Our sweet & shy 14 year old daughter had the most amazing time on the 8 day River Safari. She learned so much about team work, leadership, and outdoor survival from the wonderful leaders and had an overall excellent time. Her only complaint was bug bites. But seriously; that's expected on an outdoor adventure. lol. read more

I just picked my 13 year old son up from the 12 day Texas Hill Country trip and all I can say is WOW! When I mentioned this camp to him he wasn't interested at all! He said there was nothing he could gain from it, nothing that interested him. All he wanted to do was sit around the house all summer. I signed him up anyway... Needless to say I was nervous picking him up. When I got there he was hugging everyone and high fiving and talking about how he was going to miss everyone and how all of them were going to do it again next year. Even though he was away from his beloved cell phone for 12 days, he was much more interested in telling me all the wonderful things he did than texting with his friends! That's a pretty big deal there! This has been one of the hottest summers in Texas in a long time, but he never once said anything about how hot it was or anything else. The only complaint I heard from him was about powdered milk and peanut butter ramen noodles! What's even better is that he is happy to have gone but also happy to be home! He even thanked me for making him go on the trip!! The trip isn't cheap, but with the reaction I'm getting from my teen, I think it is WELL worth the money! I'm going to start saving so he can attend the 16 day Big Bend trip next year! read more

My son went on the 2014 Blue Ridge Expedition this summer. It certainly was an adventure that I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND. I've sent my son to camp for several years now but thought he'd enjoy something different this summer. I chose Epic Adventures because I thought they would provide a wonderful experience that my son would never forget. Well, it was an experience that he will never forget but not because it was so wonderful. Here are the pros and cons: Pro - white water rafting (my son said they had a great time) Con - The owner told another parent (who informed me) that the campers would be camping in tents the entire time except the 3 day back packing. My son said they slept under tarps the entire time. Con - We were told to send $75-100 extra for our son to buy souvenirs. My son did not get to buy any souvenirs because the counselors told the campers they had to use the money for snacks and lunch. Con - Campers were assigned "clean up" for each dinner. This entailed the assigned camper to use their finger to scoop out and eat any remaining food after dinner (regardless of whether or not they were still hungry). NONE of the utensils used to cook were ever washed! Each night a different camper used his/her finger to scoop out and "clean" the pot. Disgusting! Con - The 2 female counselors were very rude and yelled at the campers. Con - One of the female counselors drove so sporadically that the van was weaving and scraping trees against the side of the mountain! Con - The van broke down in Georgetown on the way back to Austin so we had to drive up there to pick our child up instead of meeting them at the designated drop spot. Con - Parents are rarely informed. When I talked to the owner, John Hardy, prior to signing my son up for camp, he told me they posted pictures daily and gave updates on their blog. This couldn't be further from the truth. We received 3 updates in 12 days. This is totally unacceptable. read more

My 13yo son attended the Texas Adventure camp last summer, and wow! If you are looking to provide your kid with a life-changing experience, I would highly recommend Epic Adventures. Like any teen, my son is often bored during the summers, being far too old for childcare and too young to drive. It was such a disappointment to come home in the afternoon and find him camped on the couch, wearing the crumbs of his Cheetos. I was weary of letting him go two weeks without me nearby, but he needed some adventure for a change. I signed him up, loaded him up camping supplies, and off he went. After camp, he begged me to let him go again the very next day! (really?!!) He returned from camp with more self-confidence, assertiveness, and a brand-new love for the outdoors. read more

My 14 year old son just got back from an 8-day river trip out of San Marcos Texas. What an adventure! No, it was not always easy but they had to persevere. 8 days camping out and fending for themselves with 3 wonderful guides does wonders for an entitled teenager! He actually had a great time although he will not admit it, but I know that he did because he keeps talking about the trip. Shout out to Nathan, JD, and Felicity! He loved you guys! I highly recommend this for those kids who are self-motivated, and get along well with others. Thank you Epic Adventures! read more

It was an amazing opportunity. At the beginning we were afraid of letting our 13 years old boys going with somebody we did not previously know outside in the middle of the mountains. All the time they guides took care of them. They enjoy the most. They returned positive transformed. They said it was a perfect trip. They enjoy the nature. Views were spectacular. They want to go back next year. Very well organized. Ratio counselors / campers is perfect. Counselors have excellent experience. read more

5 STAR BACKPACKING EXPERIENCE. My son went on the Blue Ridge Mountain trip last summer and the Ultimate Ozarks trip this summer. Backpacking, caving, mountain climbing, kayaking, rafting, eating over the campfire... all amazing outdoor education experiences. My son is NOT an overly avid outdoor enthusiast (truth be told, he'd prefer air-conditioning and gaming), but he loves these trips. They challenge you and you are gently pushed to exceed your expectations. This sounds shocking, but he even likes the van ride to and from the trips. Both summers, he has come home stinky and full of stories about what happened in the mountains. The counselors are extraordinary and help the campers celebrate successes, such as carrying a heavy pack, rafting 26 miles in one day, and preparing food outdoors. Life is an adventure, so I believe it is great to teach our kids to jump in with both feet, learn how to safely and responsibly backpack, and gain a true appreciation for the beauty of the outdoors. read more

