We provide exciting outdoor adventure experiences for young people ages 8-13, Girl Scouts, persons with developmental disabilities and women's groups. We also work with at-risk youth and youth with special needs. Our program includes hiking with llamas in the high mountains of North Carolina and tent camping in mountain meadows. Campers learn how to work with others and how to have fun in the outdoors. Day camps and shorter hikes can also be arranged.

Trekker's Activities and Responsibilities

We will be walking 5-8 miles each day on mountain trails. We will go as fast as the slowest person in the group can go. The guides and the lead llama will decide how fast that is. We will stop and rest as often as we need to. Each trekker will learn about backpacking, setting up camp, and getting along in the woods. The trekkers will also learn about teamwork and more about themselves and other people in the group. Most people find out that they can do a lot more than they thought they could.

The trekkers take turns carrying out six different jobs.
These are:

• The Scout: leads the group with compass and map
• The Environmentalist: makes sure that no damage is done to the environment and leads an environmental discussion each day
• The Sweep: follows at the end and lets people know if anything is dropped or if llama packs are slipping, or anything similar
• The Recorder: keeps track of important events, like seeing an eagle
• The First Aid Assistant: assists if first aid is necessary
• The Safety Person: leads the discussion of what is the safest way to do things when a problem arises

Trekkers also choose which of the three permanent work crews they want to be on:

• The cooking crew
• The water crew
• The llama picketing crew

Trekkers are part of a personal crew - their tent mates. Tent mates put up their tent, keep track of group equipment and look out for one another. Trekkers are asked to keep a journal of their journey, to remind them of their experience. If time permits, a solo experience, in which trekkers spend time by themselves for three or four hours, is often carried out during the journey. Photographs are taken during the trip, and a few weeks after the end of the trip, each person receives personal copies. On the last day of the journey, the trekkers write a letter to themselves, which is mailed to them a month after the journey.

For detailed information, click on one of the links below.
Program philosophy
Tailoring to Your Group's Needs
Therapeutic Trips
Fun and Personal Growth Trips
A Typical Day on the Trail