Why A Trekking Summer Camp?
Having taken over 8,000 children trekking in the Himalayas over the past decade, we have seen that just one exposure to a trek can change a child’s entire outlook and approach to life.
On the trekking summer camp, children go on a trekking adventure and climb a high summit in the Himalayas. Over the period of 10 days, they trek from camp to camp — backpacks on their shoulders, trekking poles in their hands — and explore the outdoors at close quarters.
Not only do they go on a trek, but the program is also designed to impart rare life skills. We bring these learnings through methods of experiential learning. These life skills are otherwise difficult to imbibe in regular school life.
So if your child is between the ages of 8-16, this is an adventure you want to send them on. You will see recognisable changes in them, lasting all the way into their adulthood.
Register here for the Summer Camp
Our 10 day summer camps are in the Himalayas. The summer camps are divided into two age groups. These treks are easy-moderate treks that offer the right amount of mental and physical challenge to children.
Level 1: Dayara Bugyal for 8-11 year olds
Level 2: Deoriatal for 12-16 year olds
Join the Whatsapp group
Join the Whatsapp group to interact with other parents and get answers to your questions about Summer Camps - https://chat.whatsapp.com/C0m9qMLQopI4spr8jxSZma
Live Webinar to be part of
We noticed many parents are excited about sending their children to the trekking summer camps with us. However, they also have many questions. This is why we are hosting our third LIVE webinar on this topic. Fill out the form below and join us to ask all your questions!
Register for Indiahikes Chaperone To Travel With Your Child For Onward Journey (From Bangalore / Mumbai)
If you are unable to bring your child till Delhi airport, you may send your child along with an Indiahikes Chaperone. We have dedicated chaperones leaving from Mumbai and Bangalore on designated dates.
Here are the steps you need to follow to send your child with an Indiahikes Chaperone
- The one-way fee is Rs 2,000 per child. Register for the Chaperone Service by writing to Adeline Rebecca, Experiential Learning Coordinator. Her email id is adeline@indiahikes.com.
- If you’ve opted for an Indiahikes Chaperone, you need to drop your child at Mumbai/Bengaluru airport 3 hours prior to the departure of the flight.
- You'll also need to book your child's ticket on the designated flight for the Indiahikes Chaperone. The details of the designated flights are as below:
For Return Journey (To Bangalore / Mumbai)
You can book chaperone for the return journey as well. The fee for the return journey is Rs 2,000 per child. We have dedicated chaperones reaching Mumbai and Bangalore on designated dates.
To avail chaperone services for the return journey, you'll also need to book your child's ticket on the designated flight for the Indiahikes Chaperone. The details of the designated flights are as below:
Important Note: The flight numbers may change and even the timings may vary by 15-20 minutes. Ensure the timing of the flight matches at the time of booking, even if the flight number is different.
If both the flight numbers and timings don't match, write to adeline@indiahikes.com to confirm before you book your flight.
Cancellation charges for the summer camp treks and chaperone:
1. Cancellation 45 days before the start date of the trek — Get a refund with 10% cancellation charges.
2. Cancellation between 45 days and 21 days before the start date of the trek — Get a refund with 50% cancellation charges.
3. Cancellation within 20 days prior to the start date of the trek, or no show on the start day of the trek — Unfortunately, no refund or voucher.
What skills children learn from the trekking summer camp
Trekking and camping skills
Our summer camps are a mix of fun, adventure and learning. Through the course of the trek and the program design, children learn the basics of trekking, camping and wilderness survival.
- Building a shelter out of bare minimum resources
- First aid skills through mock drills
- Navigation skills using maps and GPS tools
- Skills to identify and set up campsites in the outdoors
- Cooking in the wild
- Learning to cross streams
Nature skills
Given that children are in the heart of some of the richest biodiversity in our country, they learn first-hand about forests, plants, birdlife, animals and all natural elements around them.
- See and feel the rich biodiversity of Himalayan forests
- Learn about birdlife and animals endemic to the region
- Learn about the stars and the Milky Way by experiencing it in real-life
- Nature journaling
- Experiencing the forest
- Witness big Himalayan ranges at close quarters and learn the stories associated with them
Sustainability skills
At Indiahikes, we are very conscious about how we trek and how we treat the outdoors. There’s a certain spirit of trekking we believe in — a minimal and sustainable way of trekking. These are imparted by our Green Trails initiative, which inevitably has a big impact on children.
