Activities and Trips

Our trip leaders plan the hikes and navigate the trails for fun days of hiking. Hikes are as close as 15 minutes away and as far as 2 hours away, to explore Central Illinois’ gems. You can enjoy the fall foliage along the Vermillion river, frozen waterfalls and scenic canyons, or spring wildflowers through hardwood forests and native prairie.

On these overnight trips, we pack everything we need on our backs and practice wilderness living skills while we hike in wilderness locations accessible only on foot. We camp in tents, cook over camping stoves, and enjoy campfires when permitted. You can expect to sleep under starry skies, to enjoy beautiful views and creeks along the way. All equipment, except for personal clothing is provided.

Kayaking is our most popular paddle sport. Our leaders teach you how to paddle safely before we explore the coves of Lake Evergreen accessible only by small watercraft. We often see eagles, egrets, deer, turtles, and other wildlife. These trips can occur mornings, afternoons, or over sunsets. We offer a variety of kayaking trips on lakes nearby, some that are longer distances and some on moving water.

With larger canoes that fit 2 people, the Adventure program explores local lakes, sometimes by moonlight. We also travel on rivers, spending a day enjoying the scenic Vermillion, or spending a weekend camping on sandbars on the lower Wisconsin River. Canoes can fit a ton of equipment and can be more comfortable for people new to paddling.

This paddle sport is a full-body experience, as you have to both balance yourself on a 10-12ft platform floating on water, and use a paddle to move it through the water. We have so much fun on our SUPs, we provide SUP Yoga and SUP Skills workshops in the pool, in addition to SUP Trips on local lakes.

On our climbing trips, we take students of all experience levels out to climb natural rock. Our trip leaders set up the anchors and ropes to climb safely. Our favorite locations are Pere Marquette State Park which offers views of the Mississippi River from the top of limestone cliffs, and the quartzite bluffs at Devil’s Lake State Park. We may camp in tents overnight so that we can get to the crag’s early to climb the best routes.

We typically camp when our destination is too far for a day trip, and by camping we enjoy an immersive nature experience that builds new friendships. Camping is in tents We love to camp in Shawnee National Forest when we backpack, and in Devil’s Lake State Park when we rock climb. All equipment needed to camp is provided on these trips, so it is great for someone who wants to try it out with experienced trip leaders.

The Midwest winters provide the snow needed for these enjoyable winter sports. Our downhill ski/snowboard trip takes students to Snowstar Ski Resort to spend the day and still get back in time to sleep in their own beds. Ski and Snowboard rentals are provided by the resort.

Cross-Country Skiing, also called XC Skiing, is a favorite winter activity that allows you to glide over feet of snow with ease. We go to centers that provide the ski rental and groomed the trails and our trip leaders will teach you the basic skills. On our ski day trips we travel through hilly, forested lands in the peaceful winter season.

The Adventure Program offers 4 – 8 day extended trips on longer breaks, including fall break and spring break. The longer duration allows us to travel further from Illinois to see beautiful areas in the Nations. Past trips have included: caving in Mammoth Caves National Park, KY, hiking in Big Bend National Forest, TX, Backpacking the Appalachian Trail in GA, Kayaking, Canoeing, and Snorkeling in Florida, and climbing in Red River Gorge, KY. Join us on our next big adventure.