

Who are the Teen Summers crew?
Since 1987 (yep, we started with Camp Experts) we’ve sent 10,000+ teens on life‑changing summer adventures. Our advisors have sent clients on thousands of different trips. Explore more below:
Not all trips are created equal. We break down the best adventures out there at no cost so you can find the one that fits your vibe.


Tap what’s you and we’ll find the trips that get it right:
Just share the must-haves, vibes, destinations and what kind of summer they want (adventure, language, service, etc.).
We cut through the noise with curated, cross-company comparisons—side-by-side options that show pricing, dates, and unique highlights, so you see what’s really out there.


Since 1987 (yep, we started with Camp Experts) we’ve sent 10,000+ teens on life‑changing summer adventures. Our advisors have sent clients on thousands of different trips. Explore more below:
Clear answers to common questions about our services, ensuring you have all the information needed for a successful camp experience.
Since 1987 we’ve been the “cool-mom concierge” for teen adventures. Our 60-plus trip coaches track 600+ vetted programs in 50+ countries, covering everything. We get to know your teen’s interests, budget, comfort level, and school calendar, then hand you a short list so you can save time and book with confidence.
Nothing. Families never pay us a fee. The programs we recommend give a thank you referral (think: marketing dollars they’d rather spend on qualified families than google ads), and we only partner with organizations that agree your tuition stays exactly what it would be if you’d found them on your own. Don’t worry - it’s almost everyone.
Here’s what that means in practice:
No. Teen Summers curates teen travel experiences on both sides of the passport line. We place teens on domestic adventures such as national park expeditions, college-campus intensives, and service trips in U.S. communities too. Whether your teen wants hostels and hiking boots or boutique hotels and museum passes, we’ve got options that fit their comfort level, budget, and goals.
If you’re really looking for a traditional sleepaway camp (canoes, color war, cabins), head to our sister company Camp Experts. Looking for education-focused overnight programs such as boarding schools, semester-away academies, or pre-college residential terms? That’s what School Experts is for.
Teen Summers = travel programs for teens.
Camp Experts = camps.
School Experts = school-year and academic residencies. We’ll point you to the right door.
Ideally 5–10 months before the trip. That gives us enough space to:
We’ve helped families pull off amazing last-minute plans, but planning early means more control over where, when, and how your teen travels, plus time for them to get comfortable with the idea.
Some families reach out as early as September or October for the next summer. Others contact us after winter break with a rough idea. Either way, we guide you through a smooth decision process.
We start by asking two key questions:
Then we dive deeper:
Understanding how your teen connects with others helps us recommend programs where they'll feel comfortable, supported, and seen.
From there, we sort through 600+ vetted programs to:
From homebodies to global explorers, we help each teen find a program that clicks and helps them feel confident on their travels.
If it’s designed for teens and has real-world growth at the core, it’s in our world. We cover:
Your teen’s interest is our starting line, we’ll show you what’s out there and break it down clearly.
Every provider we recommend:
We’ve reviewed dozens of safety handbooks and spoken to directors directly. If it’s not a program we’d send our own teens on, we won’t send yours.
Groups range from:
We’ll flag group size and age ranges in every option we present and make sure the social vibe fits your teen, too.
Safety is foundational. Many of our advisors are moms, and we only recommend trips we would send our own kids on.
As a result, we ask that programs:
We’ll walk you through what to ask, how to vet a program, and which red flags to avoid. Have a teen with food allergies, asthma, anxiety, or a recent health event? We’ve seen it all and we’ll guide you to the right support structure.
Yes. Gap years are one of our favorite placements.
We refer students to structured programs that combine:
Some teens piece together 2–3 experiences across different continents. Others do one long stretch with a single provider. We help you think through timeline, visa logistics, insurance, and budget.
That’s more common than you think, and totally normal.
We regularly place first-time travelers into:
We’ll help your teen build confidence, one step at a time. And if they’re hesitant? We’ve got techniques to ease the nerves and options that balance adventure with comfort.