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Pemi West – 16s Program 2025

A Pemi Super Trip from the 90s

For the 2025 summer, we’re excited to share news that Pemi West will break new ground by heading north to Montana for an incredible two-week experience canoeing on the Missouri River and backpacking in Yellowstone National Park. The trip is open to anyone – veteran Pemi campers and those brand new to Pemi, boys and girls – who is 16 as of July 1st and able to navigate the physical challenges. 

In the early 1990s Pemi expanded on its traditional trip program by offering “Super Trips” for recent alumni out in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. In 1997 the Super Trip expanded into the formal Pemi West program with a three-week experience based out of Schofield Park, CO. In the roughly 30 years since the first Super Trips set out, the program has undergone a number of changes – location, age and gender composition, and length of time, to name a few. Pemi West has operated out of the Rockies, Olympic National Park in Washington, the San Juan mountains, the rivers of southern Utah and Colorado, the Navajo Nation, and even a couple east coast stints in Maine. We’re thrilled to share details of the newest location and iteration of the trip below – enjoy! 

The trip will run from July 10-29th, with an initial bonding period and Wilderness First Aid certification at Pemi before the group flies out to Bozeman together. Pemi has partnered with the Montana Wilderness School (MWS), who will be overseeing the trip logistics and providing two expert outdoor educators to join the Pemi staff member leading the trip. MWS shares many core philosophical tenets with Pemi, chief among them being a commitment to the highest standards, a belief that growth comes by pushing out of your comfort zone and trying something new, and a dedication to and reverence for the natural world. Given the clear and deep similarities between MWS’ and Pemi’s missions and values, we could not be more excited about this new partnership and opportunity.

Canoeing & Backpacking in Montana

After an initial day of getting acclimated, meeting the MWS instructors, and triple checking that everyone’s gear meets the necessary standards, the group will head north to Coal Banks Landing to begin their expedition on the Missouri River.

2023 Pemi West group

This section travels through the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument and historical lands of the Blackfeet, Gros Ventre, and Assiniboine peoples. The group will follow in the paddle strokes of Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery, experiencing a stretch of wild and scenic river that looks much the same as it did during their famous journey in 1805. The stunning scenery and fantastic geology of the Upper Missouri watershed will provide an engaging natural environment to learn about oneself and the history of this fascinating waterway. Working as a team in a remote setting, participants will develop skills in backcountry wilderness travel, paddling, cooking, communication, and decision-making. Each will have the opportunity to serve as the Expedition Leader of the Day to put the skills they’re learning directly into practice. They’ll engage in lessons on place-based ecology, conservation efforts on the Northern Great Plains, and land use issues in Montana while traveling downriver through some of the best scenery in the U.S. Upon completion of the river stretch, the group will head back to basecamp for a resupply before beginning the backpacking portion.

2024 15s on the summit of Katahdin

The challenging backpacking route is designed to help build upon previous Pemi experience in the White Mountains and Maine, although no experience is required to join the trip. Hiking into the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park, participants will learn to safely navigate and enjoy wild backcountry environments. In addition to continuing to build core outdoor skills such as cooking, camping, and navigation techniques, they’ll be challenged physically while traversing mountainous terrain and camping out in the open Yellowstone backcountry. They’ll continue to develop and put into practice leadership, teamwork, and communication skills throughout the expedition while learning more about the Yellowstone ecosystem and practicing Leave No Trace techniques.

Throughout both sections of the expedition, campers will develop and practice valuable individual and group leadership skills, experience abundant wildlife and pristine ecosystems, and spend time building and strengthening bonds in a screen free, natural environment.

Counselor Apprentice Program (CAP)

2024 CAP participants at Final Banquet

Upon completing the expedition in Montana and flying back east, campers will have the option of spending an additional 10 days at Pemi for the Counselor Apprentice Program, putting their leadership skills into action while learning about life as a Pemi counselor. Veteran counselor and head of staff Josh Scarponi will be in charge of the group, and he’ll work with them to help mentor younger campers and assist in running Pemi Week events. Campers will also have the opportunity to present to the full camp on the Montana experience, and will get to enjoy some of the perks of Pemi counselor life! 

Throughout CAP they’ll engage in a number of additional leadership trainings and conversations, spending time with the directors and other members of Pemi’s senior leadership to learn more about life on the other side of the Pemi curtain. This introduction to the counselor experience will leave CAP participants well prepared to return to Pemi in 2026 and beyond as assistant counselors, counselors, division heads, and the future leaders of the Pemi staff.

We can’t wait to hear and share more about the incredible experience that this year’s lucky group of 16-year-olds will have! If you know of anyone who would be a great fit for this trip, please reach out to Pat Clare via email ([email protected]).

  • Pat Clare

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