WSY Deeper (July 2026 - 17403)

It's time to go Deeper! West Side Youth is excited to be leading a backpacking retreat with our incoming 9th and 10th graders. We hope this will be a unique opportunity for 9th graders to create bonds as they head into high school, and 10th graders to have the opportunity to prepare a place for those coming after them. For all youth, we trust that this will be a time for them to step away from the world for a few days and dive into who God is, and who they are. 

️Dates | Friday, July 31 to Monday, Aug 3 (Fri departure from W83 at 8:00 AM, Monday return around 5:00 PM).  

Pricing | The fee includes lodging, food, transportation, and equipment.

• Price: $200
• Refund policy: Spots for this retreat are extremely limited. There will be no refunds after June 1. 

 Scholarships | If pricing prevents you from being able to join, please complete our scholarship request form and return it to hello@wsyouth.com. We can and want to help!

What to Expect | Each day will look a bit different, but Friday we will drive up to Underhill State park and stop in Whitehall for lunch. We will then hike into a Group Camping Site where we will be setting up base camp. This will be our base camp for the weekend where we will be sleeping in tents/lean-tos and cooking over a fire pit. The first full day, the boys and girls will be hiking to two different peaks. The second day we will be hiking together up the main summit of Mt. Mansfield, the highest point in Vermont. Throughout these days we will have devotionals, times of solitude, and time in fellowship. On Monday, we will hike out that morning and drive back to W83. 

The longest hikes will be about 4 mi. with elevation gain. Youth are expected to prepare accordingly.

Who Is Going | There will be six 9th/10th grade boys and six 9th/10th grade girls as well as two staff members and four small group leaders (two guys, two girls). Youth will have separate sleeping arrangements by gender.

What to Bring | You will be provided with tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, mats, and food. A detailed packing list will be provided of recommended clothing, footwear, toiletries, and other necessities. 

Tech-Free Retreat | It is likely that there will be very little signal, but WSY Staff will be taking all phones after lunch on Friday. We encourage bringing a digital or Polaroid camera for photos. Austin will have a satellite phone for emergencies. All staff will have their cell phones when signal allows.

Have We Done This Before? | This can all seem a bit daunting! We want to assure that the proper research and preparation is being done to create an experience that is both adventurous while still being safe. In addition, Austin has led wilderness trips for youth around the country and is a certified Wilderness First Responder. 

We understand this will be a new experience for many of the youth. We look forward to making many memories with them in Vermont and simply encourage a curious and willing attitude! We will be hosting an briefing prior to the trip to help answer any questions or concerns. In the meantime, please contact Austin at austin.lanning@redeemerws.com

West Side Youth Team