BOAT is about partnership
Anything mission can be furthered outside. Any lesson is improved by a wilderness classroom.
We focus on partnering with community leaders who already do cool work, and help them bring that outside. We are here to empower you to expand what you’re already doing. We don’t have our own students, and we’re proud of that – everything we do is a partnership.
different programs to meet every need
To support a diversity of partners, we need a diversity of programs.
BOAT primarily serves pre-existing groups and organizations. We don’t have summer camps you can sign up for individually, and instead build custom programs around each group’s unique needs. We can also provide partial support for pre-existing trips – think transportation, food planning, or gear. This allows us to reduce marketing costs (resulting in cheaper trips), while ensuring we’re serving real community needs. Most of our programs let members of diverse communities connect on a deeper level. That’s a powerful additive for any mission, no matter where or what it is.
If you are not sure where to start, check out the basic “templates” we use to build our trips below. Then reach out to us and let us know what you are thinking.
"BIG RED"
Our bus is a fully functioning outdoor education program. We can pull up to your fair, farmer’s market, school, festival, or business and provide a full suite of outdoor education and consulting.
BUS-SIDE EDUCATION
Helping passersby plan their outdoor adventures. “Mr. Bones,” our (non-living) volunteer who will teach you how to stay warm in the elements, show you know topography with play-doh, or set up a quality Leave No Trace campsite with legos. We have activities for all ages and sizes of crowds.
BACKPACK THE WILDERNESS
Travel off-trail through one of our premiere backpacking destinations. We’ll teach you to navigate and work as a team. You choose where to go and how difficult the days will be each day!
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
The bus meets your group. We review gear and do a “pack out,” loading backpacks onto the roof before hitting the road. We’ll travel to the trailhead where we’ll spend a few days away from the bus, camping in remote and beautiful parts of the country. We’ll get back to the bus, do a bit of clean up, and head home!
ROAD WARRIORS
Play some tunes, hop on the bus, and check out a new adventure every day – a wider array of activities and campsites, switching locations on a regular basis. This lets us cover a lot of ground to see a “greatest hits” set of sites and activities.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Meet the bus, and load your luggage on the roof. We will take off on a whirlwind adventure through a region of your choosing. We move campsites most days, and along the way stop to check out the region. Diverse outdoor activities, local natural history museums, and some of the best vistas around. The bus is equipped with everything you need for a luxury camping experience – spotlights for a night time kitchen, big communal tents, and plenty of water storage. Even a portable toilet and solar showers!
GET OUT THERE
Ride BOAT to a wilderness base camp for a week of hiking, camping, and exploring the region. Typically tent camping with a central kitchen area or lodge, or cabins in the winter. We base in one place and move around for day trips.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Meet the bus, and load your luggage on the roof. We will head to a campsite and turn it into a home. This is basically “car camping,” but with a bus. The bus is equipped with everything you need for a luxury camping experience – spotlights for a night time kitchen, big communal tents, and plenty of water storage. Even a portable toilet and solar showers! Each day, we’ll walk or drive to nearby trails or hiking areas, or enjoy activities around the campground itself. This tends to be a relaxing introduction to the camping experience, perfect for larger groups or first-time campers.