Get Wild is an amazing opportunity for adventurous and nature-loving girls to explore the hidden gems of Santa Barbara’s back-country. Come hike ancient trails, swim in hidden pools, and discover the magic of the outdoors. This backpacking trip will leave you feeling empowered and alive by building new wilderness skills and knowledge. Enjoy fun games, new friendships, and excitement for adventure. Discover your inner wild! Join the fun with friends under the canopy of oak trees, tall grasses, streams, and more. 

CAMP DATES: June 7-11, 2021
COST: $650/week, $620 for siblings or friend
TO BOOK YOUR CAMP EMAIL US AT: innerU4u@gmail.com

To ensure education, we maintain a low facilitator student ratio. For this reason, our camps fill up fast
SECURE YOUR CAMP TODAY! ​

This 5-day overnight camp adventure introduces girls to the basic skills of backpacking in the wilderness and Leave No Trace philosophy. This adventure includes learning skills such as pitching a tent efficiently, camp cooking, purifying water, building a campfire, plant identification, and much more. Along with these fundamental skills, girls will be introduced to daily meditation, yoga, and mindfulness exercises to cultivate a deeper appreciation and relationship with nature.

Trip Description

Day 1: Arriving at the Lower Manzana Trail parking lot, your guides Anne-Marie and Mel will be there to greet you! We’ll do group introductions and play fun games to break the ice before we commence our journey. If any parents have last minute questions or the packing list needs review, we will be there to help with any concerns. Your guides will show you how to properly pack your backpack, safely lift it onto your back, and adjust it throughout the trip. 
We’ll begin the adventure by hiking a mile to Potrero Campground, which will already involve a few creek crossings. We’ll enjoy the feeling of wet feet on these hot summer days. After lunch, we will continue down the trail for another two miles until we reach our campsite, Coldwater Campground. Stretched out in a beautiful meadow, this campsite will be our home base for the next two evenings. Once we arrive, we’ll learn how to set up tents, explore our surroundings, and do some journaling. Now it’s time to learn to cook in the backcountry for dinner and dessert, a scrumptious meal to the end of a long day. A good night’s rest will end our evening as we prepare for a fun day tomorrow. 

Day 2: Rise and shine with a morning stretch/yoga session. Then it’s time for breakfast; eggs scramble and an apple for energy. It’s time to explore, so let’s grab our towels and head to the creek. Here we will learn about the native plants and wildlife that use Manzana Creek as their primary water source. Animals ranging from turtles, bobcats, bears, mountain lions, and more depend on this creek to provide their food and nourishment. We will learn how to look for signs of life and how to track the trail of perhaps a bobcat who took a morning drink. After this exciting lesson, we will have lunch and take a well-deserved dip in the creek under the June sun. 
We’ll practice mindfulness by doing a wade in the creek for an hour or two. Our challenge will be to be as quiet as possible, noticing the small things. But, climbing rocks and exploring the banks of the creek safely are welcomed of course. After returning to camp, we’ll gather for dinner and stories of what we discovered today in the creek.
 
Day 3: After a sunrise meditation and a great breakfast, tents will be dismantled and packed to make our way to Manzana Schoolhouse. Along the way we will stop to swim, play mermaid, and have fun in the sun. Upon arriving at Manzana Schoolhouse, you’ll see how students once learned when living in the backcountry in the 1800’s. We’ll learn about how the land was used in modern times and in ancient times by the Chumash. Learn to make fire and relax along the banks of the Sisquoc river. After dinner, we will circle around the fire to share stories and sing favorite songs.

Day 4: After a sunrise movement practice, the day will begin with hot chocolate and a bowl of oatmeal with our favorite berries. After breakfast, we will explore the ancient traditions of the Chumash and their relationship to plants along with the natural world. You will learn how to gather sage, make bundles, and learn to use them in a respectful manner that honors this long held tradition. At midmorning, we will hike back to Coldwater Campground for our last night together under the stars. Our day will end around the campfire sharing stories and songs as you roast your favorite smore combo.
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Day 5: To prepare for the 3 mile hike back to the trailhead, a hearty breakfast will be accompanied by a morning get together to reflect on the gifts that were discovered along the way. After tents and backpacks are repacked, we will head out to hike back to the trailhead where we will be greeted by parents. Along the way, we will stop for lunch, share experiences, and celebrate the joy of being in the wild and accomplishments made along the way. 

Packing List & Gear

Our goal is to offer backpackers a fun experience while teaching backpacking fundamental that will last a lifetime. In order ensure that you have a great time out in the wild, keeping your gear weight to a minimum is essential. The following is a suggested backpacking list that will make your experience enjoyable. Your backpack should not weigh more than 25 pounds and note that you will also be carrying your own food that will be provided to you prior to departure. 
 - Tent (lightweight)
 - Backpack (40 liters) 
 - Sleeping pad
- Sleeping bag (lightweight)
- Compression bag for the sleeping bag (also known as a stuff sack)
- 1 Hydration Pack (2 or 3 liters) + 1 reusable water-bottle 
- Lightweight Pillow (small)
- Sunblock
- Sun Hat
- Pajamas
- Hiking Pants (no jeans or cotton)
- 1 Headlamp (extra batteries just in case)
- Lightweight Towel (for sitting on and drying off)
- Bug repellent (small)
- Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, extra hair ties, wipes, etc.)
- 1 spork, cup, and plate
- 1 shorts
- 1 bathing suit
- 1 fleece or jacket
- 2 short sleeve shirt
- 1 long sleeve shirt
- 1 gallon Ziplock for trash
- Toilet paper (small roll) 
- Biodegradable soap (small format)
- 1 small hand sanitizer 
- Journal & Pen
- Mask 
- Lightweight Backpack chair or sitting mat/pad (optional)

We want this experience to be accessible and exciting, we do not want gear to be cost prohibitive. If you are having a difficult time finding gear in your area for a good price, we suggest purchasing gear from secondhand stores (or REI outlet/garage sale), borrowing from friends, or renting from an outdoor store like REI. For example, REI offers rentals on youth backpacks, tents, sleeping bags (sanitized between uses), sleeping pads, backpacking chairs, headlamps, and more. Unfortunately, Santa Barbara's REI does not offer camping rentals. The closest REI that will offer camping rentals is in Oxnard. Below you will find a link to REI's full list of rental gear that can be rented, though Oxnard's supply is not guaranteed to reflect this entire list.  Please email us if none of these options are viable, we will do our best to provide solutions on a case by case basis. 

www.rei.com/stores/rentals/pricing#camping-&-hiking-gear.
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Driving Directions Lower Manzana Trail

https://goo.gl/maps/p53S6P335xZg1MWw5
Drive 47 miles to Nira Camp behind the Santa Ynez Valley: Driving up Highway 154 past Lake Cachuma, turn right on Armour Ranch Road just after crossing over the concrete Santa Ynez River bridge. After about a mile, turn right again on signed Happy Canyon Road and drive to the end. Park about a quarter-mile west of Nira Campground, right at the Manzana’s banks (Lower Manzana Creek Trailhead), and avoid the $10 parking fee that Parks Management Co. gives you inside Nira Camp itself.

Please keep in mind that the driving distance from Santa Barbara is an estimated, 1 hour and 45 minutes. The roads leading up the trailhead can be a bit rough (potholes and narrow curves) so please drive carefully and slowly at points. You’ll know if you’ve gone too far as the road dead ends at Nira Campground a half mile from the trailhead.