Inner Guide Expeditions

Few things foster a greater level of gratitude for life than the experiences one has in the forest.

A rite of passage for middle school & high school students.

Our backcountry immersion expeditions, designed specifically for youth, help young adults grow into aware, caring, capable humans.

We take teens into wild places with the intention of expanding their understanding of both their inner and outer worlds, creating fertile ground for confidence that sticks.

Along the way they learn about map and compass navigation, backcountry cooking, gear care, personal responsibility, situational awareness and leadership.

The result? Teens who return more conscientious, more prepared, and more connected to themselves, to others, and to what really matters.

If your teen is ready for a summer that inspires and challenges them, we’d love to share what’s coming up.
Drop a comment or send us a message and we’ll find a trip that suits them best.

📸 from our Iceland and Tour Du Mont Blanc trip last summer

Teens don’t build confidence by being rescued, they build it by doing hard things and being supported through the process.

We teach backpacking skills, yes.
But what we’re really teaching is how to lead yourself, especially when things get hard.
One thing we've observed over the years is that confidence follows a new awareness of ones own innate capability.

Healthy challenge is essential for authentic growth.

Where is your teen getting experiences of appropriate challenge? Where are they getting support from mentors to fuel their development?

Curious if it’s a fit?
We are serving just 40 teens this summer on 4 different adventures in 3 states and 6 countries.
Send us a message—we’re happy to help you think it through.

Teens aren’t “lazy.” They’re flooded.
Constant input. Constant comparison. Constant noise.
Being in the wilderness gives them something rare: an opportunity to slow down and experience a sense of real simplicity and peace.

The experiences we craft result in far more than just a trip.

This year, we aim to amplify what time in the wilderness does best: to open our eyes, hearts, minds, and experiences to grow and explore ourselves, our potential, and the relationships that fuel a life well-lived.

Teens can expect experiences and guidance that builds confidence, enhances situational awareness, and provides opportunities for deep self-reflection.

Parents can expect clear communication from our team, and a program designed to meet their teens “on the edge of their unfolding”, (right where they’re at) and help them come home more inspired and grounded in themselves.
Intentional circles, personal inquiry, and 1:1 mentoring encourage deeper explorations into self, support in the crux moments, and a celebratory witnessing as the “ah-ha” moments take place.

What teen do you know who could use this kind of support?
Perhaps they will be among the 40 youth that Inner Guide Expeditions will serve this summer.

Registration is now open for our summer trips.

We're excited about a year of doubling down on what matters most... transformational time spent outside.

On our 2026 summer trips, we’ll continue teaching teens the skills that help them feel steady and capable in the backcountry, while offering space for deep self-reflection and personal growth.

Additionally, behind the scenes, our founder Tom Shelstad is working on another special project, a place called Alpine Lakes High Camp—a space where adventurers can connect with the wild and with each other.

Here’s to a year of purposeful time outside—and the people we become because of it.

Teens don’t just “go outside” on our expeditions — they learn how to lead themselves in the backcountry.
On our multi-day trips young adults build real-world skills:
• packing and caring for gear
• map + compass navigation
• cooking and camp systems
• decision-making and situational awareness

But the biggest shift is internal: confidence, self-reflection, and resilience.
Parents often tell us their teens return more conscientious, more communicative, and more capable — with a deeper appreciation for life.

Want to see this year’s trip options and dates? Take a look at our upcoming expeditions—link in the comments.

Summer is for inspiring the soul. Wilderness is the way of simplicity to hear the calling of authentic connection away from the digital landscapes and into the mountains, lakes, rivers, and ourselves.

Inner Guide Expeditions still as a few spots open for this season:

For Middle Schoolers:
10-day Trinity Alps Backpacking and Surfing on the California Coast: June 10-19. 2 Spots available.

For High Schoolers:
14-day Backpacking and Canoeing in North Cascades National Park: July 8-21. 3 spots available.

More details on our website, in the comments.

Partial Scholarships are available, as well as payment plans are available.

Its in the air.. The smell of spring, the rush of the rivers, and the call to adventure.
Summer is a time to expand, explore, connect, and grow.
We are proud to offer wilderness tripos for teens that inspire, encourage, and help guide them on their path to becoming a full-fledged adult in this ever-changing world.
With adventures for both Middle and High Schoolers, ranging in length from 10-25 days long, we look forward to long days in the backcountry.
Find out more about our individual offerings on our website (in the comments) or reach out to me directly at (541)301-9096

This August, an unforgettable journey that will transform the way your teen sees the world. The Tour du Mount Blanc isn’t just a hike- it’s a life changing adventure that challenges, inspires, and connects us with nature in a way few experiences can.

Designed for teens ages 14-18, this adventure will push boundaries and create memories that last a lifetime.

Link in bio for more information 🔗

A parents reflection on Inner Guide Expeditions:
“During the pandemic our children's elderly grandparents were living with us and we had to show an abundance of caution that included long term social distancing. The consequences were devastating to the kids and hit our youngest son especially hard. In a quest to meet the fundamental importance of connection, our son was not only limited in interaction from online classes but found people online gaming. He fell down the "rabbit hole." Turning the tide on the devastation of isolation, and predatory internet products geared to addict young people, was a task too big for parents to resolve alone.
We invested our savings / funds toward college tuition into Inner Expeditions with "blind faith " and hope that everything we heard in reviews and testimonials would be worth the economic risk we were taking. Without a strong foundation, or sons future was at risk, and the purpose and competition of college was out of focus.
Our son has returned from his program with Inner Guide transformed. He has pushed back against vices and poor habits that served to disengage and derail him. Today he is thriving. It is no doubt that during the trip to Iceland and TMB he was not merely sightseeing, or hiking, it is truly an inner journey of self discovery. The challenges he faced pushed through the hard veneer of coping to re engage with the core of who he is. He developed meaningful relationships and built confidence he had lost long ago.
Today he thrives.
Our heartfelt gratitude to Tom Shelstad and Inner Guide Expeditions for being our village. Whether your teen is faced with challenges to overcome or just to recognize the importance of the different stages in transitioning from childhood to adulthood, this program is foundational to best outcomes in this monumental life transition. “
~ Parent from Summer of 2024

2025 Summer Offerings:

Summer Middle School:
• 10-days Backpacking in the Trinity Alps/Surfing: June 10-June 19

Summer High School:
• 14-Days Backpacking/Canoeing in the N. Cascades National Park: July 8-21
• 17-Day Iceland Backpacking + Trekking the Tour Du Mont Blanc: August 3- 19

Adult Trip:
• 12-Day Tour Du Mont Blanc: August 20-31

Custom Family Trip:
• A Custom Family Expedition is available for one lucky group
- Inquire for more details about this very special offering

Go to www.innerguideexpeditions.com or call Tom at (541)301-9096