Adventure Treks

What Adventure Treks does

Adventure Treks is a privately-held, founder-owned outdoor adventure education company founded in 1993 and headquartered in Flat Rock, North Carolina. The company operates tech-free summer adventure programs for teens ages 12-19 across more than 40 trips spanning the U.S. (Pacific Northwest, Alaska, California, Wyoming, Colorado, Maine, North Carolina), Canada (British Columbia), and international destinations including Belize, Slovenia, Norway, Peru, and Nepal. Activities encompass backpacking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, sea kayaking, summit hikes, and via ferrata, with tuition published between $3,195 (10-day Pacific Northwest Discovery) and $7,395 (30-day Leadership Summit) for the 2026 season. The company also runs custom 4-10 day outdoor education programs for 6th-12th grade public and private schools and, since 2024, operates Adventure Treks Travel Company (ATTC) as a separate brand offering high-end, small-group adventure trips for adults and families.

The operating model is built around a 4:1 student-to-instructor ratio (industry-best versus 5-6:1 at peers), with 40+ seasonal instructors supported by a full-time leadership team. Staff are hired through a rigorous process (3+ interviews, 4+ reference checks, background checks) and trained for 2-3 weeks annually; all hold at minimum Wilderness First Responder certification, and senior trip leaders average 4.5 years of tenure. The underlying technology stack is light: CampInTouch (third-party enrollment/account management platform at adventuretreks.campintouch.com), PayPal donation processing for the Charlie Wellman Memorial Fund scholarship, Vimeo-hosted video, and Google reCAPTCHA on forms. The company operates without disclosed external funding and remains owned by co-founders David "Dmac" McGlashan and Amanda Fox-McGlashan.

The business model is direct-to-consumer for teen and ATTC travel (with a Refer a Friend program, SEO, content marketing, and school/agency referrals as acquisition channels) and consultative enterprise sales for custom school programs. Published pricing uses unit pricing for teen tuition and ATTC trips and quote-based per-student pricing for school contracts. The Charlie Wellman Memorial Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 20-3168957) named after a student who died in 2005, subsidizes 20-50% of tuition for qualifying teens, providing both philanthropic impact and a price-discrimination channel that expands addressable enrollment.

Name

Adventure Treks

Legal name

Adventure Treks

Website

https://adventuretreks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Adventure Treks is a privately-held, founder-owned outdoor adventure camp operator founded in 1993, running tech-free summer programs for teens ages 12-19 across 40+ domestic and international trips, custom school outdoor education programs, and adult/family trips via its 2024-launched Adventure Treks Travel Company (ATTC) brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Teen Outdoor Adventure Camps

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Adventure Camps & Summer Programs (THAAAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

School Group & Curriculum-Led Trips (THAKAGAB), Student & Youth Educational Tours (THAKAGAA), Cultural & Environmental Education Expeditions (Citizen Science, Conservation Volunteering) (THAAAOAH)

Keywords

• Teen summer camps
• Outdoor adventure programs
• Wilderness youth programs
• Custom school outdoor education
• Guided adventure travel

Headquarters

HQ city

Flat Rock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Teen summer camp tuition: One-time, per-trip tuition paid by families enrolling teens ages 12–19 in 10- to 30-day adventure trips. Published 2026 prices range from approximately $3,195 (10-day Pacific Northwest Discovery) to $7,395 (Leadership Summit, 30 days). $1,000 deposit due at enrollment with balance by trip start date; payment plans available.
2. Custom school educational programs: Custom 4- to 10-day outdoor education programs sold to public and private schools for 6th- through 12th-grade classes. Pricing is per-student with staff-to-student ratio and logistics bundled. Engagement begins with discovery call and proposal.
3. Adventure Treks Travel Company (adult/family trips): High-end, small-group adventure travel packages for adults and families, launched in 2024 under a separate ATTC brand. Includes destinations like Norway, Peru, Galapagos, Nepal, Bhutan, Portugal, Pacific Northwest, and Yellowstone. Premium pricing model with boutique accommodations.
4. Charlie Wellman Memorial Fund donations (scholarship-linked): Charitable donations to the CWMF 501(c)(3) subsidize scholarship awards (typically 20–50% of tuition) for deserving teen students. While donations themselves are not revenue, the underlying tuition payments from scholarship-aided families contribute to overall revenue at a discounted effective rate.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Adventure Treks designs and operates tech-free, multi-day outdoor adventure trips for teenagers ages 12–19 across more than 40 itineraries in the U.S. and internationally, with activities including backpacking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, sea kayaking, and summit hikes. The core teen program is extended by custom 4- to 10-day outdoor education programs sold to public and private schools (grades 6–12) and by a separate 2024-launched adult and family adventure travel brand (Adventure Treks Travel Company). Pricing is all-inclusive per trip, with a $1,000 enrollment deposit, balance due before trip start, and scholarships of 20–50% of tuition available through the affiliated Charlie Wellman Memorial Fund.

