Each fall, a group of determined alumni and staff lace up their boots and hit the trail for one simple reason: to make sure every camper has the chance to grow, challenge themselves, and discover their potential, just like they did.

It started as a staff idea! A fun way to raise money for camperships while revisiting the trails that shaped so many summers. But it didn’t take long for it to become something bigger. Now in its second year, the 50 Miles in 5 Days hike has become an annual tradition that combines adventure, purpose, and community in the most camp way possible.

This year’s goal: hike 50 miles along the stunning Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and raise $15,000 for the Campership Fund.

Why? Because we believe every camper deserves the chance to go further—on the trail and in life.

This fundraiser specifically supports campers on the Alaska Program track—our most advanced wilderness trip, and a capstone of our Pathways to Growth model. Campers who have returned summer after summer, building skills and confidence along the way, sometimes find the final leg of their journey out of reach due to cost. Your support helps make sure financial barriers don’t stand in the way of these milestone experiences.

Here’s how you can help:

Support a Team: Head to the campaign page and choose a team to support. Whether it’s a familiar face or a new one, every donation gets us closer to the goal.

Spread the Word: Share the campaign with your camp network—cabinmates, trail buddies, family, and friends. Help us widen the circle.

Make a Gift: No matter the size, your donation helps a camper take their next step—both literally and figuratively—on the path of personal growth.

This isn’t just about the miles. It’s about what those miles mean. It’s about a camper standing at the base of a mountain in Alaska, realizing they made it—because someone like you believed in them.

Support the hike. Support a camper. Support the pathways to growth.