Youth Adventure Camp in the Catskills

Wasting no time getting started, we’ll make a stop en route to the Catskills at Cornwall-on-the Hudson for a 2-hour, open water, kayaking tour around picturesque Bannerman’s Island. We’ll then trade our kayaks and paddles for bikes (that we provide) and helmets as we ride some of the area’s best mountain bike trails at Stewart State Forest, home to the Dark Horse 40. Lunch on trails. Continue drive up to Haines Falls, NY and set up base camp. Explore, swim, play ball. Dinner at camp. Games. Sleep.

Today we head towards North River in the Adirondacks for an exhilarating white water rafting trip down the 17-mile Hudson River Gorge. The exhilarating class III and IV rapids are sure to hit the spot if it’s excitement you’re looking for. Lunch and a BBQ dinner riverside. Return to camp. Games. Sleep.

Prepare to swing through the trees like Tarzan at North America’s largest aerial adventure park. Designed by Swiss mountaineers, the park consists of eight courses with 115 elements. You will move from one tree platform to the next using the many bridges, tunnels, trapezes and ziplines, some that are over 60 feet off the ground. Once our feet are back on earth, we’ll exchange stories of our day in the trees while hiking on some of the region’s finest trails.

Breakfast at camp. Kaaterskill Falls is the highest waterfall in New York. Just the site of it is enough to satiate most adventurers, but not us. First we’ll climb to the top and then, with the support of our certified climbing guides, rappel back down next to the 180 foot crown jewel of the Catskills. Want more? How about a Tyrolean traverse where you’ll pull yourself across a line from one end to the other while on a safety belay over 100 feet off the ground. Lunch at falls. Dinner at camp. Games. Sleep.

Breakfast at camp. Hike our favorite trail in the region, Devil’s Path. Although this mountainous trail is considered to be one of the most challenging in the North East, the fun crevasses, rock scrambling sections and views from the top will more than compensate for your hard effort. Dirty and sweaty after our hike, we’ll get cleaned up and refreshed while tubing the rapids of the scenic Esopus River. Dinner in Phoenicia and we’re on our way back home.

We offer adventures for everyone, no matter what your skill level. This guide will help you decide which trip is right for you.

• Activity

  How long (in hours) you may be active every day during the trip.

• Distances

  You should feel confident that you would be able to complete these distances every day of your trip.

• Surfaces

  What types of terrain you may encounter and should be prepared for on your trip.

• Elevation Change

  The largest elevation change you may encounter on your trip.

• Altitude

  The highest elevation you may reach on your trip.

Welcome to the outdoors! These trips are designed to introduce you to new challenges and new adventurers. Take in the scenery, tackle moderate elevation, experience some local flavor, and enjoy your day out of the office.

• Activity

  You can expect to be active for one to three hours. Take a long walk around Central Park to make sure you’re comfortable being outdoors and active for at least a two-hour period.

• Distances

  For our Level 1 trips, you’ll be walking or hiking less than three miles. Think about this distance in terms of the width of Manhattan. Walking from the Hudson to the East River via 14th street is just under two miles.

• Surfaces

  You’ll be walking on flat terrain. This means there will be limited rocks and a few tree roots.

• Elevation Change

  There will be little or no elevation change on this trip. To simulate the change in elevation, trying walking three flights of stairs and back.

• Altitude

  Less than 3,000 feet.

Level 2 trips will give you a taste of what hiking is all about. Test yourself on intermediate terrain, including light rock scrambles and ascending multiple peaks. The trips will invigorate you and inspire you to continue strengthening your hiking skills.

• Activity

  You can expect to be active for four to six hours. Prepare for the trip by jogging three miles around Central Park.

• Distances

  Plan on getting starter miles under your belt. You’ll be doing up to six miles on this trip. You can imagine this distance in terms of the full Central Park loop, which is 6.1 miles.

• Surfaces

  You’ll be hiking on rolling terrain. You can expect rock surfaces, steeps, roots and small boulders.

• Elevation Change

  There could be up to an accumulative 1,500 feet per day.

• Altitude

  From sea level to 6,000 feet.

Level three hikes will challenge you with a faster pace and longer distances. This hard work allows you to see more terrain and higher vistas. You should expect to be tired and fulfilled on the van ride home.

• Activity

  We’ll be out on the trails for five to eight hours. Prepare for this trip by maintaining your daily fitness regime that includes both cardio and strength.

• Distances

  Be ready to cover some serious distance. We may hike up to ten miles today before heading back to the city. This is the distance between Battery Park and Washington Heights in Manhattan.

• Surfaces

  We’ll be walking on rolling or mountainous terrain. This will require navigating various rock faces and trail conditions including steep inclines and uneven ground.

• Elevation Change

  There could be up to 2,000 feet per day.

• Altitude

  From sea level to 10,000 feet.

Deep inside you is a desire to push past your limit. On these hikes you’ll be challenged by some of the steepest elevations and technical terrain available. These trips are for endurance athletes and those who wish to push their physical abilities.

• Activity

  You can expect to be active for six to nine hours. You can best prepare for a Level 4 trip by maintaining your intense fitness regiment, trying to get your mile time below 7 minutes, and hiking consistently on the weekends.

• Distances

  Level 4 hikes can be up to 16 miles. This is the distance between Wall Street and Yonkers.

• Surfaces

  These trails will be mountainous with exposed terrain, uneven trails and steep ascents/descents. Most hikes will require not only hiking boots but also additional gear like hiking poles and headlamps.

• Elevation Change

  There could be elevation change of up to 3,000 feet per day and possible altitude.

• Altitude

  From sea level to 14,000 feet.

Prepare yourself for the ultimate outdoor experience. If you yearn to touch the sky and think the rewards outweigh the risks and extreme conditions, this is what you’re looking for. Over the course of multiple days you will be called upon to prove you belong among the best.

• Activity

  You should be ready for at least ten hours a day of pain, challenge, and constant small victories.

• Distances

  You should expect to be hiking for at least twelve miles a day. Prepare for this by racing in triathlons, training for a marathon and up keeping your hiking skills.

• Surfaces

  On Level 5 trips you will be trekking in remote mountains with exposed terrain and loose features.

• Elevation Change

  There could be elevation change of 5,000 feet per day.

• Altitude

  Altitude change could also reach up to 14,000 feet.