To begin, complete the application on our enrollment page or click the “Enroll” button in the menu.

A parent or guardian should complete the application. The form collects basic participant details, parent/guardian contact information, the adventure you are interested in, and limited health information to help our team determine whether the program is a good fit.

No. Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance into a Bridgeford adventure.

Applications are reviewed in the order they are received, but admission depends on program availability, participant fit, and whether the adventure is appropriate for the applicant.

We make every effort to contact applicants within three to five business days after an application is submitted.

Occasionally, this timeline may be delayed due to holidays, travel, or other factors. If you have not heard from our team within a reasonable time, please contact us to request a status update.

Yes. Participants may apply with a friend, and the application includes a place to share that information.

To help us match applications, each participant should list the other person’s full name and physical address. Both participants must submit their own applications.

We do our best to consider friend requests, but applying together does not guarantee acceptance or placement on the same adventure for both participants.

Bridgeford adventures are also designed to help participants meet new people, build meaningful connections, and become part of the group.

Yes! Homeschoolers are welcome to apply.

Bridgeford Adventures serves teens from a variety of educational backgrounds, including homeschool, public school, private school, and other learning environments. Some adventures may be especially well-suited to homeschool families, and we would love to have you join us.

Yes. International participants are welcome to apply for Bridgeford adventures.

A few considerations apply. First, all instruction and group communication are provided in English. Perfect fluency is not required, but participants should be able to communicate conversationally in English.

Second, travel requirements vary by country. It is the participant’s responsibility to obtain all required passports, visas, permissions, and other travel documents needed to participate.

Program tuition covers all meals during the adventure, accommodations, professional leadership and supervision, local guides for planned excursions, transportation during the adventure, and scheduled activity costs.

Families should plan separately for:

• Transportation to and from the adventure’s designated arrival and departure location
• Airline baggage fees and unaccompanied minor fees, if applicable
• Laundry services, if available or needed
• Personal spending money for souvenirs, snacks, gift shops, outposts, or stores

For participants flying to the adventure, Bridgeford or an approved transportation partner will provide transportation from the designated arrival airport to the program meeting location.

No. Flights to the starting location and from the ending location are not included in tuition.

Transportation during the adventure is included.

Yes. We know adventure tuition is a significant investment.

Bridgeford Adventures offers payment plans that allow families to divide tuition into four equal payments. There is no additional fee for using a payment plan, though standard card processing fees may still apply when paying by card.

Tuition must be paid in full before the adventure. 

Please review our Terms and Conditions page for the full refund policy. The Terms and Conditions are the controlling source for refund, cancellation, and payment policies.

If Bridgeford cancels an adventure due to an operational issue on our side, we will refund all payments received, minus any applicable card processing fees.

If an adventure is canceled or significantly disrupted due to weather, natural disaster, government action, vendor disruption, or another event outside Bridgeford’s control, refunds may be limited to the amounts Bridgeford is able to recover from vendors or program partners.

This is one reason we strongly recommend travel insurance.

Please review our Terms and Conditions for the full cancellation policy.

Participants have options.

Bridgeford adventures begin and end in cities with major airports for participants who need to fly. Participants who live within driving distance may also be dropped off and picked up at the designated meeting location.

If your family would like to use bus or train travel, please contact us before booking so we can confirm whether staff can meet your teen at an approved station and time.

Yes. Bridgeford will arrange for staff to meet participants at the approved arrival airport, train station, or bus station during the designated arrival window.

Parents/Guardians must submit travel plans to our office in advance so we can coordinate arrival and departure logistics.

It depends on the airline.

Each airline has its own unaccompanied minor policy, including age requirements, fees, flight restrictions, and paperwork. Some airlines allow unaccompanied minor travel, while others do not.

Families should always confirm details directly with the airline before booking. We also maintain a list of airline policies on our Unaccompanied Minor Travel page, but airline policies may change after our last review.

We wish we had a crystal ball that told us the cheapest time to book flights. If we did, we would travel more ourselves.

From a practical standpoint, families should not book non-refundable travel until Bridgeford has confirmed enrollment, the family has accepted the participant’s spot, and our team has provided arrival and departure guidance for that adventure.

Yes, we strongly recommend travel insurance.

While we hope every participant can attend as planned, unexpected circumstances such as illness, family emergencies, weather disruptions, or travel delays can happen. Travel insurance may help cover expenses related to trip cancellation, interruption, delays, or other covered events.

Coverage varies by policy, so families should review options carefully and choose the coverage that best fits their needs.

It depends on the adventure.

Each adventure’s logistics page provides specific lodging details. Depending on the program, accommodations may include hotels or motels, frontcountry or backcountry camping, hostels, entire-place guest rentals, youth camp facilities, or similar lodging.

We will never use Couchsurfing.

Each adventure’s logistics and details page includes a complete packing list. A PDF checklist will also be provided to participants and parents before the adventure. 

We recommend using carry-on luggage when possible to reduce the chance of lost baggage. 

Participant safety is our top priority.

