Our trips can take you anywhere: dogsledding in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, spelunking in North Carolina, backpacking the Grand Canyon, paddling the Huron River, and more. Whether you want to take off for a couple of hours, a day or a week, let us handle the details—like food, transportation, logistics, trip leaders, and outdoor equipment—while you take in the great outdoors.
Whether you’re a seasoned sport climber or don’t know what a figure eight follow through knot is, this is a great opportunity to get climbing on real rock! Grand Ledge is a unique geologic anomaly in the Lower Peninsula in that there is exposed rock! Thirty-five foot cliffs are a great way to hone skills or try out top-roping for the first time.
Venture with us for a peaceful day down the winding Huron River. This Michigan river is longer than you think – we’ll have to drive North to escape the crowds so we can enjoy sweet, sweet serenity as we float, paddle and gaze all day.
Venture with us for a peaceful day down the winding Huron River. This Michigan river is longer than you think – we’ll have to drive North to escape the crowds so we can enjoy sweet, sweet serenity as we float, paddle and gaze all day.
Leave your studies behind, and join your classmates for a breath (or two) of fresh air along the pristine and picturesque Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore. Exploring the sandstone cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, forest and Lake Superior are all highlights of this trip. This pristine wilderness offers outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to experience an area truly unique to the Midwest. The bulk of the hike follows the coastline atop sandstone cliffs that erupt 200 feet out of the vast Lake Superior.
Want to break into the art of camping, but don’t know where to start? Then this is just the trip for you! Adventure Leadership will be running a “Half Over” — a practical teaching camp experience for those looking to get away from the city lights for the night. We’ll cook a camp meal, make s’mores over the fire, set up tents and show you how to follow the “Leave No Trace” mentality. All equipment will be demonstrated by our trip leaders, so you can feel confident using it. At the end of the evening, you can decide to either stay the night in the tent, or shuttle back to your home to sleep. Come join us!
Want to break into the art of camping, but don’t know where to start? Then this is just the trip for you! Adventure Leadership will be running a “Half Over” — a practical teaching camp experience for those looking to get away from the city lights for the night. We’ll cook a camp meal, make s’mores over the fire, set up tents and show you how to follow the “Leave No Trace” mentality. All equipment will be demonstrated by our trip leaders, so you can feel confident using it. At the end of the evening, you can decide to either stay the night in the tent, or shuttle back to your home to sleep. Come join us!
Whether you’re a seasoned sport climber or don’t know what a figure eight follow through knot is, this is a great opportunity to get climbing on real rock! Grand Ledge is a unique geologic anomaly in the Lower Peninsula in that there is exposed rock! Thirty-five foot cliffs are a great way to hone skills or try out top-roping for the first time.
Head up north with us for some crazy stars and beautiful day hikes! We will camp at Wilderness State Park on the shores of Lake Michigan, hike along the lake and inland, and at night visit the Headlands International Dark Sky Park to get a dazzling view of the night sky.
First Ascent
The First Ascent program provides incoming U‑M freshmen with an opportunity to connect with fellow freshmen in small groups for camping, hiking, paddling and exploring the state’s natural areas. Casual campfire discussions are led by upper-level undergrads or grad students and center around the transition to college and all things U‑M. The goal of First Ascent is to help participants grow in self-esteem, self-reliance and confidence—and to have a great time!
All gear is provided. No experience is necessary.
We’ve worked with University Housing to coordinate our First Ascent trips with move-in. If your trip starts in late August and ends on an official move-in date, you can move your belongings in to your room before the trip begins.
Register for the tripon our online store. You will be asked a few questions to complete the reservation.
Look for an email confirmation upon reservation. Later on, we’ll also send along info like packing lists, trip logistics and a few forms that we’ll want you to complete and send back ASAP.
If your trip has one, attend the mandatory pre-trip meeting. This meeting is held a few days in advance of each trip so we can talk together about trip details, logistics and our agenda.
Arrive at the Rental Center on the day of your trip and have a great time on your adventure!
Your fee includes all adventure gear like tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, camp stoves, kayaks, etc. It also includes meals and snacks, and we’ll take care of getting you from U‑M to the adventure site and back.
Generally, you only need to bring trip-appropriate clothing, shoes, toiletries and money for meals on the road.
We’re always looking for enthusiastic and adventurous people to help plan and lead our trips. If you’re interested in becoming an Adventure Leadership Trip Leader, or if you just want to learn some new outdoor skills, come to our Michigan Outdoor Leadership Semester (MOLS) workshops. Taught by our staff, these workshops will instruct you on a variety of topics and are the first step in training to be a trip leader.
Join us for a special MOLS session at the local Ann Arbor outdoor retailer, Bivouac! We’ll cover backcountry cooking with a whisperlite demo. The session is free and open to the public. Bivouac is located on 336 S. State Street.
Wilderness First Aid Courses
Wilderness First Aid
This course covers all the basics you should know before heading out into the wilderness with family, friends, or by yourself. By providing a combination of medical knowledge and hands-on training this short, intense course prepares you to react appropriately accidents, injuries, and illnesses.
Our Wilderness First Responder courses are designed specifically to meet the needs of wilderness guides, expedition leaders, and outdoor instructors, and is the outdoor education and recreation industry’s standard for wilderness medical training. This is the wilderness medicine training course for outdoor professionals and the course you want your friends to have taken before you travel with them. This course uses the Wilderness Medicine Training Center’s unique Distance Learning Project. Participants complete a course of study and tests online prior to the start of the practical on-site training.
Explore exotic locations, stand on the highest peaks and be part of the gripping tales that make the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour. Join Recreational Sports’ Adventure Leadership program as they host the Ann Arbor stop of this thrilling film fest at The Michigan Theater!
Date
TBD, 2019
Location
The Michigan Theater, 603 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Each trip follows a different set of policies and guidelines. We typically cover this information in our mandatory pre-trip meetings. These meetings are held a few days before your trip; if you have questions at any time, contact us.