Hybrid Front & Backcountry Trip: July 20th-August 5th, 2025

Montana Packing List

Calendar

Grades 9th-12th, including incoming 9th graders (current 8th graders) and graduating seniors (class of ‘25) are invited to apply to our Montana Summer Program. Please be sure to review our updated trip cost, payment schedule and cancellation policy below before applying.

Applications are due November 30th. Our team will review applications and send responses on December 15th. If you have any questions regarding the program or application, please email us at wildkidsmontana@gmail.com.

General Framework of the Montana Program

We feel, more than ever, that humans need a thorough screen detox and immersion in community and the natural world, which is why we have decided to do both a front and back country portion of our high school trip. We aim to provide a deeply impactful summer where participants will grow their self-worth and emotional resiliency while developing leadership skills through expeditionary learning. Our backcountry portion will provide participants with full nature immersion where they will build community through strengthening relationships with each other and non-human relatives, as well as deepen their sense of place. Our front country portion will focus on community building and cultural immersion through attending Sun Dance on the Blackfeet reservation.

Missoula: Pattee Canyon

The group will acclimate to the Montana weather and climate at Pattee Canyon while preparing to venture off on pod adventures in the front and backcountry. Trip preparation will include day hikes, pack and gear checks, Missoula exploration, group gear distribution, pod bonding activities, route planning and review, outdoor skills learning and more!

Front Country: Yellowstone National Park and surrounding area

Pods will road trip (Wild Kids style) down to Yellowstone National Park and have the chance to experience Montana’s communities, cultures and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Experiences will include navigating by maps (no map apps allowed!), engaging with local Montanans and small towns, day hikes, camping, dance parties on the side of the road, and cooking as a pod.

Backcountry: Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness

This year, our pods will be backpacking in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. Backcountry routes will depend on weather and fire patterns in Montana. We will share backpacking routes to families in July once they are confirmed.

Browning: Sun Dance & Uncle Joe’s

This year, our high school trip will head up to the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning to help with Sun Dance preparations at uncle Joe’s. The group will have a token day back to Missoula, then will have a day to decompress, debrief with their pods and re-pack at Pattee canyon before flying home on August 5th.

Note: All participants will need to complete a minimum of two training hikes with the group prior to heading to Montana. All participants must also pass a Pack Test in May, which requires everyone to carry a 45-50 pound pack and finish a 3 mile hike in under 45 minutes. For this test we use Lanikai Loop.

Never underestimate yourself! Backpacking is one of the best ways to realize your own potential, strength and power.

Payment & Travel Information

Program Cost: $2850 + airfare

Please note: There is a non-refundable deposit fee of $250 to secure your spot, due upon acceptance of the trip. The deposit amount will be reflected in your first payment total.

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 Montana are not covered in our program cost or 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

DEPOSIT

There is a non-refundable deposit of $250 due upon trip acceptance, and no later than January 5th, to secure your spot. The deposit amount will be reflected in your first payment total.

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 books our tickets?

Wild Kids works with Navigator Travel to find a group flight from Honolulu to Montana as a travel option for families. Families will be given group flight details by April 1st. If you prefer to book your tickets on your own, we ask that students arrive and depart within no more than 1 hour of the group arrival and departure time. The driving time between Pattee Canyon and airport is about 30 minutes, so fewer trips to the airport is best. Please note: airfare is not included in program cost.

Can we drop-off or pick-up our child in Montana?

Absolutely! We highly recommend tacking this trip onto a family adventure. Please email Wild Kids Montana if you plan to either drop your child off or pick him/her/them up in Montana. We will work with you to make this possible!

What type of bag should we bring as luggage?

We pack as a team in advance!

Because it is absolutely imperative that everyone arrive in Montana with the right gear, we pack as a team in advance. This allows our Wild Guides and Junior Counselors to actually see what is going into each bag and ensure that no one is overpacking, under-packing, or misunderstanding the gear and clothing guidelines.

Backpacking bags will be checked onto the plane.

What do we bring as a carry-on?

Participants can carry-on a small daypack.