Outdoor Adventures for Teens – No Experience Needed

No outdoor experience is required to participate – all are welcome! All youth are invited to take part in BOLD & GOLD. No child will be turned away for financial reasons! Find out if you qualify for financial assistance here.

Preparing for Bold & Gold

We provide all group gear and will send you a final packing list prior to the trip. If you’re missing something on the list let us know! We can likely loan it to you at no additional cost.

What to Pack

You will be living outside during a Bold & Gold expedition, so having the right clothing is important for your comfort and safety. There is very limited space in the bus and in your backpacks, so please bring only what is on the final packing list.

Saving Money

You do not need to buy all gear/clothing at camping stores or specialty stores.
You can find many of these items at a discount outdoor store or at thrift stores such as Goodwill.
If you do not have any item on the list, please contact staff (info below) and we will be happy to see what we can provide at no additional fee.

Bold & Gold Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to attend a trip?

Our BOLD & GOLD trips range in cost from $400 to $760. This includes all food, group gear, and transportation to and from Detroit.

Do you offer financial aid?

Yes! At BOLD & GOLD, we believe everyone deserves access to nature and the outdoors; no matter who you are, how you grew up, or what position your family is in financially, BOLD & GOLD is for you. ALL necessary gear is provided to every participant, and financial assistance is awarded to those in need. We all have something to learn from each other, and our YMCA will to everything that we can to topple barriers and build bridges between us all.

Where is the drop off & pick up location?

Campers will be dropped off at our Detroit Outdoors office, which is located at the Detroit Exploration and Nature Center at 1313 W 7 Mile Rd., Detroit, MI 48203

Who are the trip leaders?

Our experienced wilderness guides enjoy teaching kids about the outdoors. Our staff are experienced outdoor educators with an extensive background of working with youth. They have advanced wilderness medical training (minimum 70 hours); specific child abuse prevention training; and go through a rigorous 5- to 7-day training on BOLD & GOLD curriculum on how to develop leadership in all and group dynamics management.

How many campers are on each trip?

Our trips range in size from 4-12 campers, with the majority of trips having between 8-10 campers.

Where will campers sleep?

We provide lightweight tents, which typically house 3-4 campers per tent. You’ll also be provided with a sleeping pad and a warm sleeping bag.

How heavy is the backpack they will be carrying?

Pack weights will vary depending on length of trips, group size, and the weight of the
camper, but will typically be between 20 to 30 pounds.

What will they need to carry in their packs?

For our backpacking trips, every camper will carry personal items such as sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and clothes. Food, and group gear such as tents, cooking stoves/utensils, water filters, etc. will also be divided amongst the campers and trip leaders to carry in their packs. Please see the packing list for additional information on what to bring.

I looked at the packing list and we don’t have most of what’s listed on it. Should I go out and buy everything on the list?

Please do not go out and buy a ton of stuff! We will provide ALL group gear (tents, stoves, cooking equipment, food, etc.) as well as sleeping pads, sleeping bags, and backpacks, and we also will provide any personal items that campers need, subject to availability. Please do your best to pack what you can so that your camper is comfortable and wearing as much of their own stuff as possible. We have a significant supply of rain jackets and warm jackets, and we have hiking boots available in most common sizes. All of the gear is loaned out to campers free of charge. Please contact us ahead of time at (313) 223-2324 or Natalie.Ramos@ymcadetroit.org so we can go through which items your camper may need to borrow.

Will they need to carry water or will it be available at the camping location?

We ask that every camper bring 2, 1 Liter water bottles (such as a Nalgene) which they will carry for the duration of the trip. We utilize water filters and water purification drops to refill water from nearby lakes and rivers on a daily basis. Youth will learn about water filtration while camping and will get to drink from the fresh waters of Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, or the Au Sable River!

Will I be able to contact my child while they are on the trip?

Due to the wet and gritty nature of the places we travel, only watches, small flashlights, headlamps and cameras are allowed. All other electronic devices, including cell phones, should be left at home. Trip leaders will have a satellite phone for emergency use. We’ll try our best to send at least 1 update on how the group is doing during the trip, however, please understand that no news is good news (i.e. if you don’t hear from us that means the trip is going well)! If there is an emergency that would require a camper to leave the trip early please call us at (313) 223-2324 and we will get in touch with trip leaders to coordinate an early departure.