COST: The cost of the trip is $3000 if paid with check. This includes a trip depsoit and a deposit towards the September Stockholders meeting that occurs in the fall each year. The cost includes transportation, camping fees, Snake River float trip, Archway to the West admission, Cody Night Rodeo admission, T-shirt, and most meals (with the exception of lunch in San Diego, dinner in San Francisco, and Salt Lake City, and Breakfast at Wall Drug and Chicago).  While we will try our best to keep the intinerary as close to possible as trips of our past, there will without a doubt be lots of things that are simply different from previous summers.  I will be traveling our route in April in order to adjust our itinerary to work within the travel restrictions that are in place as we get closer to our trip departures.  I will update applicants and those invited to travel with us as any changes are made.  I know currently that we will not be going to Disneyland this summer.

Read more on how to apply below. Applications will be due March 22nd.  A $500 deposit will be required at the time of acceptance in April.  All trip fees are due May 15, 2021.  

Financial assistance:  In the past scholarships have been available, however this will not be the case this year.  With Covid cancelling trips last summer, it's just not something I can offer this year. A payment plan may be an option.  If this is something your family may need, please reach out to me at 704-657-5628 or [email protected] as soon as possible to determine if what you need is feasible for me this year.  

COVID-19 Update: It is my plan and hope to run both trips this summer.  However, it is unclear at this point how travel restrictions will affect us in June and July.  TCTW will follow the recommendations set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each State's Health Department as well as the National Park Service.  This will invlude things such as mask wearing in public places and social distancing.  Updates will be communicated with participants and their parents once we are closer to the trips leaving and have a better idea of what guidelines and restrictions will look like through the summer.  With vaccines becoming more and more available and accessible, it is my hope that many of these restrictions will lessen.  However, I want to be clear and upfront we will follow recommended guidelines.  Our adherence to these guidelines and policies affects the relationships with campgrounds, the National Park Service, and the communities where we travel in the future.  It is my desire to return to these places and be welcome, and part of ensuring those positive, longstanding relationships is doing what is asked of us this year.

Being responsible for a group of 45 teenagers any year is a huge responsibility that I have never taken lightly.  It feels that much heavier this year.  I need the arruance that anyone who chooses to travel with us this summer is on this same page and in agreement that we will follow the guidelines and help ensure a great summer, not only for us on TCTW, but the communities we travel through as well.

So how do you apply?

Things are a little different this year. The staff still wants to get to know you a little, but we are changing up what that looks like.  You'll still apply through Active.com.  The link is below.  There are two session options.  One for folks that applied for 2020 and weren't able to travel with us due to Covid.  The other is for new applicants.  Make sure you pick the one that applies to your situation.

***This one is BIG!  If you applied in 2020, you HAVE to update your application.  We have been living through a year of a pandemic.  No way that WHO AM I from last year doesn't need updated!

Who am I Paper or Video (required):  This year you have the choice of telling us about yourself in a paper or a short video.  If you want to write a who am I paper, awesome.  Type it up/create a one page graphic(if you want to draw something or create something as your who am I, who am I to say do something different!), make it a pdf and upload it to your application on Active.  If you'd prefer to make a short video, that's an option this year too.  Here are a couple parameters, well one major one.  It has to be 3 minutes or less.  The rest is up to you.  Tell us whatever you want about yourself.

Picture of Yourself(required):  We just want to have a face to go with your name and application.  Upload this to your application on Active, so make sure we can easily see your face.  If there is more than just you in the picture, make sure we can easily tell which one is you.

Favorite Quote(required): This one is pretty easy.  What's your favorite quote.  There is a place in the supplemental forms part of your application to add this in.

Peer Recommendation and Adult Recommendation (optional): These have been required in the past, but this year they are optional.  I feel like a lot of times they are just someone writing something to check off a box and that isn't really helpful to us.  Sometimes, they are really incredible though and I would miss it too much if I didn't get any of those in a year, so you have the option to ask someone to write you a recommendation.  You can submit up to two on your application on Active.  If you ask someone, make sure they know you well and will put in the effort to write you a meaningful recommendation.  While not having a recommendation won't hurt your chances of getting an invitation to travel, having a good one really does help you!  A good recommendation is just one more piece of info that the staff has to be drawn towards your application in the selection process.

All applications need to be submitted through Active.com. If the participant is under 18, a parent will need to create an Active count to complete the application. Please be sure to enter the teen's information and not the parent on the application (It will be referered to as registrant on the website).  All components of the application (“Who am I” paper, favorite inspirational quote, recent photograph, letter of recommendation from a peer and letter of recommendation from an adult) should be uploaded to the Active account. Recommendations may be emailed directly to [email protected] if that is preferred.  Applications should be completed by March 22, 2021.  An application is not considered complete until all the components have been received.  If you have problems with the application website at any point, contact Sassy at [email protected], so we can get it sorted out.  Please write down your login and password and read and retain your confirmation email once registering (there are important instructions in there on logging back in to upload documents) to aid in getting back in and not creating duplicate applications.

Selection Process for Summer 2021

As you all are aware, we did not travel in 2020, and as a result of that, those indiviudals will be given preference in spots for this summer.  Individuals who were invited to travel with us in 2020 who were uppperclassmen will have first dibs on spots this summer as long as they update their applications by the deadline.  At that point any new applicants this summer who are currently high school seniors will come into the mix followed by applicants from last summer who were underclassmen.  If any spots remain we will look to fill those with new underclassmen who apply this year.  The only exception to this will be in regards to males applying.  We always have fewer male applicants and as such we will consider all applications from males once we have accomodated last summer's upperclassmen.

Invitations to travel with us in 2021 will be mailed by April 5tht at the latest.  

For the packing list, click HERE.