About Outdoor Adventure Programs

WHAT'S AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE – THE 360° WAY?

Our Outdoor Adventures are about learning, trying things for the first time, building character, gaining confidence and making new friends. Don’t worry if you have no experience, none is required! Guides will coach you in all the necessary skills, and allow you to set your own pace. All you need is a positive attitude and the willingness to try your best!

OUR SECRET FORMULA(Shhhhh!)

We offer the widest and most unique variety of activities imaginable. To us, Outdoor Adventure is all about fun – trying new things, mixing it up, and meeting new challenges. And the fun doesn’t stop with the day. On some evenings, we camp alongside a river we’ve just rafted, circle around a bonfire under star-lit skies and reflect on the day’s achievements. On other nights, we go out on the town and enjoy a restaurant and activities like Gameworks and Whirly ball.

HAVE FUN – WE INSIST!

Our trips are not “boot camp” nor are they exercises in survival or “extreme” in any way – except of course when it comes to fun. At the same time, be prepared to challenge yourself so you can get that feeling of satisfaction and achievement at the end of every day.

ARE YOU A 360° TRAVELER?

Whether it’s your first trip away from home or you’re looking for a change from years of summer camp, if you have the desire to take part in a special group experience, then 360° Student Travel will be your summer of a lifetime! Our philosophy of “EACH & EVERY” means exceptional individual attention to create an environment where everyone is comfortable and always included. To help everyone get acquainted, we run crazy ice breakers, a zany people hunt, and throw in a number of surprises that get everyone participating and having fun.

LEADERS WORTH FOLLOWING

Our incredible directors and leaders are genuine role models and are really there for you – they are the major reason for the tremendous word of mouth each summer and we thank our many alumni for their kind letters and emails of praise. Please speak with our alumni to hear first hand about the quality and dedication of our staff. Read more about our outstanding leaders here.

360º VALUE - WHAT’S INCLUDED

From climbing gear and ski rentals to biking and camping, all technical equipment is included so there are no additional expenses. This can add up to tremendous value! We provide all tents, camping mattresses and kitchen utensils. The only items you will require are those of a personal nature such as duffel and sleeping bag.

THE THRILL OF AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

	ROCK CLIMB Safety first. We introduce you to this rewarding sport with instruction in safety and technique. All equipment is provided including harnesses, ropes, shoes, carabineers and helmets. The best professional guides in the region will lead you through the paces as you start belaying and rappelling your very first day. Each participant climbs and rappels according to their ability – there is a level for everyone!
	SNOW SKIING & SNOWBOARDING Strapping on the boards in July. What a sensation! Enjoy the unique thrill of hitting the slopes at world class Whistler Blackcomb and Timberline in Mt. Hood. Grab your helmet and don't forget sunscreen and a cool pair of shades. (This is the only activity where prior experience is necessary. An intermediate level is required. For those who choose not to ski or board, there are excellent alternatives.)
	MOUNTAIN BIKING Start pedaling. We hop on “fat-tires” and cycle along trails and down mountains. Put on your helmet and get ready for the ride of your life! Select programs offer qualified riders the additional thrills of a mountain bike descent at Whistler Mountain.
	SEA KAYAKING Start paddling. On our Pacific sea kayaking adventure, professional guides teach you everything you need to know while we share intimate contact with island and coastal environments. We use two person kayaks on an adventure you’ll remember for the rest of your life.
	SURFING Dude! On our Northwest Passage get outfitted in wetsuits for complete instruction in ocean safety, proper paddling, duck diving, and the art of catching a wave!
	MOUNTAINEERING Snow and ice in the summer? Take a walk on the glacier snow and ice atop Whistler Glacier. Outfitted with boots, crampons and an ice axe, you’ll experience the natural landscape that was sculpted by ice and volcanoes and learn how to walk using glacier equipment.
	CAVING Spelunking time! In Jasper, Alberta, you’ll hike up nearly 1,000 feet and over steep terrain to the entrance of the Cadomin Cave at 6,200 feet. Equipped with jumpsuits, helmets and headlights, you are ready to spelunk and experience the backcountry adventure of a lifetime.

