Wilderness Camp is designed to give you a truly remote backcountry experience. Surrounded by the natural beauty of creation, you will encounter who God is and that He has designed everything with a purpose. You will learn new techniques and skills specific for your camp or continue to develop the skills you already have. Wilderness is designed to challenge you while giving you a fun and exciting 11 days! The Wilderness Camp staff is dedicated to facilitating excitement and exploration! It’s our desire that you grow stronger physically, emotionally and most of all…spiritually!

Find out what backpacking and camping in the rugged Alaskan wilderness is all about! Experience the beauty and complexity of God’s creation as you step off the beaten path, explore the valleys, and summit a majestic mountain. You will experience outdoor cooking, mountain traveling, camping techniques, and orienteering.
Bring along a friend or make new friends throughout the week. Together you’ll enjoy an ultimate game of mountaintop hacky sack, digging deeper into God’s Word, and learning more about the wilderness surrounding you. 

This camp is 10 days to facilitate more time in the wilderness and to allow for weather conditions as needed.

Launch out with a full week on the water! These canoe trips are designed to give you the full experience of canoeing in the Alaskan wilderness. While traveling and playing on the lakes or river, you will have the opportunity to gain new skills or build on the ones you already have. Hone your paddling techniques, outdoor cooking, backcountry navigation, and much more! You’ll meet new friends, dig deeper into God’s Word, play fun games, and explore God’s great wilderness. 

Each trip is unique to accommodate the camper’s ages, skills, and abilities.

Do Wilderness campers go to the VBC gift shop?
Yes, campers will go to the gift shop! They will visit the gift shop once before they leave on their trip and at least once when they return. 

Are snacks provided or should we bring them?
Campers are provided a bag of snacks for the trip (e.g. trail mix, dried fruit, granola bars). Campers are welcome to bring their own additional snacks. Food weight is factored in when packing, so there are limitations to how many snacks are brought (no sodas/glass bottles allowed).

Is there specific gear that I need to bring?
Yes! Each camp has its own unique packing list. Please check the Wilderness webpage for the link right after each camp description. 

Why is some gear missing from the packing lists?
Wilderness provides a lot of the gear that is needed for the trip (e.g. tents, water filter, pots, fuel/stoves, food…) Please reference the packing lists specifically for campers. We encourage campers to bring any additional wilderness gear they want, but leaders will check all gear and either approve or suggest leaving it at VBC depending on weight and need.

How do we rent gear from Wilderness?
Wilderness has limited gear for rent. Everything is rented on a donation basis. If you are interested in renting gear, please call 907-745-4203 ext 302 to see what’s available. These items are first come, first serve. Please submit your rental donation during check-in (at the front desk or at the bus drop off).

Suggested Donation Prices: 

Backpack $15

Raincoat $15

Rain Pants $15

Sleeping Bag $10

Sleeping Pad $10

Rubber Boots $5

* Difficulty Levels

Based on the hardest day, most days would be easier with some easy/rest/fun days

1- HIKING some small hills 1hr

2- HIKING 15lb pack with some small hills 2hrs

3- HIKING 15lb pack with some steep hills 2hrs

4- HIKING 30lb pack with small hills 2hrs

5- HIKING 30lb pack with steep hills 2hrs

6- HIKING 30lb pack with steep hills 5hrs 

7- HIKING 35lb pack up mountains 6hrs OR – SEA KAYAKING 7hrs and loading kayaks

8- HIKING 40lb pack up mountains 6hrs OR – SEA KAYAKING 9hrs and loading kayaks

9- HIKING 40lb pack up mountains 8hrs OR – SEA KAYAKING 9hrs with few breaks

10- HIKING multiple days 40lb pack up mountains OR – SEA KAYAKING multiple days 9hrs