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Earth Adventures FAQs

  1. How old must my child be?
    Your child must be 13 to 18 years old in order to participate in our adventures.
  2. Are there scholarships available?
    We are not offering scholarships at this time.
  3. Is transportation provided?
    Transportation is not being provided at this time to and from the activity.
  4. What gear will I need?
    This information will be sent to you prior to the trip. For each style of trip, the gear list is a little different. We do have gear that can be checked out if you don’t own something that is on the gear list. Usual gear needed is rain gear, fleece jacket, long underwear/base layer, shirt, bra/underwear, socks, a sun hat as well as a warm hat, and appropriate shoes. For most activities we ask that there is no cotton clothing.
  5. Where and When do trips start?
    The location and time for each activity change depending on the trip. We will normally meet in the morning on the beginning day and end late morning or early evening of the last day. These details will be passed along to you after registration.
  6. What does a typical day look like?
    Most days will consist of wake-up, morning stretching, breakfast, get dressed/pack gear for day, take down camp, move into activity for the day (hiking, rafting, sailing, etc.), lunch, get into camp, set up camp, down time, dinner, evening activity, bedtime.
  7. Where will I sleep?
    On almost all of our trips each night will be spent sleeping in a sleeping bag, inside a tent, on the dirt, on the earth.
  8. Who are the trip leaders?
    Your trip leaders are 4-H facilitators and experienced outdoor educators with extensive experience working with youth in the outdoors. All instructors are Wilderness First Responder First-Aid Certified and have passed background checks.
  9. What will I eat?
    We enjoy cooking good food in the backcountry! Eating well is important to us and or menu changes depending on the activity. The main parts of our menu includes oatmeal, granola and fruit for breakfast. Sandwiches and snacks for lunch. And dinner consists of rice, pasta, beans, veggies, and sometimes meat.
    A typical menu might look like:

    • Breakfast: Granola and yogurt or Oatmeal with brown sugar and fruit
    • Lunch: Cheese and crackers, peanut butter and jelly, bagels and cream cheese, dried or fresh fruit
    • Dinner: Rice and beans with tortillas, pasta and sauce, or macaroni and cheese
    • Snacks: Trail mix, granola bars, jolly ranchers, and fruit
  10. Can you accommodate my food allergy or special diet?
    Yes. We can easily accommodate vegetarians, vegans, lactose and gluten-free as well as students with certain food allergies. If you have any special dietary restrictions (nut allergies, lactose intolerance, wheat allergy, etc.), please list them on your health form. Please contact us if you have questions or last-minute changes.
  11. What if I have prescription meds?
    All prescription medications must be noted on your medical form prior to the course. Instructors oversee use of all medications. Please bring your prescription medications and non-prescription medications in separate, labeled, non-breakable, waterproof containers (Ziploc bags are great!).
  12. Should I bring my contacts and glasses on course?
    Either glasses or contact lenses are acceptable on our trips. Regardless of what you wear, we recommend you bring extra contacts and your glasses.
  13. Can I bring a camera?
    Yes! Photography is a great way to take in the moment. Smaller, lightweight cameras are easier to carry. Bring a good case because our trips are rigorous and you run the risk of losing or damaging your camera. Consider purchasing a waterproof bag or box for your camera, film, batteries and memory cards. A Ziploc bag works well, in a pinch. If you are worried, play it safe and bring a disposable camera. Instructors will also be taking photos during your trip and sharing them on Facebook.
  14. What should I not bring?
    Please leave all valuables such as jewelry, iPods and iPads, MP3 players, cell phones, E-readers, hand-held video games, GPS devices and CD players. Due to the potentially wet and outdoor nature of the places we travel, only watches, small flashlights, headlamps and cameras are allowed. Other items not allowed are weapons, including camping knives and hatchets, fireworks, tobacco products, illegal drugs and alcohol. Instructors will be inspecting your personal items before each trip.
  15. Will I be able to shower?
    No, the places we travel do not offer us the opportunity to shower. 5 days is not that long and your hair will look better afterwards…. I promise.
  16. How do I go to the bathroom?
    In the backcountry, nearly every campground will have a pit toilet with toilet paper. When not near a campground, students will learn how to properly dispose of waste in the backcountry following Leave No Trace principles.
  17. Hygiene?
    Is a very important aspect of our trips. We usually ask that you do not bring deodorant and other fragrant items. Deodorant is not good to wear if you are not showering consistently as you do at home. You can bring a small pack of baby wipes to help stay clean. We will also brush our teeth and follow Leave-No-Trace principles as we do so.
  18. What if I start my period/menstruation on course?
    You will use the same products and methods you would use at home. We follow Leave-No-Trace principles for disposal of these products in the outdoors. Even if you do not expect to get your period during the course, we recommend you bring a small amount of supplies just in case. Instructors will also have extra supplies.
  19. Camp chores?
    While on our trips there will be many tasks in camp that will need to be shared between everyone. A few may be setting up shelters, helping in the kitchen, doing dishes, sweeping camp for trash, building a fire, and retrieving water for drinking and cooking.
  20. Will my family be able to get a hold of me?
    In the field there is no cell service. Your family can get a hold of the program director, listed on our website. More information on this will be included in the pre-trip information after registration.
  21. How physically challenging are the trips?
    Our trips can be challenging, most adventure you will just need to be able to walk a short distance while carrying your bag and help with moving gear. Our Mountaineering and Backpacking trips will be more challenging and will need a little bit more preparation.
  22. How should I prepare for my trip?
    For trips like Backpacking and Mountaineering you can prepare by carrying a small amount of weight in a backpack with a hip belt up inclines. If you have the boots you are going to wear, you should make sure they fit well and wear them around a bit if they are new, there is nothing worse then trying to break boots in on the trail.
  23. Do I need to know how to swim?
    No. You do not need to know how to swim to participate in any of our courses. All students are required to wear personal flotation devices while whitewater rafting and sailing.
  24. Do I have to carry all of my stuff with me?
    Yes! You will be carrying all of your gear, food and some group gear on these adventures. This will be broken out at the beginning of your trip.
  25. What if I need to cancel?
    Contact the Program Coordinator, Seth Wendzel at 509-667-6540 or seth.wendzel@wsu.edu to cancel.
  26. What is your refund policy?
    See our cancellation policy here.
  27. Where did the name come from?
    It was thought up by great minds who want to inspire you to live by what it means, Experience, Awareness, Relationships, Transformation, and Health (EARTH).
  28. Will going on a trip improve my dating prospects?
    Maybe. Probably. That’s not why we’re here, but we can’t rule out the possibility that going on an EARTH Adventures trip will make you more awesome.