Friendships. Adventure. Challenge.
Kick off your Calvin education with a Wilderness Trip! You'll be part of a small group of other new students to explore your limits, forge new friendships, and develop a new awareness of your Creator.
We welcome students of all experience, fitness, and skill levels! Choose from backpacking the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore or the Coastal Trail in Lake Superior Provincial Park, or kayak the North Channel of Lake Huron.
Wilderness Trips 2026: August 19–26
Space is limited! Once you're admitted and have paid your enrollment deposit, you can sign up in step 5 of the checklist in your New Student Portal.
Why Sign Up for a Wilderness Trip?
Build new friendships
Seek adventure in the outdoors
Experience personal growth
Receive a credit exemption
Choose Your Adventure
For more than 20 years, over 1,700 new Calvin students have begun their college journey by exploring these unforgettable places together. Now it’s your turn. Join the tradition!
Dates: August 19–26, 2026
Cost: $725
Pictured Rocks Backpacking Expedition
Backpack the entire Pictured Rocks coastline from Munising Falls to the AuSable Light Station.
Backpack along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore's iconic staggering cliffs, take in constant views of Lake Superior, and camp on scenic overlooks. You'll experience some of the best beaches, waterfalls, ancestral dunes, and diverse wildlife of Michigan's upper peninsula.
Adventure activities: Backpacking, beach and cliff exploration, and Great Lakes swimming
Adventure difficulty level: Moderate (Backpacks will be light—around 25 pounds—and the reserved backcountry campsites are set at manageable hiking distances.)
Canadian Backpacking Expedition
Backpack the “Coastal Trail,” one of the most scenic and challenging stretches of backpacking east of the Rockies.
Experience Lake Superior Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada: a backpacker's paradise. You'll master backcountry living as you traverse through the boreal forest and rocky coastline, swim at secluded sandy beaches, explore granite cliffs and overlooks, and take in the views of rivers and waterfalls.
Adventure activities: Backpacking, beach exploration, and Great Lakes swimming
Adventure difficulty level: Challenging (i.e. diverse hiking terrain, navigating rocks, short steep climbs)
Passport or enhanced driver’s license required.
Canadian Sea Kayaking Expedition (full)
Embark together on a self-supported sea kayak paddle expedition.
Journey through Lake Huron's historic North Channel with 17-foot kayaks, camp on granite islands and peninsulas, and rappel a rock face 60 feet above the water.
Adventure activities: Sea kayaking, rock climbing, and rappelling
Adventure difficulty level: Moderate to challenging (difficulty depends on wind conditions; paddling distances are manageable between islands.)
Passport or enhanced driver’s license required.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wilderness Trips
The total cost of a Wilderness Trip is $725.
When you sign up, you'll pay a $200 deposit. The remaining $525 will be billed to your student account this fall.
Space on these trips is limited due to staffing, equipment, and permits. If the trip you want is full, please choose a different trip with openings—we don't want you to miss this opportunity! Every trip will be an amazing experience.
Email orientation@calvin.edu if you have any questions.
Calvin’s wilderness trips are intentionally designed with student safety as a top priority. While outdoor experiences involve inherent unpredictability, our highly trained staff follow established protocols and make conservative decisions to support student well-being throughout the trip.
Our risk management practices include:
- Every trip includes at least one Wilderness First Responder (WFR)–certified leader.
- Trip leaders carry a satellite communication device for emergencies, even when there is no cell service.
- Group sizes are intentionally small—typically 10–12 students with 3–4 trained leaders—to ensure close supervision and strong community.
- The packing list, gear, routes, and activities are carefully planned to support students and mitigate risk.
While trip leaders typically will not have cell service, all groups carry a satellite device for emergencies.
If an emergency happens at home, families should contact Calvin University directly, and the university will communicate with the trip leaders.
You do not need to be an athlete to participate. These trips are designed for beginners, and most students have never done anything like this before.
If you are generally active, the trips should feel accessible. We recommend starting to move your body regularly before your trip to prepare!
If you are concerned, the Pictured Rocks backpacking trip is the most approachable option, while the Canadian backpacking trip involves more rugged terrain. For these trips:
- Groups hike around 7–9 miles a day
- The longest day is typically around 11 miles
- Average pace is 2–3 miles per hour
The intensity of the sea kayaking trip depends on weather and conditions.
None. All skill levels are welcome.
Leaders will teach all necessary skills—from backpacking or kayaking basics to camp setup—so students feel prepared and supported from day one.
Most students have never done anything like this before!
Follow the packing list carefully. Being prepared:
- Directly impacts comfort and enjoyment
- Is important for group safety
- Makes a big difference in how the trip feels day to day
Trip leaders depend on students arriving well-prepared.
Please bring prescription medications you normally take and consult with your doctor regarding any potential complications.
If you have asthma or another medical condition, please talk to your doctor about concerns you have and be sure to list them on your travel waiver form.
Calvin trip leaders have first aid kits stocked with over-the-counter medications to help manage symptoms of common conditions and illnesses, such as headaches, allergies, etc. However, if you are prone to any of these and prefer a specific brand of medication, we recommend bringing it.
For your safety in case of an emergency, list all of your medications accurately on your travel waiver form.
If you have any questions, please contact orientation@calvin.edu.
We can accommodate most dietary restrictions. Any food preferences/allergies/intolerances MUST be listed on the travel waiver form. This helps us plan ahead, as leaders and staff pack food at least 1–2 weeks before departing.
Don't let a food allergy alter your decision to participate in a trip! Cooking in the backcountry and adjusting for food allergies is quite easy. Every year, trip leaders accommodate peanut allergies, tree nut allergies, gluten allergies, dairy allergies, lactose intolerance, and more.
If you have any other dietary concerns, please contact orientation@calvin.edu.
No, students will not have their phones on the trips.
This helps students be fully present with their group, build community, and connect with God and the surrounding nature. We welcome and encourage students to bring a digital or disposable camera.
Students have told us they enjoyed not having their phones for a week and were grateful being able to disconnect!
Note: Trip leaders will have satellite devices in cases of emergency.
Contact Us
Reach out to us at orientation@calvin.edu with any questions.