- Learn a minimal way of living by exploring lifestyles in remote villages in the foothills
- Clean trekking trails and leave mountains better
- Understand the importance of saving natural resources
- Learn the basics of waste management — segregating and composting waste
- Understand how to make composting toilets in the outdoors
Life skills and behaviours
Finally, the program design imparts priceless personal behaviours and skills among children. Within a week of our trekking summer camp we see remarkable changes in children. Children start displaying life skills that usually take years to develop.
- Gain life-long confidence after climbing to a high mountain summit
- Get accustomed to hardships
- Build resilience through overcoming difficulties
- Learn how to work collaboratively with a team
- Learn to own and share responsibilities
- Understand how to deal with healthy conflicts and resolve them
- Learn interpersonal communication skills
What Goes Through Childrens' Minds After Trekking
Typical trekking summer camp itinerary:
Most trekking days end by 2 pm (except the day of the summit climb). Upon reaching the campsite, children participate in activities and reflection sessions.
Day 1: Reach New Delhi and drive to Rishikesh by organised bus. (It was via train earlier, but we have made it bus travel as it is more convenient.)
Day 2: Travel from Rishikesh to Raithal/Sari, the Indiahikes community campus, by vehicle (Non-AC vehicle). Departure Rishikesh at 6.30 am. Arrival at our campus is approximately between 3-4 pm.
Day 3: Trek from the community campus to Camp 1
Day 4: Trek from Camp 1 to Camp 2.
Day 5: Explore the forests around Camp 2, participate in bird watching and nature journaling
Day 6: Trek from Camp 2 to Camp 3
Day 7: Trek from Camp 3 to Summit and back to Camp 3
Day 8: Trek from camp 3 to community campus. Reflection at community campus
Day 9: Leave the community campus at 7 am and reach Rishikesh by 4 pm. Onward to New Delhi the same night via organised bus/ train.
Day 10: Reach Delhi by 6.00 am.
How your child’s travel is planned:
Step 1: Transit from New Delhi to Rishikesh hostel
- Organised bus pickup between 11 am to 12pm from New Delhi to Rishikesh.
- The journey is around 260km, and 5 to 6 hours. It will include lunch and toilet breaks. (It was via train earlier, but we have made it bus travel as it is more convenient.)
- Indiahikes will arrange the transport.
- Overnight stay at our Rishikesh hostel.
- We will coordinate the timings of all the children to travel together in case of flight delays.
During transit from Delhi to Rishikesh, children will be accompanied by Indiahikes staff members.
Step 2: Himalayan Road Journey to the basecamp of the trek
- Himalayan road journey from Rishikesh hostel to our respective community campus (Raithal village or Sari village). Journey time is approximately 7 hrs, with toilet and snack breaks.
Return Journey:
Step 1: Himalayan road journey from our community campus to Rishikesh (note: there is no stay at Rishikesh on the return journey)
Step 2: The children will travel overnight from Rishikesh/ Dehradun and reach New Delhi by 6 am.
Questions You May Have
We serve simple, nutritious vegetarian food at our summer camps. You can expect roti, subzi, dal and rice at every meal, along with some surprise desserts! Since the group comprises mostly of children, the food will be on the less spicy side.
All our meals are prepared freshly at every campsite by our kitchen teams. We go to great lengths to ensure that the food is healthy, sustainable and fresh. So avoid sending food with your children. As for packaged snacks, they are banned on our treks.
We do have options of Jain food / vegan food upon request.
At the basecamps of Raithal and Sari, children will be staying in Swiss tents (in dorm-style beds). These tents will be separate for boys and girls.
At campsites, children will be staying in 3-man expedition tents. These are comfortable tents that will keep the ambient temperature a good 10 degrees warmer than the outside temperature. These will also be separate for boys and girls.
Each child will be provided with sleeping bags and hygiene liners at all campsites, which they will sleep inside.
Indiahikes will not be able to organise transport to Delhi. Parents will have to drop off their children at Delhi, from where the Indiahikes team will accompany children all the way to the basecamp.
Indiahikes will provide sleeping bags, tents and any snow equipment required for children.
We would recommend renting out the rest of the gear from our store for your children.
Children will need comfortable trekking shoes, jackets, backpacks, trekking poles and headlamps for the trek. We do not recommend buying these, since it becomes too expensive.
(Please note: Rentals will open around 45 days before the start date of the trek)
You can expect snow from March till mid-April on both the treks. The snow slowly reduces during this period, giving rise to springtime greenery.
The higher reaches, especially the summit climb, will have snow. We will be giving children microspikes to attach to their shoes to get traction in snow. They will also be given gaiters in case the snow level is above their ankles. Our technical team will be with them throughout these sections to guide them.
