Intro to Hiking & Backpacking

This course is designed for inexperienced and new hikers, backpackers, or those that want to spend more time in general outdoor. in the safety of a group. This course is designed to present you with the basic information you will need to start enjoying the outdoors in a safe and educated manner. Our goal is to provide you a solid foundation to start making selections on gear, food, clothing as well as numerous other topics.

This event is also great for those that want to get out and test or shake the dust of their equipment, maybe see some different types of gear that is out on the market. This event will also be a good resource for finding out information on our upcoming events first hand from the owners and guides at True North! We can give you all the details of our upcoming events, break them down day by day for you if needed.

Course Highlights:

-Hiking vs Backpacking

-Choosing the essentials

-Selecting gear, clothing, footwear and food

-Planning your hike

-Water Filtration choices

-Conditioning

-Hygiene in an outdoor setting

-First Aid Considerations/Footcare

-LNT Principles

-Meal Preparation/Food storage

Meals:

Friday night we will practice preparing a dehydrated backpacking meal. Breakfast and lunch will be provided Saturday. You will also be able to select various trail mix, jerky, energy and meal replacement bars.

Gear:

Members are responsible for obtaining their own gear or gear rental can be rented by selecting the "Admission w/Gear Rental " ticket option.

Gear rental is available for an extra fee and includes the following:

-1, 2, or 4 person tent

-Sleeping bag

-Sleeping pad

-Sleeping pillow

-Backpacking stove

-Headlamp

-Trekking Poles

Ticket Price

Ticket price includes camping Friday night at Forest Glen Preserve, as well as a dehydrated meal to sample for dinner Friday night. Ticket price also includes breakfast, a light lunch on Saturday and you will get to choose from our assortment of snack, energy bars, trail mix selection, and jerky. Guided day hikes in lengths from 1-5 miles will be held on Saturday.  If you want to spend the night again on Saturday, you can make a reservation through Forest Glen Preserve.

Cancellation Policy

No refunds will be issued for cancellations less than 7 days from the date of the event. All other cancellations are subject to a 50% service fee. Refund will be issued in the form of a check. Please allow 5-7 business days for processing, we will notify you when the refund has been issued. Additional information will be emailed to you after registering.

Donate and Give Back to the Outdoor Community!

We are teaming up with *Gear Forward in an attempt to collect new and unused gear, specifically sleeping bags, tents and backpacks. Illinois resident Scott Gauvin is the founder of Gear Forward, an independent nationwide non-profit that provides gear to non-profit community organizations, youth groups and charities working with young people in the outdoors. If you have one of the above mentioned pieces of gear and would like to donate it, please bring it with. After our fall and winter events, the gear that we collect will be turned over to Gear Forward. Anyone donating equipment will be entered into a raffle. You will be given one raffle entry for each piece of gear. (Raffle will consist of 2 Backpackers Pantry backpacking meals, TNE decal pack, TNE t-shirt and a complimentary ticket to one weekend TNE event in 2019.)

*As stated above, Gear Forward is an independent nationwide non-profit that provides gear to non-profit community organizations, youth groups and charities working with young people in the outdoors. Founded by Scott Gauvin, Gear Forward aims to encourage people to donate unused outdoor gear they no longer want or need. Gear Forward also seeks partnerships with outdoor retailers and manufacturers to encourage donation of unused gear or donations by customers.

The outdoors are our collective greatest treasure and gift that we offer the next generation. Gear Forward, simply is about providing the next generation of stewards, adventurers, Scoutmasters and Girl Scout Leaders the resources they need to get outdoors. No child should be denied access to all the outdoors has to offer because they don't have the necessary equipment. Through the collection of gently used outdoor gear, Gear Forward will work with other youth and outdoor focused organizations to get donated gear into the hands that need it. 

Through the donation of outdoor gear, Gear Forward will provide youth in need via various noteworthy organizations the ability to participate in outdoor themed activities such as hiking, camping and backpacking. You can find out more about Gear Forward by visiting their Facebook page or website.