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Ubuntu Treks Vision
Ubuntu is our guiding principle. It is many things.
Above all, it is an African ideal, our adopted ideal, that highlights the power of acting in ways that benefit the community to strengthen the individual.
Our team strives to incorporate this principle into every Trek that we plan, every action we take.
Ubuntu is built into each of our Trek Priorities:
Physical and emotional safety of our Trekkers. Safety is Always number 1!
Outdoor adventures that are fun and exciting and that create growth of skills and self.
Adult and peer role models that see each Trekker for who they are, as unique growing young people.
Inspire a lifetime love of the outdoors and a recognition of human connection to nature… with its joy and responsibility.
A Trek community that’s inclusive, thoughtful, and kind.
Laughter. The granola coming out of the nose kind.
A deep understanding that our individual actions matter.
Ubuntu Treks strives to be a community based and responsive business that plays a role in the positive growth of the young adults in our community.
Safety
Placing the safety of your child into anothers hands can be a tumultuous, anxiety filled experience. We understand. Our Trek leaders are either current parents or young adults who experienced nervous, anxious parents themselves in the not too distant past. . Safety is our absolute first priority. From the first moment that Trekkers check -in they will experience this word and the supporting concepts repeatedly.
Our commitment to Ubuntu creates an environment whereby each Trekker is responsible for the safety of the group, with the group being responsible for the safety of each individual. From the outset, we empower every member of every Trek to speak up, to speak “safety”.
We hope you’ll agree that nothing can be 100 percent “safe, though statistically, students are safer on a backpacking trip with Ubuntu Treks than if they stayed home.
Building independence through normal brain development includes some element of risk. That said, from the moment your child leaves home until he or she returns to you, minimizing risk is our first and foremost priority.
Our Trek guides make every decision as if you were looking over our shoulders. We engage Trekkers consistently about judgment, probability, and consequences. We know that when we help Trekkers to make good decisions and to take intelligent, reasonable risks while backpacking, these habits that will apply after they have safely returned home.
Ubuntu Trek Approach
A Day in the Life of a Trekker
While each day of an Ubuntu Trek has many similarities, we eat frequently for instance, our guides incorporate specific structures into every trip to create an environment that promotes safety, fun, independence, new ideas and deep thinking. Our guides frequently adjust their daily calendar and/or curriculum to support the needs of each Trek.
7:00 AM: Wake up
7:30 AM: Breakfast with conversation regarding the previous days highlights and/or the current day plan.
8:00 AM: Clean and Pack up. Trail Camp Leave No Trace focus.
8:45 AM: Morning Check-In includes a highlight of previous day safety wins, safety reminders plus today’s safety focus. We spend time with each Trekker checking in on their emotional and physical well being.
9:00 AM: Trail Curriculum & Leave No Trace principle. Ex: Good / Bad Wolf Parable plus Leave no Trace: “Hiking on Durable Surfaces”
9:20: Final Check before we hit the trail. We begin each morning hike with a brief silent hiking session.
Hike at group pace til about noon.
12:00 PM: Lunch
12:50 PM: Brief Afternoon Check-in as per above.
1:15 PM: Back on Trail
Hike at group pace til arrival at next trail camp.
Water Filtration followed by extended relaxation, swim, games, partner hikes. Solo quiet time.
6:30 PM: Dinner
7:15 PM: Clean Up / Animal Control
8:00 PM: Personal Hygiene
8:30 PM: Evening check-in and one guided activity as determined by group.
Skills
Our Trekkers not only learn real skills, like how to pitch a tent, cook in the wilderness, and pack a backpack, but throughout our time together, they’ll communicate face-to-face frequently, collaborate with new peers, experiment with leadership, problem solve new challenges and observe their surroundings.
Our soft curriculum revolves around story telling and day strategies designed to steer young adults towards independence, confidence, collaboration, kindness and compassion.
Every Trek presents a host of opportunities for Trekkers to learn and grow. We know a Trek has gone exceptionally well when a parent contacts us to communicate that their Trekker is communicating and collaborating with a sibling more effectively or is suddenly making their bed with out being asked.
Our goal is impact a Trekkers development in 8 key areas:
Communication
Collaboration and social achievement
Creativity
Critical thinking
Leadership
Self-management
Resilience
Optimism
Ten Benefits of Backpacking for Pre-Teens:
Unplugging from Technology
Physical Activity
Mental Health Benefits
A Chance to Play
New Skills
Growth Beyond Their Comfort Zone
Appreciation of the Natural World
Meeting Youth Role Models
Life Changing Experiences
New Lifetime Habits
“I met a lot of young people who asked me what books to read or films to watch. I think that is a good way to start, but there’s no substitute for just going there.”