Every Bridgeford adventure has an internal risk management plan. While no youth travel or adventure program can guarantee absolute safety, Bridgeford works to identify, reduce, and manage risk through thoughtful planning, trained leadership, emergency procedures, local guidance, and careful vendor selection.

We take risk seriously because real adventure requires real responsibility.

Our leader-to-participant ratio will never exceed 1:6.

Most Bridgeford adventures range between 1:4 and 1:6 depending on the program, location, activities, and group needs.

Yes. Bridgeford staff must pass federal and state background checks.

We also require any third-party guide who will be overnighting with our group to complete a background check. This includes a driving record and checking against the sex offender registry.

For most Bridgeford adventures, no previous experience is required.

Our team and local guides provide the support, guidance, instruction, and encouragement participants need to take part. Some adventures may be easier with prior experience, and any adventure requiring specific experience will say so on the adventure page.

If you have questions about a specific program, contact our office, and we can help determine whether it is the right fit.

We will do our best to accommodate food allergies and dietary restrictions, but we may not always be able to do so.

Families should share all allergies, dietary needs, and food restrictions during the application process. Because our adventures may involve restaurants, vendors, shared meals, backcountry settings, and limited food options, Bridgeford cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment.

Please contact us if you have questions about a specific dietary need before applying.

Bridgeford requires participants to have had a tetanus shot within the past 10 years.

If a specific adventure requires or recommends additional immunizations, that information will be shared on the adventure’s logistics page. Families should consult their healthcare provider with questions about vaccines, health precautions, or travel-related medical needs.

For safety reasons, participants may not keep most medications with them during the adventure. This includes over-the-counter and prescription medications.

Before departure, Bridgeford will work with participants and parents to create a medication administration log. Medications should be provided in their original containers and turned in to staff at the start of the adventure. Staff will log when medication is administered, and the participant’s log will be available to parents after the adventure.

Participants may carry prescribed rescue medications such as inhalers or EpiPens when appropriate.

Participants who take refrigerated medications should contact our office before applying or enrolling so we can determine whether the selected adventure can accommodate that need.

Our number one priority is the health, safety, and well-being of participants.

Our team members follow strict treatment procedures specific to the injury or illness. For minor injuries or illnesses, our field team may treat the issue and notify our office team. For more serious injuries or illnesses, our field team will work with local emergency services personnel to provide treatment and transportation if needed.

If a situation requires non-routine medical treatment or parent notification, our team will contact parents or guardians as soon as possible.

After treatment, if appropriate, the participant may continue with the group and will be monitored for any changes in symptoms.

Participants may bring phones, but families should not expect constant or daily direct contact during an adventure.

Some locations may have limited or no cell service, and phones may be put away during group activities, meals, instruction, service, travel, reflection, and other parts of the program. When the schedule, setting, and group needs allow, participants may have opportunities to contact home.

Bridgeford staff will have a communication plan for each adventure and will check in with our office team when practical and service is available.

The phrase we often use with parents is: no news is good news. If something serious happens, Bridgeford will contact parents or guardians as soon as possible.

Parents will be provided with an emergency contact number before the adventure begins.

If an emergency occurs at home and you need to reach your child, contact Bridgeford through the emergency number provided. Our team will work to relay the message and respond as quickly as the program location and circumstances allow.

Bridgeford Adventures maintains insurance coverage for our programs and operations. This includes commercial general liability, professional liability, and other policies.

In addition, each participant is covered by an accident insurance policy. This coverage is secondary to the family’s primary health insurance and may help with deductibles or expenses not fully covered by the primary policy.

While no insurance removes all risk, we believe it provides an added layer of protection and peace of mind for families.

Bridgeford adventures are led by youth development professionals and trained adventure leaders.

Every adventure includes at least one leader with a degree and professional experience in youth development. Additional leaders may include former youth development professionals, educators, outdoor or youth program leaders, college students studying youth development or a related field, and experienced youth program volunteers.

Each leader is selected to help create a safe, positive, and meaningful experience for participants.

Each trip will also have at least one other adult (or more, depending on group size) as our secondary trip leader. These individuals may also be youth development professionals, college students pursuing a degree in a relevant field, or other professionals with experience in youth programming. All team members have passed a federal background check, received training, and are Red Cross-certified in First Aid and CPR/AED.  

Awesome question! Our groups are organized by age using the Ages and Stages of Youth Development framework and not by grade level. This ensures that you are with other kids like you.

Our groups are smaller; the smallest is 8, and the largest is 20 participants.

Groups are also co-ed. We do exercise a minimum of 2/3 to 1/3 rule for gender. This means we will never have a single male participant in a group of 14 female participants, and vice versa. 

Bridgeford is a good fit for teens who are willing to try.

Participants do not need to be expert travelers, athletes, campers, paddlers, or outdoorspeople. But they should be willing to participate, follow directions, respect others, and contribute to the group.

A good fit for Bridgeford is a teen who is open to:

• Trying something new
• Being part of a group
• Respecting people and places
• Following safety expectations
• Growing through challenge
• Not afraid to sit on the grass without a blanket. 

