5% off Summer Camp for new campers with code EARLYBIRD27

Campers tipping a canoe and swimming in the pond
A more traditional experience

Homestead Adventure

Ages 9–14 · Overnight · From $1,799

Spend the day climbing, paddling, and exploring, then come back to a hot meal and a bed in the lodge. All the fun of an outdoor adventure, with a comfortable place to recharge each night.

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Enrollment happens on UltraCamp, our registration site. New families create an account there first.

Ages
9–14
Camp type
Overnight
2027 tuition
One week $1,799
Two weeks $3,199
2027 sessions

Ages 9–14 (activities grouped by age)

  • June 27 – July 3
  • July 4 – July 17 (2 weeks)
  • July 18 – July 24

Reserve a spot with a $200 non-refundable deposit. The rest can go on an interest-free payment plan when you register.

Early bird, returner, sibling, multi-session and referral discounts are on the summer camps page.

Activities

What campers do

  • A bed, a hot shower and home-cooked meals every night
  • Climbing, paddling and caving by day
  • High and low ropes course
  • Activities grouped by age
  • Arts and crafts, field games and evenings in the lodge
  • A gentle first step into overnight camp
Campers climbing the tall outdoor climbing wall at Base Camp
How we teach

Skills and values at every camp

Outdoor Living Skills (OLS)

Campers learn to set up camp, cook, stay warm and dry, find their way and look after their gear, so they can enjoy the outdoors safely on their own.

Leave No Trace (LNT)

Every group follows the seven Leave No Trace principles: plan ahead, stay on durable ground, pack out trash, leave what you find, keep fires small, respect wildlife and be considerate of others.

RAWC: our four guiding principles

Respect, Positive Attitude, Work Ethic and Communication. These four principles guide how campers and staff treat each other and work together at Wilderness Adventure.

Students gathering at the serving counter inside the wooden lodge
Homestead Adventure

Adventure by day, a bed in the lodge at night.

Climbing, paddling and caving during the day, then a hot meal, a shower and a bed. A good first overnight camp.

See 2027 sessions
Who it's for

Is Homestead Adventure right for your camper?

Love the idea of adventure camp, but prefer a bed to a sleeping bag? Homestead is a good place to start. Campers ages 9–14 spend their days outside and return to the lodge each evening.

Climbing, paddling, caving, and ropes courses fill the days. A shower, a cooked meal, and time with friends round out the evening. It's an option for a first overnight experience or for campers who simply enjoy a few home comforts.

Students with bags on the covered log lodge porch
A typical day

A day at Homestead Adventure

Breakfast in the dining room starts the day, followed by an outing with the group. Campers might climb, paddle, explore a cave, or work through a ropes course with activity instructors.

At the end of the day, it's back to Base Camp for dinner and time to unwind. Campers sleep in the lodge each night. They carry a daypack for activities rather than a full backpack for a multi-day trip.

Campers and counselors by the river with a stack of balanced rocks
Sample week

What a week looks like

An example week based on past years. Call us for this year’s itinerary.

  1. Day 1

    Arrival and welcome

    Campers settle into the lodge, meet their counselors and the rest of the group, and tour Base Camp. Icebreakers and camp games lead into a hot dinner and a campfire.

  2. Day 2

    On the water

    Campers learn to kayak and canoe on calm water, then rotate through outdoor education activities on local ecosystems and wildlife. After dinner in the lodge, the evening is for games and friends.

  3. Day 3

    Climbing and caving

    Rock climbing in the morning, then a guided caving trip covering geology and underground navigation. Back at the lodge for a warm meal and time to relax.

  4. Day 4

    Learning outside

    Campers explore local trails, practice navigation, learn Leave No Trace principles and take part in nature discovery, with group challenges and games in the afternoon.

  5. Day 5

    Choose your adventure

    A day of electives (kayaking, hiking, climbing or team challenges) by age and interest. Campers who want a taste of tent camping can join an overnight campout; everyone else sleeps in the lodge.

  6. Day 6

    Base Camp games

    Camp-wide games and friendly competition, then time to revisit a favorite activity. The day ends with a celebration dinner, skits and a closing campfire.

  7. Day 7

    Team challenge day

    Low ropes elements that test communication and trust, then the high ropes course and the giant swing.

Summer camp

Photos from camp

A smiling camper in a helmet and harness on the rope bridge Students serving themselves lunch at the lodge buffet Campers with headlamps gathered together inside a cave Campers sitting around the evening campfire circle at Base Camp A big group of campers posing together on the lawn at Base Camp Dozens of campers and counselors posing in a sunny field A camper hanging upside down on the giant swing among the trees A blindfolded camper on a rope trust walk guided by a friend Campers reaching up together to lift a tire over a wooden pole in the woods Grinning campers holding a friend up for a group photo on the field A camper crossing a log beam high in the trees on the ropes course The high ropes course log beam among tall green trees A camper flying through the trees on the Giant Swing Campers on a bench listening to their instructors before the ropes course Campers kayaking on the pond in front of the gazebo A camper near the top of the tall wooden climbing tower

Activities vary by program and session.

Compare the camps →
What's included

What tuition includes

  • A lodge bed with heating, air conditioning and showers every night
  • Three cooked meals a day in the dining room, plus trail snacks
  • All activity equipment: boats, helmets, harnesses, caving lamps
  • Certified climbing, paddling and caving instructors
  • Transport to every off-site activity location
  • Evening use of the pond, trails and games at Wilderness Adventure
Common questions

Homestead Adventure FAQs

Do campers camp out at all on Homestead Adventure?

No. Homestead campers sleep in the lodge every night of the session. Campers who want nights in a tent should look at Classic Adventure instead.

Is a nine-year-old too young for an overnight camp?

Nine is our youngest overnight age and Homestead is the session we usually point first-time campers at, because a familiar bedtime routine can help with a first week away. Activities are grouped by age within the session.

What is the two-week option?

The July 4 to July 17 session runs two consecutive weeks with the same group and counselors, which gives campers time to progress in each activity rather than sample it.

How much walking is involved?

Homestead campers carry a daypack rather than a full backpack, and vans take the group to most activity sites. Some days include a hike, such as a day hike to Cascade Falls, which is a few miles of walking on trails. There is no multi-day backpacking.

What to bring: Homestead Adventure packing list (PDF). More on meals, mail, refunds and arrival day in our summer camp FAQs.

Other programs

A few more ways to spend the summer.

2027 enrollment is open

Save your camper a spot.

Enrollment for 2027 is open. New campers get 5% off with code EARLYBIRD27 until January 31, 2027. A $200 non-refundable deposit holds the spot, and the rest can go on an interest-free payment plan.

Enroll now See all camps

Enrollment happens on UltraCamp, our registration site. New families create an account there first.

Get in touch

Have questions about summer camp?

Ask about programs, dates, or choosing a camp.

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Prefer to call? 540-864-6792.