Product overview

Adventure Treks operates a portfolio of tech-free outdoor adventure products centered on its core Teen Summer Adventure Camps program for ages 12-19. This core program is delivered through multiple destination-specific sub-products such as the Pacific Northwest Discovery, Yellowstone Teton Adventure, California Challenge, Alaska Expedition, Norway Expedition, Himalayas Expedition, Belize Adventure, Ultimate Slovenia, Peru & Machu Picchu, and the Leadership Summit. The core teen product is extended by the Adventure Treks Travel Company (ATTC) sub-brand for adult and family trips, by Custom School Outdoor Education Programs for grades 6-12, and by the Charlie Wellman Memorial Fund scholarship program that provides need-based financial aid. Together these form a single-company portfolio rather than a modular software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Adventure Treks Travel Company: Dedicated to high-end, small-group adventure travel for adults and families, extending Adventure Treks' outdoor experience philosophy to grown-ups and family travelers.
• Adventure Treks Travel Co (ATTC)

Products and services

• Teen Summer Adventure Camps Tech-free multi-day to multi-week outdoor adventure trips for students ages 12–19 across 40+ itineraries in destinations including the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, California, Wyoming/Grand Teton, Colorado, Maine, North Carolina, British Columbia, Belize, Slovenia, Norway, Peru, Nepal/Himalayas, and the Leadership Summit. Activities include backpacking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, sea kayaking, summit hikes, and via ferrata. Pricing is all-inclusive (gear, food, instruction, activities) with a $1,000 deposit at enrollment and balance due before trip start; tuition for 2026 ranges from $3,195 for the 10-day Pacific Northwest Discovery to $7,395 for the 30-day Leadership Summit.
• Adventure Treks Travel Company (ATTC) - Adult & Family Trips Premium small-group guided adventure travel for adults and families in destinations including Norway, Peru, the Galapagos, Nepal, Bhutan, Portugal, the Pacific Northwest, and Yellowstone/Grand Teton, with boutique accommodations and active outdoor days. Operated as a separate sub-brand via its own e-commerce website and shares the parent company's guides, philosophy, and operational DNA.
• Custom School Outdoor Education Programs Tailored 4- to 10-day multi-day outdoor education programs sold to public and private schools for 6th- through 12th-grade classes, covering backpacking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, sea kayaking, natural science, and team-building. Programs accommodate from 12 students up to groups of 100+, with bundled staff-to-student ratios and logistics, and a consultative sales motion starting with a discovery call and tailored proposal.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000+ students served since 1993
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core operational, flagship (new business line), flagship philanthropic, minor (curriculum framework), minor (industry association) and minor.