We want each participant to have a safe and positive experience, but Bridgeford adventures are not designed as therapeutic, medical, behavioral, or special-needs programs.

Families should share any physical, emotional, behavioral, learning, dietary, or medical support needs during the application process. This helps us determine whether the adventure is a good fit and whether reasonable support can be provided.

If we believe a participant’s needs are beyond what our team can safely or appropriately support, we may determine that the adventure is not the right fit.

Yes, participants may bring a phone, but Bridgeford adventures are not designed around constant phone use.

We believe technology is part of modern life, and learning to use it appropriately is a real-world skill. The problem is not the tool itself, but overdependence on it. Our goal is not to pretend phones do not exist. Our goal is to help participants be present, engage with the group, and use technology in a way that supports the experience instead of distracting from it.

Phones may be used during designated times, for appropriate photos, or when approved by a trip leader. We believe this can help teens capture their adventure in a meaningful way while still keeping the focus on the people, places, and challenges in front of them.

Phones and other electronics should be put away during group activities, meals, instruction, service projects, reflection times, and other moments when full participation is expected. Bridgeford leaders may limit, hold, or restrict phone use if it becomes disruptive, unsafe, or harmful to the group experience.

Participants may not photograph, record, or post images of other participants without permission.

Families should also understand that Bridgeford Adventures does not guarantee the safety of any technology or personal electronic device, including phones, tablets, e-readers, cameras, laptops, or similar items. This applies even if a device is collected or held by staff due to overuse or inappropriate use. Many adventures involve water, rugged terrain, shared lodging, public spaces, transportation, and outdoor environments where devices may be lost, damaged, or stolen.

Participants bring electronics at their own risk.

In remote areas, cell service may be limited or unavailable. Parents should not expect direct phone access to their child throughout the adventure. If a parent needs to reach a participant, they should contact Bridgeford staff.

Maybe, but families should not expect constant or daily contact.

Participants may have opportunities to contact home when the schedule, setting, and group needs allow. However, phones may be put away during activities, and some locations may have limited or no cell service.

If a parent needs to reach a participant, they should contact Bridgeford staff.

Yes, when practical.

Bridgeford may provide occasional updates during an adventure, so families know the group is doing well. The timing and frequency of updates will depend on the schedule, location, cell service, and leader availability.

We do not promise daily updates, but we do make parent communication a priority when it is practical and appropriate.

That can happen, and it does not mean your child has failed.

Many teens feel nervous before or during a new experience, especially when they are away from home, meeting new people, or trying unfamiliar activities.

Bridgeford leaders support participants by encouraging connection with the group, helping them take manageable next steps, and creating a positive environment where participants can build confidence.

If your child has a history of significant anxiety, homesickness, or other support needs, please share that information during the application process so we can determine whether the adventure is a good fit.

We cue, Singing in the Rain music, and prepare to perform our own rendition! 

Okay, so maybe we are not that theatrical.

We get wet. Then we adapt.

Rain is part of adventure, especially in the outdoors. When conditions are safe, activities may continue with proper rain gear and adjusted expectations.

If weather creates unsafe conditions, Bridgeford leaders will modify the schedule, change locations, delay activities, or use backup plans as needed.

Absolutely not!

Are we going to hold your hand the entire way? No – that’s creepy. 

Are we going to keep you to a strict timeline and keep you from exploring or trying something new? No – that defeats our whole goal. 

There may be short conversations, guided reflection, or context shared by leaders and local experts, but this is still an adventure. The goal is not to turn the trip into a lecture.

The goal is to help teens notice what they are learning while they are living it.

Bridgeford Adventures expects participants to help create a safe, respectful, and positive group environment.

Participants are expected to follow leader instructions, respect other participants, care for shared spaces, participate in scheduled activities, and avoid behavior that puts themselves or others at risk.

Some examples of prohibited behavior include:

• Possession or use of alcohol, tobacco, nicotine, illegal drugs, or marijuana
• Possession or use of weapons
• Threats, harassment, bullying, or intimidation
• Leaving the group without permission
• Unsafe behavior
• Theft or vandalism
• Possession of fireworks
• Disruption of scheduled activities

Additional expectations may be shared before or during each adventure.

It depends on the situation.

For minor issues, leaders may use reminders, redirection, reflection, or a conversation with the participant to correct the behavior.

For more serious behavior, repeated issues, or actions that create a safety concern, Bridgeford may contact parents or guardians and may remove the participant from the adventure.

If a participant is removed from an adventure, parents or guardians are responsible for any costs related to early departure, including transportation, lodging, airline changes, or other expenses.

Usually, no.

Because Bridgeford adventures move from location to location, it is generally not practical to receive mail or packages during the program.

If you need to send something important to your child, please contact our team before mailing anything so we can determine whether it is possible for that specific adventure.

Yes, photos and videos may be taken during Bridgeford adventures.

Photos may be used for parent updates, participant memories, Bridgeford marketing, social media, website content, or future promotional materials.

Families will have the opportunity to review photo and media permissions as part of the enrollment paperwork. If you have concerns about your child being photographed or included in marketing materials, please contact our team before the adventure.