By Kristina Edson

Summer boredom is a common complaint for teenagers, especially those who have attended residential and day camps for several years in a row. Sailing on the lake? Done it. Tie-dying T-shirts? Done it. Songs around the campfire? Done it, many times.

But veteran teen campers may want to check out adventure camps, which offer a chance to try out activities like white water rafting, rugged terrain biking or even volunteering in developing countries. In sessions that usually run for two weeks or longer, teens face exciting challenges while developing new skills and friendships.

Teens who love bicycling can check out La Compagnie des Nomades, a Quebec-based company that offers bicycling/camping adventures. The terrain the kids ride can vary from the rugged Adirondacks Mountains to the Niagara Peninsula. An easy, yet scenic trip takes campers to Prince Edward Island. The cycling trips last anywhere from 5 to 20 days, and range in price from $125 to $1,799.

Young cyclists travel in groups, camping in tents, or barns along routes that are chosen for their visual appeal. Groups must plan their menus and shop according to a budget at local food stands and grocery stores. For more information, call (866) 666-2337 or visit www.nomades.ca.

International travel
A wide variety of summer programs for teens can be found through West Coast Connection, a company based in upstate New York but with a Montreal office in N.D.G. While some of their outings — which last from 8 to 42 days and take place in North America, Canada, Australia, Hawaii and Europe — include things like golf and language immersion, other programs give new meaning to the word “adventure.”

Mountain biking, white water rafting, sea kayaking and surfing are just some of the activities offered to participant ages 13 to 19.

The company also arranges tours with a focus on community service. For example, teens can visit Belize and help out at a wildlife sanctuary or help create a community garden with a conservation group. Westcoast Connection trips range in price from $3,500 to $6,200 (US). For more information, call (800) 767-0227 or visit www.westcoastconnection.com

Work abroad
Teens in high school as well as adults can immerse themselves in a completely different culture, while working to make a difference in underdeveloped parts of the world through a Montreal-based company called HorizonCosmopolite. The organization arranges for people to work with non-government organizations (NGOs) in 20 different developing countries.

“We want people from here to share in the day-to-day life of small communities,” says company president Jonathan Paquet. “Work is a way to get to know the other culture, the other way of living.” He notes that about 85 per cent of participants are girls between 16 and 26 years old.

A trip, which can range in price from $2,500 for a two-week voyage to $4,500 for a three-month stay in Africa, includes airfare, food and lodging with host families.

Trips can be arranged throughout the year, but keep in mind that it can take up to three months to complete all the necessary paperwork and get the needed medical shots. Also, these trips may not suit young people who insist on North American comforts. Living conditions can be challenging (limited access to running water, erratic electricity, etc) and there is definitely a culture shock for most people.
“It’s not always easy,” Paquet says, but those who take on the challenge often gain a new perspective that stays with them forever.

For more information, contact HorizonCosmopolite at (514) 935-8436 or visit www.horizoncosmopolite.com.

With so many options available, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a suitable adventure for your teen. So, say hello to new challenges and goodbye to summer boredom.