| Application deadline | March 1, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | $500–$8,795 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Need-based scholarships up to fully funded tuition: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Awarded first-come, first-served by the scholarship committee. (2027 cycle) | Catalog terms: Global Navigator Scholarship (financial need and academic merit): From $500. Covers $500 up to 100% of tuition; for US citizens or permanent residents in grades 9-11 living in the US.; Academic Merit Award: $500; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Unconfirmed — check official site | Nonrefundable deposit of 20% of full tuition, due with the application: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Balance due 30 days before the trek starts.; Need-based scholarships up to fully funded tuition: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Awarded first-come, first-served by the scholarship committee. (2027 cycle) | Catalog terms: Nonrefundable application fee: $25; Nonrefundable acceptance deposit: $1,000. Due within 7 days of acceptance.; Global Navigator Scholarship (financial need and academic merit): From $500. Covers $500 up to 100% of tuition; for US citizens or permanent residents in grades 9-11 living in the US.; Academic Merit Award: $500; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Weekly salary: $500 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grade 12 and first-year college; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 9–12 (provider uses rising grades) |
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| Additional eligibility | Citizenship: US citizen; Residency: IL; Requirement: Open to grades 12–13; Requirement: High school senior in the 2027-2028 school year or a 2027 high school graduate; Requirement: Enrolled in an Illinois high school; Requirement: Proof of medical insurance | Ages 13–18; Requirement: Each trek has its own age band, e.g. Wild Country 13-15 and Mountain Desert 16-18; Requirement: Prairie Trek is for male-identifying trekkers and Turquoise Trail for female trekkers | Requirement: Open to grades 9–12; Requirement: Must have completed 9th grade before traveling (rising freshmen are not eligible); Requirement: Some programs set their own requirements, such as a language level |
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| Session dates or duration | Starts July 12, 2027; Ends August 6, 2027; 4 weeks (2027 cycle) | Starts June 20, 2027; Ends August 1, 2027; 2–6 weeks (2027 cycle) | Catalog terms: 3–8 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | Hybrid | In person | In person |
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| Housing and supervision | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | IL | Thoreau, NM, AZ, UT, CO | More than 40 advertised 2027 destinations; each program page defines the location and housing |
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| Selection and application | Application materials: Letter of recommendation from a STEM teacher or STEM club advisor | Selection: Trek acceptance is based on the application and ability to participate fully; Pick Your Price selection does not affect admission. Capacity, fit, health and safety, and financial-aid availability can still limit placement. Application materials: For need-based aid: separate scholarship form, amount requested, household financial information, parent statement, and applicant written statement or video | Selection: Program and scholarship capacity varies. Scholarships are competitively reviewed using transcript, GPA, essays, teacher recommendation, and for need-based awards guardian financial information; no umbrella acceptance rate is published. Application materials: Scholarship applicants: short essay answers; Scholarship applicants: one teacher recommendation |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-10-24Source 5 · checked 2026-10-24Source 6 · checked 2026-10-24Source 7 · checked 2026-10-24Source 8 · checked 2026-10-24Source 9 · checked 2026-08-20Source 10 · checked 2026-08-20Source 11 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-10-24 |
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