Get Started:

Thanks for your interest in going on a 2023 Wild Grief Teen Backpack! Please read below to get a good idea of what to expect in our application process. Space on our trips is limited; we usually have more applicants than we have space for. Due to our funding, we prioritize teens living in Washington State, though we do accept applicants from out of state when possible. Turning in an application does not guarantee a spot on the trip, but getting your application in early helps your chances.

Info Session:

All families are required to attend an info session on Zoom to learn more about the trip.

We have no more info sessions scheduled for 2023.

Trip Dates:

  • Trip 1: Friday, May 12th-Sunday, May 14th

  • Trip 2: Thursday, July 20th-Sunday, July 23rd

  • Trip 3: Thursday, July 27th-Sunday, July 30th

  • Trip 4: Thursday, August 10th-Sunday, August 13th

Pre-trip Orientation in Olympia:

  • Trip 1: Saturday, March 25th

  • Trip 2-4: Saturday, July 8th

Application deadline:

  • The deadline to apply has passed, and this year’s trips are full. You are still welcome to fill out the application forms below to be added to our waitlist for this year, and notified of our trips for 2024. You can also sign up to attend one of our Teen Day Hikes here.

Below are all the things that will happen to get on the trail in a group of supportive peers and guides. There is an application and review process (steps 1-7) as well as a bit about orientation, training, and the morning of the hike.

  1. First, learn about the trip from our website by reading the FAQ’s for the hike, our Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC) and watching the video(s).

  2. Next, the parent/guardian and teen take time to discuss the trip and decide whether it is a good fit at this moment. If the backpack does not seem appropriate right now, we do have other programs including a Teen Day Hike.

  3. Now that you have learned a bit, talked some, and want to go, please fill out the applications. We need all of the following materials to begin the review process:

  4. Within 1-2 weeks of receiving the above forms, we will call the parent/guardian for a quick conversation to say hello and answer any questions you may have.

  5. Next is a Zoom info session for a group of parents/guardians and teens together to share more about the hike and gear and answer any questions you may have.

  6. The same day as the info session, we will schedule a 10-15 minute Zoom call between the teen and 1-2 Wild Grief guides & staff members.

  7. Shortly after these meetings, we will reach out to all applicants to let you know if you have secured a spot on a trip this year or not.

If it works for you and us to go on the hike, here is what happens next:

  • We will all join together (hikers, leaders, parents/guardians, and other Wild Grief volunteers) for an orientation in Olympia. Trust us, this is fun. There you will get a feel for the hike, share a meal, get any last questions answered, meet the group, have a gear fitting, and learn some backpacking skills.

  • We meet the morning of the hike at 7:00 in Olympia, hand out backpacking gear, help you pack, give you more backpack training, and travel by van to the trailhead and start our backpack adventure.

Questions: Call or text 360 358-3213 or email info@wildgrief.org