Isle Royalers

Length

4 Grades

8th

Trip Length

14 Fee

4995/5585

As Isle Royalers, campers embark on a two-week wilderness adventure like no other, exploring the rugged beauty of Isle Royale, a remote and untamed island in the heart of Lake Superior. Their journey begins with a week of preparation at camp, where they’ll tackle practice hikes and gear up for the ultimate backcountry trek. Then, the real adventure begins—an unforgettable four-and-a-half-hour ferry ride from Copper Harbor to Rock Harbor, where the wilderness truly begins the moment they step off the dock.

For the next 14 days, campers will traverse 110 miles of Isle Royale’s untouched landscapes, carrying all their food and gear on their backs as they journey from one end of the island to the other. Along the way, they’ll be surrounded by the island’s raw beauty, with chances to spot moose, swim in the refreshing waters of Lake Superior, and even earn their Junior Ranger badge at the Windigo Ranger Station.

This expedition will test campers both mentally and physically as they hike along the scenic Greenstone Ridge, soaking in panoramic views and challenging themselves to reach new heights. This trip offers more than just beautiful landscapes—it’s a life-changing expedition that empowers campers to grow, explore, and connect in ways that last far beyond the trail and develop essential wilderness skills that will serve them for a lifetime.

After returning from this life-changing journey, campers dive right back into camp life, where they can enjoy a wide range of fun activities and on-site challenges with their cabin group. From start to finish, this adventure offers campers the ultimate combination of personal growth, outdoor exploration, and lifelong memories.

Isle Royale Trip in Action

Register Today & Secure Your Spot

2025 Four-Week Dates

SESSION I - Sunday, June 15 - Friday, July 11

SESSION II - Sunday, July 13 - Friday, August 8

TRIP LOCATION

Few places in North America are as remote and beautiful as Isle Royale National Park, located in Lake Superior just east of Thunder Bay, Canada. It is a place made special by its remoteness. No vehicles are allowed here and the only “roads” are the trails hikers tread. For more information about the location of the trip, check out the Isle Royale National Park website.

COVID-19 Testing

If you’re in a location without many COVID-19 testing sites, you may want to head to your neighborhood drugstore.

You’ll notice several major chains on the list of where to get a COVID-19 test, including CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid, all of which often offer PCR testing at no additional cost if using insurance or if you fall under some federal programs for those without insurance.

Ride Aid specifically offers tests at no cost to anyone four and older. Passport Health also has a network of clinics in over 100 locations nationwide, primarily for people who need a negative PCR test to fly or return to school. Increasingly, these nationwide providers are serving younger patients. Currently, CVS serves patients 10 and up, while Walgreens serves patients as young as 3.

Even better, you can make these appointments online, which may save precious time instead of waiting in a long line. Many of these locations also offer drive-up testing, where you swab yourself and don’t need to leave your vehicle.

Turnaround times can vary by chain and location:

CVS: Average turnaround time for receiving results from lab tests is one to two days
Walgreens: Turnaround time varies by location and test taken
Rite Aid: Turnaround time is two to seven days

Also, several third-party companies partner with major cities like Houston and San Francisco on widespread testing. These companies, like Color and Curative, offer results between one to three days.

Mail-in COVID-19 testing options

There are many mail-in or in-home COVID-19 testing providers available. Some are not valid in certain states, and some are not available in all situations.

Most will not bill insurance for you, with Pixel being an exception to that general rule. Some mail-in tests are nasal swabs, while others are saliva samples. Some are only valid for adults, and others require a Zoom appointment. But, these are all the gold-standard PCR tests that are considered highly reliable.

Some mail-in COVID-19 testing programs include:

Everlywell: Results of the nasal swab available within 24 to 48 hours of the lab receiving the sample. Available to people 18 and older only. Cost: $109
Pixel by LabCorp: Results of the nasal swab are available one to two days after arriving back in the lab. Available to people 18 and older. No upfront cost, or $119 if you’re not eligible for insurance or federal funds.
Vault: Results of the saliva test taken via a Zoom call are available within 24 to 48 hours. The test is available to children and adults. Cost: $119
Azova: Available at Costco.com. The saliva test results, taken via a Zoom call, are available within 12 to 48 hours upon being received by the lab. This test is approved as part of Hawaii’s trusted testing partner program and for travel to Bermuda. Cost: $118.99
Quest Diagnostics: The at-home or drive-thru test results are typically received within three to five business days. This test is available to people 18 and older. Cost: $125
OnSight Safe: Results of PCR saliva-based tests are available within 48 hours after being received by the lab; expedited processing is also available. Available for children and adults nationally. Physical testing locations in New York City, Tampa, and Van Nuys, California. Cost: Starts at $127.95

How long will test results take to arrive?

While there are exceptions, one to three days for COVID-19 test results seem to be standard across the country.

You may need to research PCR testing locations that promise same-day results or provide rapid PCR tests analyzed on-site if the arrival of your test results could make or break your trip. Several facilities on the list below reported delays in test results due to an increase in demand.