WE HIRE THE BEST PROFESSIONAL GUIDES

You can enjoy the very latest safety and instruction. Whether on water or land, our guides are the leaders in their respective fields. We work with associations and governing bodies (including the Canadian River Council, American Sailing Association, and Canadian Mountain Guides) to ensure we hire the best in the business. In addition to licenses and certifications, their credentials include training in Wilderness First Aid and CPR (many are Wilderness First Responders and EMTs), Swiftwater Rescue, Risk Management and many years of experience as group facilitators, along with working year round in their respective environments.

GROUP SIZE - PERFECT RATIOS

Groups usually range from 12 to 20 participants, with a minimum ratio of 1 leader to 6 campers. For activities with professional outfitters, there are an even greater number of guides. We have a high degree of reliance on one another. From putting up tents to spotting climbers, you will be part of a team that succeeds by working together and sharing responsibility. Through cooperation and trust, your group quickly becomes a tightly-knit family. The friendships that blossom are yours forever!

CAMPING - NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED & INDOOR PLUMBING!

We lead, you learn! From day one, our leaders introduce you to the joy of camping and guide you in everything you need to know. We stay at private campsites or National and State Parks where you'll find private showers and bathroom facilities. On a very limited basis (like a sea kayaking trip) we may be at a site without the convenience of indoor plumbing. Enjoy sturdy tents with quick and simple set-up, and on 360º, we provide thermal rest mattresses so there’s no need to buy your own. BIG CITY FINISH! In major cities, usually at trip’s end, we stay indoors at a college dorm and you enjoy the excitement of city entertainment, activities and nightlife before your final banquet dinner and return home.

GETTING AROUND

You will travel around in style and comfort in deluxe SUV's which seat 7 or 8 passengers.

TASTE THE DIFFERENCE

Nutritious and delicious food is really important to us, no matter where we are. In some places it takes an extra effort to make it happen, for sure, but when did we ever shy away from extra effort? Our tour members tell us over and over again that they can’t believe how good (and plentiful) our food is –reward enough for us!

Please note: we gladly accommodate most special dietary needs including vegetarian, kosher, food allergies, and lactose intolerance.

KEEPING IN TOUCH

While you’re out having the summer of your life, your parents feel good too. They can keep in touch with our communication centers 24/7. We’re as in touch as any trip operator could possibly be – via cell phones, pagers, email and two-way radios. The goal: uncompromising safety and peace of mind, day after day, hour by hour, minute to minute.

GROUP DYNAMICS & DYNAMIC GROUPS

We’ve been providing healthy, positive group dynamics for teens for 25 years. We use this experience to make sure that every day is socially comfortable from your first day to your final banquet dinner. We take great care in assembling groups to look out for your social experience. It begins with the type of kids who join us and it helps that many of our travelers come as individuals and that we have genuinely, geographically diverse enrollment – result no cliques. Our leaders then recognize and use natural stages in group development to build and promote strong and effective relationships. When it comes down to it, how much you enjoy your trip depends on how quickly your group becomes a family. Nobody understands this better than we do.

TODAY’S STUDENT TRAVELERS, TOMORROW’S LEADERS

As you travel to new places and different cultures, the new experience may challenge your ideas and preconceived notions about how the world works. We recognize this so we develop a supportive environment to explore, question and learn. This is nurtured by our leaders’ open and nonjudgmental guidance. When the group learns to trust, respect and support each other, the opportunity for growth is amazing! We become more aware of how we judge people and discuss the way we think about them.

GIVING BACK

We believe in promoting responsibility and community, and have a long history of helping charitable organizations. Our tour members and staff have created a rock music video dedicated to the dreams of children in need who are supported by The Starlight Foundation and they have skated, bowled and rollerbladed to raise funds for over 50 special wishes to be granted. We sponsor a “Ride for Diabetes Research” team to raise fund for JDRF, and through our Adventure scholarships, we have increased opportunities for teens to enjoy our programs.

Most of our Outdoor Adventures include a day or two of Community Service as part of our experience. Groups help in various projects from assisting Park Rangers in constructing irrigation systems to managing vegetation in the wild. We recently raised funds towards the building of an interpretive center in Banff for bear safety and preservation. If you require, we can submit a letter of record for your school files.

Do a 360°! What are you waiting for?