Student Description
This 4-day, 3-night Backpacking Course has been designed with high schoolers grades freshman through seniors in mind. This trip is for students who want to unplug and enter deeper into the heart of God in His creation. The elements of a beautiful setting and a group of students desiring to know God deeper while unplugging from our busy society and plugging into our Creator is a great combination for transformation. Your spirit will be refreshed with Bible study, relationship, and retreat. Through solo experiences, the challenge of long hikes, and the fellowship of other brothers and sisters in Christ, you will discover how much God cares about your heart. If you are a student that has a vision of yourselves experiencing God with other high school students in a way that is unique and rewarding, enroll in this unique backpacking trip. It will be a time of community building, prayer, discovery, renewal, and of course an unforgettable experience! There is no prior outdoor experience required, just a willing heart and adventurous spirit, so come as you are and invite your friends! Northern Lakes Impact Center provides all of your technical and group equipment and gear.
Your journey will begin at Northern Lakes Impact Center where you will work on teambuilding and a few technical skills. Then you will travel from there to the Wisconsin Nicolet National Forest, where you will spend 4 days on the trail learning the fundamentals of living in the wilderness. As you travel through the National Forest, your Northern Lakes Impact Center Instructor will teach you technical skills such as how to pack a backpack, understand and read a topographic map, navigate on and off the trail, prepare and cook in the backcountry, and enjoy and take care of God’s beautiful creation. Each day, we will pick one student who will act as the group leader, and will be the one making and executing the daily wilderness travel plan. They will also be responsible for routes, travel, safety, and group morale. This unique wilderness experience will create opportunities for practical leadership skills, spiritual and friendship growth, having new adventures, and leading you to gain more confidence and skills useful beyond your wilderness experience.
Considerations
This course has been designed with high school athletes in mind, however, it is also important to be aware of some of the potential emotional, mental, and physical challenges you may face while on this trip. Below is a list of the things to consider before signing up for this trip.
You will be carrying a backpack with your gear and group gear in it. This pack will weigh roughly 30-50% of your body weight.
You will be hiking on uneven terrain.
You may be hiking 3 to 6 miles per day.
Days on the trail are often long and you may be required to be up 7:00 am to 9:00 pm.
You may be stretched emotionally, mentally, and physically through long days on the trail, working with others, and spending time with God.
Learning Objectives
Though you will be participating in outdoor activities as a team daily as you living and move throughout the trip, these are not the main focus of this trip, but they are the tools and experiences being use for your own personal growth, challenge, and spiritual refinement. You will be challenged by working with others on daily tasks. You will be challenged to hike farther and longer than you think you can. You will grow personally by pushing yourself through the different challenges you face. You will grow spiritually as we discuss the lessons in the devotional provided as well as what you choose to focus on and reflect on in your own personal quiet time with God. Here at Northern Lakes Impact Center, we pray that this wilderness experience will lead you to a renewed identity in Christ, a deeper confidence in yourself, new lifelong friendships, and a gaining of leadership skills.
Skills covered on this trip include, but are not limited to:
On / off trail navigation
Camp set-up / tear down
Backcountry cooking
SOLO experiences
Leave No Trace and Creation Care
Overcoming personal challenges
Characteristics of Christ-centered living