Group offers teens stewardship, wilderness experience

The Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation (SBFC) is offering 10 free youth wilderness expeditions for the summer of 2026.

Now entering its third year, SBFC’s Youth Wilderness Program takes participants ages 12–18 on six-day backpacking expeditions into the Frank Church–River of No Return and Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness areas and surrounding wildlands.

SBFC provides leadership, food, group gear and local transportation for the trips. Teens who don’t have personal backpacking equipment can borrow items such as sleeping bags, backpacks and tents from SBFC’s gear library, ensuring that cost and equipment are not barriers to participation, according to a statement released by the organization.

Each expedition includes a small crew of six youth participants and two experienced SBFC leaders. Together, they will travel through wilderness landscapes while learning about wilderness, public lands stewardship and teamwork. Participants will also contribute to trail maintenance projects using traditional hand tools like Pulaskis, loppers and hand saws, helping keep wilderness trails open and accessible for everyone.

The 2026 expedition locations and dates are:

15-18 Year Old Expeditions:

• Chamberlain (Payette National Forest): June 4-9

• Big Creek Lake (Bitterroot National Forest): June 18-23

• Lower Gospel Lake (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest) July 2-7

• Helldiver Lake (Salmon-Challis National Forest): July 16-21

• Loon Creek (Salmon-Challis National Forest): July 30-August 4

12-15 year old expeditions:

• Boulder Creek (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest): June 18-23

• Walton Lakes (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest): July 2-7

• Slate Lake (Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest): July 16-21

• Josephus Lake (Salmon-Challis National Forest): July 30-August 4

• Upper Loon Creek (Payette National Forest): Aug. 13-18

Participants will be selected through a weighted lottery, with preference given to applicants who demonstrate enthusiasm, apply early, and live near wilderness gateway communities, according to SBFC.

Teens interested in participating can apply online at www.selwaybitterroot.org/youth.