This video about our safety equipment on every trek will also give you a clear picture of the safety you can expect for your child.
You will not be able to contact your child on the phone, since these are remote areas without mobile network. You will, however, be able to stay in touch with the Indiahikes team. Our team is in continuous touch with the whole team through radio communication / walkie talkies and will be able to share updates with you.
You can definitely do this. If they are just turning 12, the age gap between other children and your child will not be much. Besides, if it is their first trek, Dayara Bugyal will be a lot gentler for them. So you can sign them up for the Dayara Bugyal trek without hesitation.
Please use your own email id and phone number to register your child. We share important information on travel, gear, co-ordination and trek details over email and Whatsapp. This is crucial to your child's summercamp. So you need an email id and phone number that is in regular use.
However, please ensure you use your child's name and age in the registration process.
Here is a list of everything your child will need for the summercamp. You can rent trekking shoes, backpacks, padded jackets, trekking poles, rainwear and headlamps for less than Rs 2000 for the entire duration of the summercamp. Visit the store here.
Shoes and backpack
- Trekking shoes with ankle support (Available on rent)
- Backpack with rain cover (Available on rent)
Warm Layers and Clothes
- 4 Warm layers (Padded jackets available on rent)
This includes 1 pair of thermals, 1 woollen sweater, 1 fleece, 1 padded jacket. (If you choose a date after mid-April, you can avoid the thermals) - 3 Collared T-shirts (Wear one, carry two)
- 2 quick-dry trek pants (Wear one, carry one)
Accessories
- Sunglasses
- Sun cap with flaps (Available for purchase)
- Waterproof gloves
- Balaclava
- Socks (2 pairs of Dry fit + 1 pair of Woollen)
- Headlamp (Available on rent)
- Trekking pole (Available on rent)
- Rain jacket + pants / poncho
Toiletries:
- Sunscreen
- Moisturiser
- Light towel
- Lip balm or vaseline
- Toilet paper (Wet wipes are strictly not allowed on our treks)
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Reusable plastic covers (for used clothes)
Cutlery:
- Steel lunch box, spoon and mug
- Two water bottles
Parents will not be allowed on the summer camp, since it changes the dynamics of the group a lot.
But if you would like to be in the vicinity, you could choose to go on the trek in one of our regular groups around the same time.
View Dayara Bugyal regular trek dates.
View Deoriatal-Chandrashila regular trek dates.
The itinerary will not match date-to-date since the regular treks are shorter than summercamps. You will have extra days in hand. You could stay back at the basecamp at a separate accommodation or stay at a central location like Rishikesh and wait it out. If you're very keen, it's a viable option to consider.
Having said that, you could also consider a family trek (where parents and children trek together) for the younger child, and a summercamp for the older child.
Our family treks are specially designed for parents to trek along with their children. You'll find all information about it here - https://indiahikes.com/family-trek-page
How we take care of your child's safety
Indiahikes is known to be the safest trekking organisation in India, especially for children. First, the summer camp is conducted off our own campus at Raithal and Sari villages. These are not remote hotels or lodges but Indiahikes community campuses. No children are allowed to step out of the campus unless accompanied by Indiahikes staff members.
On the trek, children stay at Indiahikes campsites all along the route. All activities are conducted under the direct supervision of Indiahikes trek leaders, facilitators and support staff.
Our people
Our Trek Leaders are certified mountaineers with a Basic Mountaineering Course or Advanced Mountaineering Course. Trek Leaders assigned to lead summer camps are Wilderness First Responders (WFR) and NOLS certified. They have led several Himalayan treks, ranging from moderate-difficult to difficult treks.
All our mountain staff too have gone through extensive training to handle emergencies. Additionally for our summer camps, women staff members compulsorily accompany every group of children.
Our processes
For over a decade, it is our water-tight safety process that has mitigated all kinds of risks — ranging from health-related and medical risks to outdoor risks. This process includes our initial safety check-in at the base camp, our thrice-a-day health checks, our medical protocol in case of any symptoms.
Additionally, all risks associated with the program are analysed in advance and a risk mitigation plan is developed. Every possible risk is properly planned for. Processes have been put in place for all common emergency scenarios. Our staff are trained to follow these processes stringently.
Our Equipment
Most modern safety equipment regularly used on treks in India were introduced by Indiahikes.
We have safety equipment of the highest standards. On the trek, the trek group will carry a fully equipped safety and medical kit, evacuation kit and technical gear kit. This provides support for the team to handle any emergency in a proficient way.
