Person laughing in the wilderness

Our Programs

Find Your Path Into the Wild

From summer backpacking expeditions to custom school programs and community gatherings, we create experiences where young people reconnect with what is wild and sacred in themselves and in the world.

Explore Programs

Our programs grow with participants, giving them a multi-year ladder to climb as they progress in their training, level of experience, and comfort in the backcountry.

We welcome participants as young as 13 to begin with our 7-day Intro to WILD course, and grow with them throughout their high school careers, building towards proficiency in skills such as fire making from friction and more rigorous rites of passage, including our version of a solo vision fast.

Young people in the backcountry at golden hour

Every young person deserves a place in the wild

Whatever shape it takes — a single day, a season, or a multi-year climb — the invitation is the same.

Choose Your Experience

Programs for Every Journey

WILD Program
Flagship

WILD Program

Wilderness Immersion & Leadership Development

Ages 13-177-21 daysSierra NevadaSummer

Our flagship summer backpacking program for teenage boys. Multi-day expeditions that foster resilience, self-awareness, and purpose. Participants learn survival skills, self-reliance, and the art of deep listening to the land.

Solo time in nature
Mindfulness & movement practices
Fire circles and storytelling
Practical earth-based skills
Learn More
WILD Scholars
Equity & Access

WILD Scholars

Scholarships & Year-Round Mentorship

Ages 14-18Full ScholarshipYear-roundBay Area

A wraparound mentoring and scholarship program for Bay Area high school students from communities historically underrepresented in wilderness education. Full scholarships, gear, transportation, and year-round support.

Full scholarship for summer programs
All gear and equipment provided
Year-round mentorship and workshops
Transportation to and from programs
Learn More
Wilderness Retreats

Wilderness Retreats

2-3 Day Wilderness Experiences

Ages 12-172-3 daysMonthlyNorthern California

Immersive multi-day experiences introducing young people to wilderness skills, nature connection, and community building through backpacking, camping, and skill workshops.

Backpacking basics
Camp cooking
Fire building
Navigation skills
School Partnerships

School Partnerships

Custom Programs for Schools & Organizations

Ages 8-18FlexibleCustomOn-site or Field

We work with schools, summer camps, youth organizations, and community groups to develop custom workshops, outdoor retreats, and nature-based programming that integrate Back to Earth's core principles with each client's unique cultural needs.

Custom curriculum design
Teacher training & support
On-site programs & field trips
Multiple-night camping trips
Learn More

Flagship Experience

The WILD Program

Group around a campfire at sunset

Summer 2027

Registration Open

A backpacking program for teenage boys that fosters resilience, self-awareness, and purpose. Participants embark on multi-day expeditions, learning survival skills, self-reliance, and the art of deep listening to the land.

These immersive wilderness journeys offer young men the opportunity to step away from the noise of modern life and rediscover their connection to the earth. Through practices like solo time, ceremony, and shared gratitude, they return with a deeper sense of purpose and belonging.

What to Expect

Solo time in nature
Mindfulness & movement practices
Fire circles and storytelling
Practical earth-based skills
Leadership development
Leave No Trace backpacking
Explore WILD Program
Teens on the trail together

How it builds

A Multi-Year Ladder

WILD is a container in which teens can grow into their own skills and voices, find and reinvent themselves, building from first steps into the backcountry, to advanced rites of passage.

  • WILD Adventure7-day courses for rising 8th-10th grades
  • WILD Quest10-day courses for rising 10th-12th grades.
  • Alumni QuestFor those who have already completed a Quest trip.
  • Leadership TrackFor those interested in becoming guides and mentors

Equity & Access

WILD Scholars

Making wilderness education accessible to all through comprehensive scholarships and year-round mentorship for Bay Area high school students from communities historically underrepresented in outdoor spaces.

94
Scholars Served
100%
Costs Covered
$160k+
Scholarship Support
40+
Referral Partners
Learn About Scholars Referral Partners
Tree stump in the wilderness

Moments from the field

  • On the trail
  • Camp in the Sierras
  • Around the campfire at sunset
  • A group gathering outdoors
  • The mountains at sunset
  • Two friends talking on a log
Begin the Journey

Ready to bring your students
back to earth?

Three steps from first conversation to transformative school culture.

Explore

Free School Assessment

A 30-minute call to understand your school's needs.

Start any time

Pilot

Spring 2026 Custom Retreat

A single experience designed for your students — the beginning of something lasting.

Spring 2026

Partner

Multi-year Partnership

Fall 2026 and beyond — building a culture that compounds year over year.

Fall 2026+

Free School Assessment Process

What You'll Get

  • A 30-minute discovery call to understand your school community and student needs

  • Customized program recommendations tailored to your students and calendar

  • A clear picture of what a Back to Earth wilderness experience looks like for your cohort

  • Support in building student buy-in and family communication

How It Works

1

Submit Your School Information

Tell us about your school, the students you serve, and what you're hoping to create.

2

Schedule Your Free Assessment

We'll set up a 30-minute call with Eli to explore what's possible for your community.

3

Receive Your Custom Proposal

We'll follow up with a tailored program outline and pricing options for your cohort.

4

Bring Your Students to the Wild

From logistics to facilitation — we handle everything so you can focus on your students.

Get My Free Assessment
— Across our programs —

Transforming Lives Through Nature

ALL PROGRAMS

4,000+
People served

BACK TO EARTH

12
Years in the field

PARTICIPANT REPORTS

98%
Participants reporting high meaning

2026 Program Momentum

Alumni Return Rate — Boys Come Back 40%
WILD Scholar Program Completion Rate 85%
Guide Crew Who Are Former Participants 38%
School Partnership Renewal Rate 100%

How It Works

We Weave the Web That Makes It Make Sense

We don't force anyone to do anything. We create the culture where growth becomes the natural thing.

The Unofficial Curriculum

"Some of the most helpful teaching actually just happens in these completely invisible moments in between things."

The 24-Hour Solo

"We weave the web that makes it make sense. We didn't inflate that guy or force him to do anything. We just gave him the context where it would make sense."

Positive Peer Pressure

"Peer pressure can be extremely healthy and uplifting in certain circumstances — well held in a cultural container that gives it a meaning and a direction."

"We get kids to sing who parents are like, he'll never sing. Things open up when you're sitting around a fire in the woods."

Life in the Field

A Glimpse Inside

Click any photo to explore

Group sitting in a circle outdoors

Ready to Get Started?

Join us for a free online information session to learn more, meet our guides, and get your questions answered.

NEXT INFO SESSION

February 4th, 2026

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PST

Sign Up for Info Session

Can't make it? Contact usto schedule a one-on-one conversation.