High School

Trip Dates 2025

Intro to Backpacking x Rafting 

    • June 22 – June 28
    • $600 | $400
    • 9th  – 12th grade
    • An intro to backpacking trip
    • Includes a day of rafting

On the Divide Backpack Trip

    • July 6-12
    • $600 | $400
    • 9th – 12th grade
    • Designed for high schoolers with some backpack experience, or who desire a more challenging adventure.

Discover Adventure!

Ready to set aside the pressure and busyness of front-country life and find some adventure? Sonlight offers the opportunity for high school students to build community, climb peaks learn wilderness skills and engage in adventure. An opportunity like no other!

Backpacking x Rafting is a shorter trip designed for less experienced backpackers.

The On the Divide backpack trip is for high schoolers who have some backpack experience and desire the opportunity for a longer trip into the wilderness, with peak ascents along the way.

Sonlight provides Osprey packs, Big Agnes tents and sleeping bags. All our gear is the latest design, brand new within 2 years. Participants need only to provide a good raincoat and good trail footwear.

 

Trip Considerations

  • All participants will carry all their own gear, as well as a share of the group gear.
  • Pack weight: your pack will generally range between 35-50 pounds.
  • You will be hiking on uneven terrain, which may be rocky and/or muddy at times.
  • Depending on the itinerary, you may be hiking 3-8 miles per day.
  • Sonlight programs in areas of deep wilderness, and you may be hiking a day or more away from the nearest trailhead.
  • Depending on where you currently live, there may be a significant change in elevation. All trailheads are at an elevation of 8,000-9,000 feet, and we hike through areas that range between 9,000 to 12,000 feet above sea level. Depending on the itinerary, you may be attempting a 12,000′ or 13,000′ peak.
Itinerary

The trips begin Sunday afternoon.

The first day includes orientation, Leave No Trace instruction,  distribution of gear, equipment and food. Guides teach pack assembly and how to set up the tents.

At the end of our trip, we’ll returning to the backpack base. We’ll debrief, unpack and enjoy a great home cooked dinner. The night will be spent at the backpack base before departure, or moving into our next adventure.

Phone Policy

High schoolers may bring their phones to the backpack base but not into the backcountry. Phones will be returned to students Sunday morning to contact parents. The group will share “CampSnap” cameras (screen free cameras) to take photos during the week.

Required Forms

Three forms are required for participation on a Sonlight backpack trip to comply with state law and will be available through the CampInTouch platform:

1. A health history to be completed by a parent / guardian or adult participant is required by state law

2. A physical (by an MD, PA or Nurse Practitioner) within 12 months of the trip is required by state law

3. The Authorization and Acknowledgement of Risk form to be signed by a parent/guardian or adult participant

Want some adventure this summer?

Of course you do!