High School Wilderness is designed for students who are ready for a camp experience that stretches them — physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This off-site trip partners with Discovery Ministries to take high school campers deep into the Missouri wilderness, where trained Christian guides lead them through days of backpacking, canoeing, rugged terrain, and hands-on outdoor living. The challenge is real. Campers carry their own gear, cook over a fire, set up and break down camp, and adapt to weather, terrain, and the unexpected. There are no phones, no electricity, and no shortcuts — just the simplicity of wilderness, the rhythm of hard work, and the satisfaction that comes from doing something difficult together. In that simplicity, campers often discover more than they expected: resilience they didn’t realize they had, confidence born from overcoming discomfort, and clarity that comes only when the noise of everyday life falls away. The physical effort becomes the setting for powerful spiritual growth — Scripture shared around a fire, conversations on the trail, quiet moments beside the water, and the realization that God often speaks loudly in the still places. This is not an easy week, and it is intentionally not for everyone. But for students who are willing to unplug, push themselves, and step fully into the challenge, High School Wilderness becomes a defining experience — one that builds grit, deepens faith, strengthens community, and leaves a lasting imprint long after the trail ends.
