This past summer, Smarty Ansley went on the adventure of her lifetime on a Wilderness Adventures Hawaiian Islands Trip. She was just about to enter her senior year of high school and she was looking to expand her horizons. Her reasons for selecting an adventure trip were based on wanting to get out of her comfort zone and explore beyond her traditional summer camp experience that she had grown up doing. My reasons were entirely different.
Through my “mom” lens, I saw a teenager who was completely consumed with technology and social media. With the exception of her unplugged summer camp each year, every experience she had so far in high school was controlled by what or who she saw in her online world – no matter how many restrictions I tried to enforce. I could tell that most of her experiences were through the lens of a screen, rather than through her eyes alone, which was such a bummer to me. Last summer was the summer before her senior year, our last summer to do something amazing. Her first three years of high school were so stressful in so many ways, like most teenagers, and I felt like she needed to get away and completely disconnect/reboot. I wanted her to go into her senior holding her head higher and focus on the amazing journey she has ahead of her. We researched long and hard to find the perfect experience for her to build confidence and leadership and landed on Wilderness Adventures. The Philosophy behind the Wilderness Adventures program is what struck me most…
“We know that a small group experience in the wilderness serves as a valuable catalyst to enable our students to become more responsible, tolerant, and self-confident while developing a powerful, all-inclusive community. We also know that through an intimate outdoor experience, our students learn to become peer leaders, acquire a responsible appreciation for the natural wonders of our planet, and develop a newfound environmental ethic to carry with them throughout their lives.”
The leadership and confidence components are most important in my mind. In today’s digitally-charged world, teens can lose self-confidence due to the perfect world they see all around them in social media. As a result, now more than ever, the importance of truly unplugging and rebooting is critical for teenagers. The Wilderness Adventures program offers the most amazing programs for teens as they adventure across the world, 100% unplugged and one with nature.
I can tell you with conviction, my teenager came back stronger, more confident and more laid back with her attitude about everything. She completely unplugged and it rejuvenated her. She met new friends from all over, none of whom had ever meet each other prior to the trip. I know they will carry this special friendship throughout life. These girls shared their souls with each other every day and night for 22 days. They pushed each other when one needed a gentle nudge. They sang with each other, laughed with each other and sometimes prayed over each other as they shared their current challenges they were dealing with in life. While these girls spent 24/7 together for three weeks, they became soul sisters, forever bonded. It was truly a privilege for me to witness.
I recently chatted with the 2018 WA Hawaii Dream Team {as I call them} and can’t wait for you to meet some of them! These girls are forever grateful for WA and everything the program has done for them. As one of the girls stated below – WA gets a 10/10, Smarty Thumbs up – HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
New lifelong WA friends at a glance:
-Ansley Plym – Charlotte native.
-Beyula Anderson – Hails from California.
-Emma Rankin – Ohio Gal.
-Martha McCaddin – Maine adventurist.
Why did you choose Wilderness Adventures?
Ansley: I chose WA because my mom and I had been doing some research on companies that take you to amazing places during the summer. When we came across WA it seemed like a dream come true and a perfect fit for me. Leading up to the trip I spent hours researching WA, looking at the Hawaiian Explorer trip which I went on, and each day I became more and more excited to embark on such an insane adventure.
Beyulah: I chose WA because I was looking for a fun adventure, where I could get away from the outside world and meet new people.
Emma: I chose Wilderness Adventures on accident, I actually googled summertime trips as a joke, but then saw that it looked super rad and decided to go.
Martha: I chose Wilderness Adventures because of the large variety of trips that it offered. A co-worker of my father’s also recommended it, as he went on several WA trips and found them to be life changing. He still speaks fondly of the program in his 50s.
Were you nervous leading up to the trip?
Ansley: I was nervous about the SCUBA because that is like nothing I had ever done before and was completely new territory for me. Although, I felt that the certification class that you had to take online prior to my trip really helped me learn more about SCUBA and be less nervous about it.
Beyulah: I was extremely nervous, mostly about the group in general it being an all-girl group. But this just strengthened the friendships and everyone became friends instantly.
Emma: No, I wasn’t nervous leading up to the trip. I was really excited though I couldn’t sleep the night before because I was looking forward to it so much. I love being away from home by myself so this was perfect for me.
Martha: I was not nervous leading up to the trip, I tend not to get nervous. I was extremely excited for what the three weeks were going to bring.
Biggest gear failure?