• CampInTouchcore operationalTechnology or IntegrationEnrollment and account management platform powering Adventure Treks' re-enrollment and admissions workflows. Provides parent/student accounts, payment processing, document management, and trip-specific resources like packing lists, travel information, and photo albums. Returning families log in at adventuretreks.campintouch.com.
• Adventure Treks Travel Company (ATTC)flagship (new business line)Strategic or Co-development PartnerSeparate adult and family adventure travel brand spun out of Adventure Treks in 2024, dedicated to high-end, small-group adventure travel. Operates its own website (adventuretrekstravel.com) and shares philosophy, guides expertise, and brand DNA with the parent teen-camp brand.
• Charlie Wellman Memorial Fund (CWMF)flagship philanthropicStrategic or Co-development Partner501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization providing scholarships (20–50% of tuition) for Adventure Treks students based on economic need and motivation. 100% of donations go directly to scholarships; EIN 20-3168957. Accepts donations via PayPal, online application, and mailed checks.
• Battelle for Kidsminor (curriculum framework)Strategic or Co-development PartnerAdventure Treks closely follows and aligns its program with research from Battelle for Kids (formerly Partnership for 21st Century Learning), specifically their 'Great 8' non-cognitive/social outcomes framework.
• America Outdoorsminor (industry association)OthersDmac (David McGlashan) currently serves as president of the board for America Outdoors; Amanda Fox-McGlashan serves on the marketing task force. Industry trade association for outdoor recreation businesses.
• BIPOC Outdoor Collectiveminor (industry association)OthersAmanda Fox-McGlashan serves as the communications chair on the board of the BIPOC Outdoor Collective. Industry/D&I-focused outdoor recreation organization.
• Integritive Web DesignminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAsheville, NC-based web design agency that built and maintains the Adventure Treks website (footer credit: 'Website by Integritive Web Design :: Asheville, NC').
• Local outfitters and third-party guides (international trips)core operationalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAdventure Treks works with vetted local guides and outfitters for international trips (Peru, Norway, Belize, Slovenia, Alaska, etc.), prioritizing qualifications, youth-experience, and safety records over lowest-cost sourcing. Same partners used consistently across seasons to maintain quality and trust.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Road Less Traveled: Road Less Traveled (RLT) operates small-group teen summer adventure travel programs focused on active outdoor experiences domestically and abroad. Both companies target the same demographic of high schoolers and parents with multi-week premium itineraries covering rafting, backpacking, and cultural immersion.
• Outward Bound USA: Outward Bound USA is the most direct peer - the original expedition-based outdoor education provider for teens and adults, operating multi-day wilderness courses at a higher 6:1 ratio (vs. Adventure Treks' 4:1). Adventure Treks explicitly benchmarks against Outward Bound in its comparison pages, and both serve the teen and school-program markets with similar activities (backpacking, rafting, climbing).
• Rustic Pathways: Rustic Pathways operates teen summer travel programs with a strong emphasis on international destinations and community service, overlapping Adventure Treks' international trip portfolio (Peru, Nepal, etc.). Both target teens 12-19 with multi-week premium-priced itineraries and compete for the same parent buyer during the summer enrollment cycle.
• Putney Student Travel: Putney Student Travel (now Go Putney) is a Vermont-based teen summer travel provider specializing in language immersion, community service, and adventure trips for middle and high schoolers. Both companies sell multi-week premium international teen experiences with similar tuition bands and overlap in destinations like Peru and the Pacific Northwest.
• Holbrook Travel: Holbrook Travel designs educational group travel programs for schools, universities, and nature-based organizations, directly competing with Adventure Treks' custom school outdoor education division. Both sell 4-10 day multi-day student programs with per-student pricing and consultative sales motions to administrators and teachers.
• National Geographic Student Expeditions: National Geographic Student Expeditions offers middle and high school students guided summer travel experiences led by experts, featuring photography, conservation, and adventure itineraries globally. Both compete for teen summer travel enrollment with premium-priced international expeditions and similar duration and activity mix.
• Where There Be Dragons: Where There Be Dragons designs experiential summer programs for high school students focused on cross-cultural immersion and adventure in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Adventure Treks' international lineup (Himalayas, Peru, Norway, Belize, Bhutan) competes directly for the same teen-adventure-travel parent demographic at comparable premium price points.
• Moondance Adventures: Moondance Adventures runs teen summer adventure camps for girls with backpacking, kayaking, and climbing activities across the U.S. and internationally. Adventure Treks cites Moondance as a comparison point (5-6:1 ratio), and both compete for teen summer camp enrollment with similar multi-week, multi-activity itineraries.
• Wilderness Adventures: Wilderness Adventures (Bend, OR) operates teen summer adventure camps featuring backpacking, rafting, and climbing trips domestically and abroad. Adventure Treks references Wilderness Adventures directly as a competitor with a 5-6:1 student-to-instructor ratio, serving a near-identical customer segment with overlapping destinations like Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and international locales.
• Apogee Adventures: Apogee Adventures is a Maine-based teen summer adventure travel company offering multi-week cycling, hiking, and paddling trips for middle and high schoolers. Adventure Treks explicitly references Apogee as a comparable peer with a 6:1 student-to-instructor ratio, and both target the same parent demographic with premium-priced teen adventure trips.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Adventure_Treks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Adventure Treks