Middle School Travel in California

ADVENTURE AHEAD

The wilds of San Francisco, from colorful Haight-Ashbury to the boisterous sea lions of Pier 39. Infamous Alcatraz. The Golden Gate Bridge. Across the bay: Redwoods and Mt. Tamalpais. Shimmering Lake Tahoe, a playground for zip-lining, sea kayaking and paddle boarding. Yosemite National Park. And the American River rogues gallery of rapids: Meatgrinder, Troublemaker, Satan's Cesspool and Dead Man’s Drop. Not to worry: The Road Less Traveled is friendly with them all!

Northern California ’s Pacific Coast provides a fun combo of adventure travel with just the right amount of thrills. For middle school students, it’s the perfect place for an introduction to the joys of outdoor recreational and environmental activities.

Aside from marveling at nature, we also take an active role in preserving it. We spend quality time in the Sierra National Forest for environmental service, working to becomes stewards of the Earth.

We gain newfound respect for the ingenuity of humankind as bridge-builder, the magnificence of nature in trees that can live 2,000 years, the power of water that can cut through mountains and friendships that can last forever ... with The Road Less Traveled.

your world awaits

learn more about the road less traveled middle-school environmental community service and adventure trip california: pacific sun

TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE ACCOMMODATIONS:

During the first two nights of the program, we stay seaside in San Francisco in a charming lighthouse hostel. Located just 25 minutes outside the city, we enjoy the best of both worlds, balancing a tidal-pool paradise with the bustling San Francisco neighborhoods. Heading north to Yosemite, we camp beneath the stars while we volunteer in the park. Later, we relocate to another picturesque campsite for paddle boarding on America's largest alpine lake, Lake Tahoe. And for the final portion of the trip, we surf the waves at Half Moon Bay, camp in tents, and celebrate California's sunny coasts.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT EXPLORING CALIFORNIA'S NATIONAL PARKS:

From cascading waterfalls to expansive glacial valleys, Yosemite National Park is the place to be in the summertime. During our four days in the Eastern Sierra, we camp beneath the stars, explore sunny alpine meadows, and complete environmental service work in the enchanting sequoia forests. Our service work varies from year to year according to the needs of Friends of the INYO, the non-profit we partner with, but our projects typically involve trail maintenance, landscape restoration, and environmental education. We balance our challenging service work with opportunities to explore the park. During our down time, we ascend Glacier Point for breathtaking views of Yosemite Valley, Sierra Nevada, and Half Dome and then climb to the top of granite-faced Sentinel Dome for the view of a lifetime.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT PADDLEBOARDING AND HIKING AT LAKE TAHOE:

Following our service work in Yosemite, we travel to America's largest alpine lake to play in the High Sierra and take in the stunning natural beauty. While there, we hike up glacier carved canyons, meander through rainbow wildflower meadows, and test out our water skills with some paddle boarding. At the end of our three days in Lake Tahoe, we challenge ourselves with an aerial ropes course and celebrate our accomplishments before heading out to Half Moon Bay for surf camp.

WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT OUR CALIFORNIA PROGRAM:

Arjahn had a wonderful experience in San Francisco that will forever change her life and thought processes. I already see a positive change in her and her level of maturity has leaped tremendously," Susan B., Pac Sun Alumi Guardian

We went surfing on the Pacific Ocean. It was one of the best and most fun experiences I have ever had. I know we will all look back on these 2 weeks and smile and laugh," Andrew G., Pac Sun Alum

Interested in hearing more? We have hundreds of alumni families who can tell you more about their RLT experience. Please contact our office at 773-342-5200 or admissions@theroadlesstraveled.com for more info. If you'd like to read more about our safety record and our accreditations, click here.

Get READY ...

To discover the beauty, excitement and diversity of San Francisco
To look way up at some of the planet’s oldest and tallest residents: the redwoods of Muir Woods and Mt. Tamalpais State Park
To picture yourself with the famously photogenic Golden Gate Bridge

Get SET

To help preserve some of the nation’s finest scenery through environmental community service in the Eastern Sierra
To cheer on pro climbers as they take on the 3,000-foot tall El Capitan

GO!

Get soaked riding the wild South Fork rapids of the American River
Enjoy serene stand up paddle boarding on Lake Tahoe
Enjoy the wilder side of Tahoe on a nearly half-mile zip lines course through the treetops
Hike past and through the mile-high cliffs, waterfalls and streams of Yosemite Valley
Learn Surfing 101 on Half Moon Bay