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Welcome to wild North America - USA! Our Yellowstone area summer camp for teen girls may offer you sightings of wolves, trumpeter swans, geysers, hot springs, and bison! The Greater Yellowstone ecosystem is the mountain country in and around Yellowstone National Park and is centered around an ancient volcano, home to many rare and natural wonders of the world. Our 18-day overnight travel camp program for girls takes place in this diverse natural region that includes parts of Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. Our action-packed and educational trip itinerary is as diverse and as exciting as the country we will be exploring together, the American adventure of a lifetime!

Whitewater Rafting: The Gallatin River near Bozeman, MT originates in Yellowstone National Park and its whitewater rapids continually increase in size as the river flows through the Gallatin Canyon. This river is so exceptionally beautiful and pristine that it has been featured in major Hollywood movies! Our professional guides from Montana Whitewater fit us to life jackets, helmets and splash suits, provide us with a riverside safety and technique talk, and share stories of the river with us as we paddle our way through breathtaking scenery and class II-III rapids. Running the "Mad Mile", a class IV rapid at high water level may be possible if river conditions and group ability allows. We'll enjoy a second half-day of whitewater rafting on the class III-IV rapids of the Snake River in Wyoming just outside Jackson Hole!

Rock Climbing: Look out below!!! The rafting we did yesterday can be seen from our perch high atop the river carved canyon walls of the Gallatin. Whether you are an experienced climber or have never climbed before, there are climbs here that you'll love! The level you go to in climbing is up to YOU, we'll encourage you to go a bit beyond your super-comfortable zone, but how much or how little you do is totally up to you, no pressure, only encouragement from your friends. After rope handling, knot tying, safety talks and communication basics on the ground, climbing shoes, helmets, and harnesses are fitted and we head for the rock for a full day of climbing. Our professional guides from Montana Alpine Guides will set up a few top roped climbs by before we arrive, then, when we are ready, girls can simultaneously take turns between climbing, belaying and snacking on lunch. Many girls enthusiastically strive to reach the top of each climb. Rappelling (lowering yourself from the top back to the ground) is the final highlight of today's adventure.

Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks: With our very own "Alpengirl Rangers" we'll take a few days to hike, explore and learn about these Parks and their unique features like bubbling mud cauldrons, kaleidoscopic geysers, historic wildfires, native peoples and diverse wildlife! We'll start with a wildlife introduction at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center (accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums), a non-profit wildlife park and educational facility that offers visitors a chance to uniquely experience the world of grizzly bears and gray wolves. All the animals at the Center are unable to survive in the wild and serve as ambassadors for their wild counterparts. In Yellowstone we will likely see elk and bison and possibly a moose or bear and we'll camp at Yellowstone Lake after seeing Old Faithful erupt. An invigorating 6.5 mile day hike in Grand Teton will lead us past waterfalls as we wind our way around Jenny Lake which was formed by melting glaciers about 60,000 years ago. The National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, WY is amazing! This museum focuses on wildlife and nature paintings, sculpture, and works on paper by over 100 distinguished artists with plenty of interactive learning opportunities for our group.

Backpacking: During our 4-day backpacking trip we'll travel 4-8 miles each day to mountain lakes, alpine meadows, and to the very tops of a mountain peaks. We'll keep a pace that allows our group to enjoy each step into the great unknown as we gain a sense of stewardship by connecting with the natural world on the road less traveled. Outdoor camping skill basics that minimize the impact on our natural environment are taught right from the beginning on all Alpengirl trips and are relied upon throughout this teen girls camp session. Campers will learn how to properly pack and carry a backpack with a limited and select number of items (sleeping bag, pad, clothing, and a portion of tent and food). We'll leave all extra gear, worries and conveniences behind as we rise above our own expectations and find ease in becoming an outdoor Adventuress!

Horseback Riding: Following the path of early explorers and native peoples and seeking out the headwaters of the great Missouri River, we'll get fitted to our horses, helmets and saddles and enjoy a very full day of horseback riding through wildflower meadows in high mountain valleys and across sparkling spring fed creeks of the continental divide. This is a highlight of camp for many girls as they bond with their horse and our long-time horse guides from Centennial Outfitters, simply the best cowboy and cowgirls you'll ever meet! Our western trail riding adventure starts in the valley near Red Rock Wildlife Refuge and leads us up-up-and-away into the Centennial Mountains just outside the boundaries of Yellowstone Park. We select a new route each time to maintain the most pristine environment possible, sometimes this means through the wild woods, across down trees, through left-over snow fields and into country that most folks will never have the opportunity to see. Mountain riding on the back of our sure-footed friends prevents us from safely going faster than a trot most of the time. However, if trail conditions and circumstances allow, girls that have proven their horse riding skills today may be allowed to gallop at select times and locations. At day's end we will drop down off those lofty Centennial Peaks to our absolute favorite Alpengirl backcountry camp spot. Nestled together in a very special grove of aspen trees surrounded by sage and lilies our tents welcome us with a refreshing sense of 'home'.

Caverns: High above the Jefferson River along the historic route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806, lies our entrance to the Lewis and Clark caverns - one of the largest known limestone caverns in the Northwest. Naturally air-conditioned, and electrically lit, we'll hike 2 miles on a tour through these spectacular caves, lined with stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and helictites. You'll learn more than you ever imagined about the precarious and delicate environment of a cave. An experience you won't soon forget, you'll be amazed at the expanse of such wonder beneath the ground!

Hot Spring Soaking: A Montana geothermal wonder! A long soak in a wood-lined outdoor naturally clean pool is not only good; it's good for you! After a long day on the trail, we'll soak in the 103-degree (F) mineral water, play in the sprinklers and sprayers that cool the pool, and enjoy the view from the pool - watching for deer, antelope, and moose in the surrounding wetlands. Eagles, hawks, Sandhill cranes, egrets, ducks, geese, and songbirds are all at home in this natural and peaceful place. If we are lucky, we'll catch some live acoustic poolside music while we soak under the starry night skies of Montana!

The best thing about this trip - besides the fact that All Alpengirl trips ROCK is... "The Everything Camp! Grand Teton + Yellowstone + 2 rafting trips, and a bit longer camp session allows more time to enjoy being an Alpengirl!"

Montana Alpengirl Parent Review - Testimonial

"Lauren came home from her trip Montana Alpengirl trip a girl changed. She had nothing but great things to say about her trip. What we noticed right away was how Lauren looked. She had a glow about her that she had never had before. She also has a confidence about her that has made her more out going and sure of herself. I think the trip was one of the most important events of her life. She talked about her friends she had met and the relationships she has formed with them. She now thinks about what she eats and is exercising more and looking to be a healthy teen. I think this trip was the best thing to happen to her. I know it has given her a sense of "I can do anything now". She now wants to try different things and has a more positive sense of herself. I can't thank you enough for the great time she had and we certainly look forward to her going again. I would and have recommended your organization to anybody that has girls of Lauren age. You have given Lauren an experience of a life-time and memories that will last forever. Thank you so much. Best to you and your guides, have a great year." ~ Rob (Tiverton, Rhode Island)