Teenagers paddling canoes and kayaks on an Appalachian river

For Ages 10-17

Pittsburgh Summer Camp

A week-long, small-group outdoor summer camp with Pittsburgh-area departures and Appalachian adventures built for young people ages 10-17.

Explore 2027 trips

More than a place to spend the day.

Pittsburgh families looking for a summer camp often want more than a full calendar. They want a week that gives their young person room to try something real, make friends, and come home proud of what they did. Powell Adventures is a co-ed mobile outdoor camp built around that kind of week.

Instead of staying at one activity site, each small crew follows a planned Appalachian route. Depending on the trip, campers may spend the week rafting, hiking, climbing, biking, paddling, exploring a cave, or taking part in team-building activities. The itinerary gives the week a shared purpose, while the group has time to settle in and grow together.

The camp is designed for young people ages 10-17, with each 2027 trip showing a clear age range and activity mix. Families do not need to guess whether a week will be a good fit. They can compare the routes, ask questions directly, and choose an experience that feels exciting and manageable for their camper.

Pittsburgh-area departures

The week starts with a small crew and a real route.

Campers arrive Sunday, meet their crew, and begin the trip together. Families pick campers up either Friday evening or Saturday morning, depending on the trip. Powell Adventures departs from the Greater Pittsburgh area, with Cranberry Township and the Zelienople community serving as the departure area. The exact location is shared with registered families, so the travel plan stays clear from the start.

The current 2027 routes reach West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, eastern Pennsylvania, and the Allegheny National Forest. A younger camper may be ready for the New River Gorge Sampler, while teens can choose trips that combine activities such as rafting, climbing, backpacking, biking, and paddling. Every trip page spells out the planned dates, ages, and daily activities.

What a Powell Adventures camp week includes.

Small groups that feel personal.

Trips are capped at eight campers and led by two to three staff members. A smaller crew gives leaders room to know the young people in front of them, keep the group moving, and make the day-to-day experience feel more personal than a crowded camp schedule.

Outdoor days with a purpose.

Activities are part of the route, not random add-ons. Campers learn to work together on the river, carry what they need on the trail, encourage one another on a first climb, and take responsibility for their place in the group as the week unfolds.

Clear communication for families.

Parents receive daily communication while the group is away. Before departure, registered families can review the trip FAQ, packing list, and waiver in one place. The practical information is easy to find because a great camp week begins with parents who know what to expect.

A summer camp that meets campers where they are.

A young person does not need to arrive as an experienced climber, paddler, or backpacker to belong on a Powell Adventures trip. The important starting point is a willingness to be part of a crew, spend real time outside, and try something new with support around them.

Families can use the trip pages to narrow the choices by age and interest, then talk with Brad before booking. That conversation is useful for the questions that rarely fit neatly into a registration form: whether an overnight camp feels right this year, how a particular route will feel, what travel looks like, and how to help a camper prepare.

The goal is not to make every camper into the same kind of adventurer. It is to create a week where a young person can take a meaningful step forward, whether that means joining a raft crew, sleeping away from home, hiking a longer trail, or finding confidence in a new group of friends.

Families can expect

Week-long Appalachian adventure routes
Greater Pittsburgh-area departures
Programs for ages 10-17, depending on the trip
No more than eight campers per trip
Two to three staff members
Daily parent communication
A direct video call before booking

A straightforward path to summer

Choose, ask, prepare, and go.

Start with the trip lineup. Each week has its own age range, dates, destination, and activity plan, so families can look for a route that matches what their camper is ready to try. The 2027 schedule makes it easier to compare options before a family commits to a week.

Next, schedule a video call with Brad Powell. Brad has led more than 100 week-long adventure trips and has spent more than 15 years in outdoor education. Families can ask about their camper, the pace of the itinerary, the travel plan, and what preparation will make the first day go smoothly.

Once a family chooses a trip, a $100 deposit reserves the place. The remaining balance is due up to two weeks before departure. Registered families can use the forms and trip resources to prepare clothing, footwear, water gear, and the practical pieces of a week away from home.

Powell Adventures is a registered Pennsylvania organized camp. Staff are cleared to work with children, trained as mandated reporters, and trained in Wilderness First Aid. Families can review the camp's safety and registration information before deciding, because confidence in the plan matters as much as excitement about the adventure.

Owner-led from the first call

Parents know who is guiding the week.

Powell Adventures is led by Brad Powell, an outdoor educator who plans the routes and speaks directly with families before camp. His background includes wilderness experience, raft guide training, and a completed Appalachian Trail thru-hike. That hands-on experience helps turn a big idea for summer into a trip families can understand.

For a family choosing an overnight camp, direct access matters. You can discuss the details with the person behind the program, then send your camper into a small crew with a clear plan for the week ahead.

Review safety information Schedule a video call

Frequently asked questions

What ages can attend Powell Adventures?+

Powell Adventures has 2027 trips for young people ages 10-17. Each trip page lists its age range, so families can choose a route that fits their camper before reserving a place.

Is this a day camp or an overnight camp?+

Powell Adventures runs week-long mobile overnight trips. Campers arrive Sunday and are picked up either Friday evening or Saturday morning, depending on the trip.

Where does the camp leave from?+

Teen trips depart from the Greater Pittsburgh area, with Cranberry Township and the Zelienople community serving as the departure area. Registered families receive the exact location by email.

Can we talk with someone before registering?+

Yes. Families can schedule a video call with Brad Powell before booking to discuss age fit, the route, travel, outdoor experience, and practical questions.

2027 Pittsburgh summer camp

Give them a summer with a story to bring home.

See all 2027 trips Talk with Brad