to camp on the picturesque islands that dot the Bay. On the second Wednesday of the session, the group paddles back to shore and heads back to Camp Echo for a final day of cleanup and celebration. Participants take the buses back to the McGaw YMCA on the final Friday of the session.
On Wednesday, participants enjoy a day of challenging rock climbing in Estes Park. The following day, everyone embarks on an eight-day backpacking adventure in Colorado State Park. Groups explore pristine lakes, endless fields of wild flowers, undiscovered patches of snow, and attempt to summit a 13,000 foot peak. The adventure ends in Boulder for a chance to clean up and celebrate before flying back to Midway Airport in Chicago on the final Friday of the session. A parent or guardian will need to meet the group at the terminal for pickups.
During their time on camp the program consists of on-camp leadership and service to help build our Echo community. The program focuses on group development and developing trip skills off and on trail.
These principles are then extended and applied to an off-camp wilderness camping experience – backpacking on Isle Royale National Park for approximately 9 days. Enjoy 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. This trip offers the peace and serenity that only a wilderness island can provide.
The trip will then return to camp. Here they spend more time closing out the trip and celebrating their success with continued leadership development. In the past this has even included a two day Wilderness First Aid course (WFA).
Campers will arrive at camp and pack out their gear from the Camp Echo trip center. From Echo, they will travel to Grand Rapids and fly to Seattle International Airport. They will then spend approximately 8 days hiking through the hiking trails surrounding Ross Lake. The group will be hiking up to 10 miles per day in challenging terrain.
This trip features portions of steep terrain and challenging climate, offering a chance for participants to have a unique mountain hiking experience. They will build on existing skills and hone trip skills in a new environment; participants will continue to learn leadership skills while bonding in their group.
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.
