Why Bold Earth?
Our adventures inspire teens to be bold, be kind, and be themselves
Bold summers with a lifelong impact
Our small-group expeditions provide the perfect summer setting for teens ages 13-18 to practice leadership, form lasting friendships, and find the fun in leaping outside their comfort zone. We believe in the power of adventure to spark personal growth, and the best adventures are the ones you take alongside friends and leaders you trust.
Community is at the center of every Bold Earth experience, and we prioritize truly getting to know every student and their families through personal phone calls, trip check-ins, and post-program conversations. When you choose us for your summer adventures, you become part of our family.
We believe the impact of our programs on students’ confidence, independence, and outlook on life stretches far beyond our days spent together in the wild. That’s why we adventure, and we’ve spent decades sharing those adventures with teens ready for a new challenge.
What sets us apart
45+ years of experience
Founded in 1976, we have over 45 years of knowledge and expertise backing up our world-class program itineraries, safety procedures, and guiding philosophy.
Small, inclusive groups
We intentionally limit our program size to 13 students accompanied by 2 trip leaders. This close-knit environment encourages every person to feel supported, respected, and empowered to contribute to their program experience.
Intentional itineraries
We thoughtfully craft each program itinerary to inspire students to embrace the unique environments and cultures in the destinations we visit. Every activity, camping or lodging location, and outfitter partner is selected with care to reflect our program goals and quality standards.
Outstanding trip leaders
Our leaders are outdoor professionals with a true passion for guiding youth programs. These incredible individuals are at the core of who we are and what we do, and they take pride in their role as mentors, role models, and risk management experts.
Culture of kindness
Every summer, Bold Earth students tell us that their trip was special because of the unending positivity and support they felt from their leaders and peers. We focus on finding the joy and fun in adventure while celebrating every person’s individuality.
Focus on outcomes
Our programs are designed to help teens step outside their comfort zones and choose new challenges. We motivate our students to develop meaningful life skills such as leadership, critical thinking, independence, resilience, and optimism.
Commitment to safety
Our students’ physical and emotional safety is our first priority on any program. 100% of our trip leaders hold first aid certifications above the industry standard, and risk management is the foundation of everything we do.
Service and stewardship
Most Bold Earth programs include at least one service activity, and sometimes more. These immersive activities encourage students to cultivate more authentic relationships with the natural world and the communities we visit.
At first glance Bold Earth sounds like it could be a great trip and a great experience, but the reality is it is better than great. It was more amazing than we could have hoped for. The program as a whole package is all encompassing of team building and character growth while throwing in fun activities and unforgettable sights!
Incredible itineraries you won’t find anywhere else
We create our itineraries to evoke those “wow” moments, and we find that wow factor by designing programs that embody a strong spirit of adventure, sense of place, and feeling of community—all while visiting breathtaking global destinations and wild spaces.
Our programs strike the perfect balance of exciting, unique high adventure activities and quality time with tripmates to reflect on each day. We intentionally include a variety of different types of experiences in each itinerary that reflect and embrace each destination we visit.
On just one Bold Earth trip, students may hike, rock climb, surf, sleep under the stars, swim in a mountain lake, learn how to cook local cuisine, visit multiple national parks, and relax around the campfire with new friends. We empower teens to choose to challenge themselves and experience personal growth, but we never lose our focus on providing positive, supportive, and—we’ll say it again—fun experience in the outdoors.
Adventure unplugged
Our programs give teens the rare opportunity to truly take a break from devices, social media, and the online world. We believe our policy of leading device-free trips (for students) helps us truly immerse ourselves in the new communities and natural wonders we encounter on our adventures. Stepping away from devices encourages students to remain present in the moment with the people they meet on their adventure and form deeper bonds with their tripmates.
Trip leaders stay in contact with the main office throughout every program, and families have the opportunity to share a once-per-week phone call with their student. Families can also access daily trip blogs and photos through our family portal to follow along with our adventures! Our office emergency line is available 24/7 in the summer should anything urgent arise.
Community mindset
It’s not uncommon for our students to stay in touch with tripmates and leaders for many years after our adventures together. Building strong relationships with our students and their families is what inspires us to do what we do.
Most students enroll in Bold Earth trips without knowing anyone else on their program—and leave with a dozen new friends for life.