Ansley: My biggest gear failure was definitely a good pair of hiking boots which I never used because the hikes were not intense enough to need them. A good pair of tennis shoes worked out really well (as long as you are prepared to ruin them).
Beyulah: I definitely brought too many clothes although I did wear most of them, I definitely didn’t need 3 giant jackets in Hawaii! I really wish I brought a sleeping pad, this was an item that I somehow overlooked on the packing list and ended up sleeping on piles of my extra clothes for cushion against the bumpy ground.
Emma: I brought this pair of gardening gloves on the trip that I had ordered for the service work, I even had to return them and get a different size, and I didn’t even pick them up once during the whole trip, haha such a waste.
Martha: I did not need a medical kit. I wish I brought more bathing suits, a sweatshirt, and some more comfy day clothes like jean shorts and t-shirts.
What was your favorite part of your experience?
Ansley: My favorite part about the experience was having the opportunity to meet such a diverse group of people from all over. I built such fast and amazing friendships with the people on the trip and still keep in contact with them today. I also absolutely LOVED the zodiac raft tour along the Na Pali Coast and the night Manta ray snorkel. Those were hands down the most incredible things I have ever experienced in my life!
Beyulah: The adventures and friendships that I made. I know that I will always hold this experience close to my heart and carry many of these friendships with me through the rest of my life. I met some of the most amazing people on this trip, people I would have normally never met.
Emma: I had soo soo many favorite parts, but overall my favorite parts would have to have been all the SCUBA (including the manta ray night snorkel), surfing and sailing.
Martha: My favorite part was the people I met.
What did you miss the most after being 100% off the grid for 3 weeks?
Ansley: After being 100% off the grid for 3 weeks I missed my friends, family and dog, Henry, so much. It was so nice not having my phone while on the trip truly living and experiencing everything in the moment.
Beyulah: I probably missed my privacy and quite “me” time that I usually have for myself at home. Although I did take many beautiful walks along the beach by myself, there’s something to be said about sleeping in your own bed and not having 11 other girls trying to pee or take a shower with you constantly. haha<3
Emma: After being off the grid 100% for three weeks I didn’t miss that much, probably just my own music because even though we could pick music to listen to, I didn’t remember a bunch of songs that would’ve been fun to listen to.
Martha: I missed sleeping in my own bed.
What advice would you give for someone considering an adventure trip?
Ansley: The advice I would give to someone considering a WA trip is not to overpack and to not be afraid to branch out, open up to people and be yourself.
Beyulah: Go for it you won’t regret it, one of the best adventures is waiting for you and you will learn and grow so much from this beautiful experience!!!! You won’t want it to end.
Emma: Just appreciate and love every moment for what it is.
Martha: I would tell them to have an open mind going into the trip.
How has Wilderness Adventures changed you as a person?
Ansley: WA has changed me as a person because it taught me to truly live life to the fullest and in the moment because that is when you will have the best times of your life and create the best memories. Also, you do NOT need to live life through a screen and it is so liberating and refreshing not to have your phone and be off the grid.
Beyulah: It has definitely made me stronger and more independent, it made me think about the world and how much of our time we spend glued to technology. As soon as I got back home I wanted to get back out into the world, I wanted to explore and experience new things. I have so much love for WA and all my incredible friends I made on this trip!!! 10/10, highly recommend!
Emma: Wilderness Adventures has taught me be unapologetically myself. I feel like after that trip I loved myself for who I was more and therefore was able to love others more for who they were as well.
Martha: WA has made me extremely appreciative for so much in my life. I am so grateful to have met the people I met and to see everything I saw. I found that WA was a place where I could be 110% myself. As a person now I do not care as much about what other people think of me or try to change myself. I am comfortable being who I am and WA played a huge part in that.
These girls…so much love! AMAZING PICS!!
About Wilderness Adventures
The Wilderness Adventures program is based on four core values. We are educational, we are forward-thinking, we are a launch pad, and we are fun!
Your child’s outdoor adventure starts HERE – Choose from 45 programs for the perfect experience in outdoor adventuring all over the world. Engage in a variety of activities while creating friendships, building community, and developing your leadership skills.
Enroll here now!
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Facebook: www.facebook.com/wildernessadventures1973
Instagram: @wildernessadventures1973
Twitter: @wasummers
Email: info@wildernessadventures.com
Phone: 307-733-2122
For ages 5th grade through 12th grade.
Here’s a preview of just how AWESOME Wilderness Adventures is!
