High Sierra Alpine Backpack & Rock Climb
A 14-day backpacking and rock climbing expedition in the High Sierra for teens.
▌ Editor's read Outward Bound is a well-established non-profit organization with over 80 years of experience in outdoor education, founded by Kurt Hahn. The organization is ACA accredited, with their accreditation expiring in 2025, indicating adherence to recognized safety and quality standards. The specific High Sierra program for 16-18 year olds focuses on alpine backpacking and rock climbing, with a stated staff-to-student ratio of 1:5, which is excellent for wilderness programs. The website explicitly mentions that all staff undergo background checks, ensuring participant safety. The program is an overnight wilderness expedition, emphasizing skill development, leadership, and resilience in a challenging natural environment.
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ACA-accredited~300 standards audited
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Since 194680+ years operating
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Nonprofit operator501(c)(3) tax-exempt
Who thrives here Ages 16–18
High Sierra Alpine Backpack & Rock Climb serves high-school campers, which means the program is competing against summer jobs, college visits, internships, and residential overnight options. The case for a day camp at this age is usually a CIT (counselor-in-training) track, deep specialization in outdoors/nature, or a portfolio item parents and kids both value. Programs that don't articulate one of those three usually lose this age band by 9th grade.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Overnight camp
- ACA accredited
- Yes
- Established
- 1946 (80 years)
- Operator
- Nonprofit organization
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Published by camp see camp site →
Details
- Category: Outdoors/Nature
- Ages: 16–18
- Address: Outward Bound California, 1550 Yosemite Valley Rd, El Portal, CA 95318
- Phone: 866-467-7651
- Email: [email protected]
- Cost notes: $5,680 for a 14-day course.
↗ What parents like
- Scholarship opportunities available
- College credit can be earned
↘ Watch for
- Physically demanding expedition
Logistics
- Lunch provided: Yes
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: outdoor
Frequently asked about High Sierra Alpine Backpack & Rock Climb
- What ages does High Sierra Alpine Backpack & Rock Climb accept?
- High Sierra Alpine Backpack & Rock Climb is open to children ages 16–18. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does High Sierra Alpine Backpack & Rock Climb cost?
- High Sierra Alpine Backpack & Rock Climb publishes $1,995/week for the standard session. $5,680 for a 14-day course. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- Is High Sierra Alpine Backpack & Rock Climb accredited?
- Yes — High Sierra Alpine Backpack & Rock Climb is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and has been operating for 80 years. ACA accreditation means the camp has been audited against ~300 health, safety, and program-quality standards covering staffing, supervision ratios, emergency response, and program design.
- Who runs High Sierra Alpine Backpack & Rock Climb?
- High Sierra Alpine Backpack & Rock Climb is operated by a nonprofit organization, with 80 years of operating history. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does High Sierra Alpine Backpack & Rock Climb provide lunch?
- Yes — High Sierra Alpine Backpack & Rock Climb includes lunch in the program. Confirm whether it's a hot lunch, cold lunch, or a snack-plus-bring-your-own setup, and ask about allergy accommodations if relevant.
- How does High Sierra Alpine Backpack & Rock Climb compare to other outdoors/nature camps in El Portal?
- High Sierra Alpine Backpack & Rock Climb is one of 6 outdoors/nature camps in El Portal that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare High Sierra Alpine Backpack & Rock Climb with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
- Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.
- Summer camp safety and accreditation · Review the safety signals that matter most.
Camps near here
Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside High Sierra Alpine Backpack & Rock Climb.
- High Sierra Backpack & Rock Climb · Ages 18–25 · $1,995/week
- High Sierra Pathfinder Backpack & Rock Climb · Ages 18–25 · $1,700/week
- High Sierra Backpack & Rock Climb · Ages 18–25 · $1,995/week
- High Sierra Backpack & Rock Climb · Ages 18–25 · $2,100/week
- High Sierra LGBTQ+ Alpine Backpack & Rock Climb · Ages 16–18 · $1,995/week
- High Sierra LGBTQ+ Alpine Backpack & Rock Climb · Ages 16–18 · $1,995/week
- High Sierra Pathfinder Backpack & Rock Climb · Ages 18–25 · $1,700/week
- High Sierra Girls Backpack & Rock Climb · Ages 13–14 · $2,000/week