Northwest Connect

Join us for an authentic adventure in the Pacific Northwest designed for current 7th & 8th graders. Northwest Connect is a balanced travel experience that combines must-see touring, active outdoor adventures, community service projects, meaningful Jewish experiences, and the opportunity to form friendships as part of a close-knit traveling group. No need to fly half-way around the world for a truly memorable summer on Northwest Connect.

• The Must-Sees and the Hidden Gems
  Northwest Connect covers all of the must see highlights of the Pacific Northwest — Pike Place Market, rafting the Columbia River Gorge, the Microsoft Campus, Mt. St. Helens, and the Seattle Space Needle. We also make time for more off-the-beaten path experiences like kayaking in Puget Sound, visiting a Native American reservation, relaxing in a natural hot spring, exploring the rugged beaches of the northern Pacific, and experiencing a Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon.
• Once-in-a-Lifetime Adventures
  Northwest Connect is also about the lush beauty of America's national parks. Hike on a glacier in Mt. Ranier, explore the rainforests of Olympic National Park, look out across Crater Lake in Oregon, and walk in the shadow of giants in Redwood National Park. See a side of nature that you have only dreamed about, and challenge yourself along the way.
• Living Jewish Values
  As a BBYO Passport experience, Northwest Connect is also an opportunity to explore your Jewish identity in a new context. Take part in rewarding service projects, bond with fellow Jewish teens from a range of backgrounds, and celebrate Shabbat in the wilderness of Olympic National Park and with the local community of Ashland, Oregon.
• An Introduction to College Life
  Participants on Northwest Connect spend part of the program based on the picturesque college campuses of the University of Washington, Southern Oregon University in Ashland, and the University of California, Berkeley. Staying in college dormitories is a wonderful introduction to university living and is a great base for our travels.
  

Check out the program itinerary for a fuller picture of what this experience is about...

• Explore Seattle, Portland, Ashland and the Bay Area
• Soak in the Sol Duc Hot Springs, hike to the edge of Hurricane Ridge, and relax along the rugged beaches of Olympic National Park
• Hike on a snowy glacier atop Mt. Rainier...in the middle of the summer
• Raft down the Columbia River Gorge and kayak on Puget Sound
• Step back in time at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, shop at Pike Place Market in Seattle, and visit the original Starbucks
• Walk through a redwood tree in Northern California and explore Mendocino on the Pacific Coast
• Learn about social change at the Gates Foundation and take part in a series of service and conservation projects
• Tour the innovation headquarters of Microsoft and Boeing
• Get an introduction to college campus life living in the dorms at the University of Washington, Southern Oregon University, and Berkeley
• Celebrate Shabbat in the wilderness at Olympic National Park and with the Jewish community of Ashland, Oregon

Check out the program itinerary for a fuller picture of what this experience is about...

WEEK #1 / Seattle, Mt. Rainier & Olympic National Park
Northwest Connect starts in Seattle where we explore Pike Place Market, the Microsoft Campus, the Boeing airplane assembly headquarter, the Chihuly Gardens and the iconic Seattle Space Needle. Seattle is also our base for day trips to Mt. Rainier, and kayaking in Puget Sound. After a relaxing Shabbat on the University of Washington campus, we travel to Olympic National Park to explore its rainforests, rugged coastlines, and natural hot springs.

WEEK #2 / Portland, Ashland & Northern California
In week two of Northwest Connect we travel southwards to Oregon, stopping at Mt. St. Helens en route. In Oregon we explore Portland, raft down the Columbia River Gorge, take in the views at Crater Lake, and spend a memorable Shabbat in quaint Ashland, Oregon — where we take part in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Northwest Connect caps off in Northern California, hiking through redwood forests, learning about salmon conservation efforts, and traveling down the coast line all the way to San Francisco.

Program Package

• Airport pick-up & drop-off. Participants are responsible for arranging own transportation to the start and end cities. A possible supervised flight to and from New York will be available. Details about this will be provided in late March.
  
• Accommodations (hotels, country lodging, camping and campus dormitories)
• All meals (kosher or vegetarian/allowance)
• Activities & entrance fees
• Deluxe motorcoach
• Dynamic staff team
• Medical insurance (excludes pre-existing conditions)

Trip Links

• Program Itinerary
• Pre-Trip Prep 2012
• Register Now

Northwest Connect can be combined seamlessly with Southwest Connect for a four-week travel experience from Seattle to Phoenix. Go on breathtaking hikes, explore new cities, give back on local service projects, and bond with new friends on the ultimate Western USA road trip. Learn More: Pacific Connect