Adirondack Mountain Club

Health insurance is required to participate in the program. This trip demands a high level of physical fitness. ADK reserves the right to deny participation if group safety will be compromised through an individual's participation.

The 4-day Johns Brook Valley Teen Adventure is an experiential, cooperative group camping experience for teenagers between 14-17 years old with the shared responsibility of camp chores, cooking, and decision making while practicing Leave No Trace skills and ethics. We’ll spend our time learning about safe backcountry travel, outdoor skills, and the rich natural and cultural history of the Adirondacks. This program is great for teenagers who have had some experience hiking and are eager to learn how to plan and execute their own excursions in the future. It will be led by two of ADK’s professional staff.

Our tentative itinerary is as follows: On Day 1 at 9:00am we will start with introductions, a classroom discussion to build group camaraderie, and conduct a thorough gear shakedown to prepare for our adventure. After saying goodbye to their parents and guardians, the participants will have an active role in packing our essential meals and gear for the trip. We will then drive a short distance to the trailhead and embark on our journey into Johns Brook Valley. We’ll hike 3.5 miles into our backcountry camping spot near Johns Brook Lodge – our basecamp for the next 3 nights. On Days 2 & 3 we will hike to various High Peak mountaintops and waterfalls throughout the Johns Brook Valley. Along the way we will learn backcountry camping skills, debate wilderness ethics, and play various games at our campsite each evening. On Day 4, we’ll hike out to The Garden trailhead in the morning, and we will be ready to meet parents or guardians by 12:00pm at ADK’s Education Yurt Village. This trip will be physically demanding, especially if the weather is poor. Participants should expect long days and tired feet.