2025 Program Dates: June 13th-22nd

We have extended our application deadline!

Applications are now due January 12th. Our team will review applications and send responses to families on January 19th.

Incoming 6th graders (current 5th graders) and current middle schoolers are welcome to apply!

Please be sure to review our updated trip cost, payment schedule and cancellation policy below before applying.

Big Island Packing List

Calendar

General Framework of the Big Island Program

The purpose of our Middle School Big Island Program is personal growth, build community, and deepen our awareness and appreciation of Hawaiian culture and landscape. The program includes exploring, camping and hiking around the island, as well as staying and working at Kaiwiki with our partner, Hilo Uka Education, a family-owned, 'āina based education resource located at the edge of the Hilo forest reserve in the ahupuaʻa of Kaiwiki on the slopes of Mauna Kea.

Arrival and Kaiwiki

All participants will fly into Hilo and head straight to Kaiwiki to settle in, set up camp and get oriented. At Kaiwiki, the group will have the opportunity to work in Hayden and Kait’s mala and plant native plants in the surrounding forested area, hike, explore and play games!

Island Expedition

From Kaiwiki, the group will split into two pods and head off onto different camping expeditions on the island. Both expeditions will include beach camping, Volcanoes National Park exploration and camping, Mauna Kea, epic hikes, farmers markets, Punalu’u Bakery and more!

Return to Kaiwiki & Departure

The two pods will return to Kaiwiki in the evening and will spend one night as a whole group to share trip highlights, appreciations and one more game of capture the flag before flying home.

More detailed itineraries for the pod expeditions including hikes and campsites will be shared at our first parent meeting!

Payment & Travel Information

Program Cost: $1650 + airfare

Junior Counselor Costs: Please email us at wildkidshawaii@gmail.com to inquire about being a Junior Counselor on our trip and the associated cost.

What does the program cost cover?

The cost of our summer trips covers food, lodging, group gear, staff salaries and annual first aid training, insurance, safety equipment, and ground transportation. Flights to Big Island are not covered in our program cost or by our scholarship funds.

Are there scholarships available?

Yes! We host a student-led fundraiser every Spring to raise money for scholarships. Students can apply for a scholarship in the program application. Our team will review scholarship requests and will do our best to provide scholarships to those who apply. Please note: our scholarships do not cover the cost of airfare.

PAYMENT PLANS

ACCEPTED FORMS OF PAYMENT

Payment options include check, or PayPal. If you choose PayPal, our team will send you an invoice(s) for your payment(s) based on the payment plan that you choose. If you choose to pay by check, checks should be made payable to Wild Communities Foundation and mailed to:

Wild Communities Foundation 111 Hekili St Suite A182 Kailua, HI 96734

*Please note: there is a 3% processing fee assessed by PayPal

CANCELLATION POLICY

We are a small organization and simply cannot absorb the full cost of late trip cancellations. As such, we ask that our community respect our cancellation policy:

• Full refunds will be issued for cancellations made before February 15th.

• 50% refunds will be issued for cancellations made between February 15th and April 15th.

• No refunds issued for cancellations after April 15th. We will consider partial refunds for late cancellations if your child’s spot is filled.

TRAVEL FAQs

Who travels with the middle school group?

We always say, “A Wild Kids trip starts at the gate.” An important goal of our program is to teach self-sufficiency, independence, and flexible thinking. Expeditions, including flights, provide excellent experience to improve accountability, awareness and problem-solving. As such, we usually have the students fly as a group on their own or with the high school Junior Counselor team. There are many excellent tales of this part of the adventure from our alumni!

Who books our tickets?

Our Wild Kids team will book a group flight for all participants through Southwest Airlines. If you prefer to book your own flight for your child, we as that you plan arrival and departure within 1 hour of the group flight. Please note: airfare is not included in program cost.

What type of bag should we bring as luggage?

We pack as a team in advance!

For Middle School trips, each student is assigned a "duffle buddy." Then, each duffle buddy pair receives a Wild Kids duffle bag to use for the duration of the trip. The duffle buddy pair will pack under the supervision of a Wild Guide or Junior Counselor. After packing, one duffle buddy is responsible for checking the bag to Big Island and the other duffle buddy is responsible for checking the bag back to Honolulu. If a student requires certain gear or clothing for other trips throughout the summer, this must be cleared by the attending packing guides and students and parents must sign a contract to commit to bringing the items removed from the duffle bag to Big Island.

What do we bring as a carry-on?

For Middle School, you will carry-on your daypack with your sleeping bag and sleeping pad strapped to the outside.