I was so impressed with EPIC Adventures! My younger sister was able to go on a summer trip this year and she came back with so much to talk about. She made so many friends and has such a strong bond with all of them. She enjoyed herself with no technology, which is insane for her, and was so upset to get back into the "real world." I wish I would have done something like this when I was younger, she was able to learn so much about leadership, teamwork, and outdoor activities. If someone in your family is looking for a summer camp that builds character and creates incredible memories, this is the one! read more

Our grandson, age 16, just got back today from his 16 day Blue Ridge Expedition. I highly recommend this camp! This is his second year, as last year he did the Ozark trip. He had a great time on both trips. This year he loved being in North Carolina & Tennessee, made great friends, had a blast at Sliding Rock, on the hikes, and also on the whitewater raft trips they took. He had outgrown the lodge type camps, staying in one place, and for two years now he has come back from Epic feeling like he got to really enjoy the great outdoors in some pristine locations. He has learned so much and has great things to say about his camp guides and all their adventures. John Hardy picks outstanding young men and women as camp leaders, so it's easy to rest assured that the kids are in great hands. But they all work as a team, & leave electronics behind for 2 whole weeks. He doesn't even mind that at all. This camp has a lot to offer for those kids who want to be in a smaller group setting and to really get off the beaten path. They hike or raft to get where they're going, sleep out in the open, prepare their own meals, set up & break down camp, & have fun with group activities at their stopping places. This camp is for the kid who wants more adventure than staying in a cabin. read more

MY KID LOVED IT! We wee very excited to find a camp that was geared more to my daughter Sylvia's age (15.) she has been going to camp for many years and has always had fun. However last year she said at Sky Ranch she felt to old and that she thought it was a little boring. She has always been a quite kid and a little bit reserve so I was not sure how we'll she would do it a camp like this. We have never really done anything like this before and I did not want her to feel out of place or like we were pushing her to do something she did not want to do. She was not real sure about it when I first talked to her about it but the more she found out the more willing she was to give it a try. She was not to excited about the though of sleeping and using the bathroom outside for such a long period of time. I agree that it sounded a little extreme but she liked everything else. So we signed her up for the Arkansas trip. I called and spoke with John several times about logistics, the gear and what to expect. John was very friendly and very passionate about the programs and made sure we were a good fit for this type of camp. I will admit I was a little concerned about sending my daughter that far away with someone I had only talked on the phone with. He explained that this camp was not like most camps and that they traveled around from place to place in a 15 passenger van. He was more than willing to answer any questions or concern I had and was very knowledgeable about teens. One reasons I really liked Epic was because of the chance for Sylvia to grow up a little and get so e confidence so maybe she would not be so shy. After talking with john this sounded more and more like the perfect thing for her. We met the group at a gas station in Dallas on there way to Arkansas. We could have met them in Austin but decided to spend a few days with family in Dallas before the trip. When they pulled up I was not sure what to think. We were both a little nervous and everyone was pretty quite, I guess they were nervous as well. The consulars were Cassie, Quinn, & Tara . They defiantly looked the part and you could tell they had spent lots of time outdoors. It was hot outside so we hurried up and made sure she had everything and within 15 minutes everyone had arrived and away they went. While they were gone we would get random updates via the blog or Facebook. Sometimes there would be pictures other times not. I called john and asked about more pictures and he said that due to the wilderness setting it was hard to get a lot of pictures up for everyone to see. They try to get as many updates as possible but there main concern was safety. He apologized and said he try's to get as many updates as possible but sometimes it just takes time to get them up due to lack of service in the areas. He also said they have a 2 way gps should there be any kind of emergency, that made me feel a lot better. We received about 5 updates and several pictures over the course of the trip. When we picked her up we were like WOW! She was all smiles and could not stop talking about the trip. Before she left she wanted to make sure to give everyone a hug and we could tell she had a great time before she even got in the car. The quite reserve girl I drop off was now bubble and non stop talk! She though the backcountry parts of the trip and swimming in remote mountain streams was the coolest thing she had ever done. She said the backpacking was a little harder than she thought but she was glad she did it. She said she almost quit a few times but Cassie would not let her. I asks her about the sleeping and bathroom she was worried about and she said after the 2nd day she did not even think about it. Since she has been back I have heard her tell her friends several stories and they seem a little envious of her. I think that has been great for her confidence and she has since be dying to go camping with the family. Overall I think it was a great experience for her and I think it gave her the push she needed to break out of her shell. She is excited about going again next year and so are we. I would have given them five stars except for the fact that they were a little bit late picking up and there was some confusion with my forms. Nothing I would worry about because they do an awesome job once they get the campers. She had so much fun! Send Your Kid, they will thank you and you will be glad! read more

We thought we had found a perfect camp through Epic Adventures but soon realized we couldn't have been more wrong. There were signs of concern starting from the day of the departure. I met the Epic Adventures team at an Academy in N. Austin off of the interstate IH35. They arrived over an hour late and explained they mistakenly went to different Academy location. Although they seemed unorganized my son and the other 10 kids were excited and eager to start their adventure. Throughout the 2 weeks they would post updates making it seem as if everyone was happy. The day our son returned the van had arrived almost an hour late but this time around they weren't as pleasant and without an explanation. However, their tardiness was the least of my worries when I finally saw my son walk up in distress and agony. As a mother it was almost unbearable to see her son with such sorrow on his face and in such a horrible condition. He was covered from limb to limb with swollen infected bug bites and his calves/ankles were so inflamed and swollen they were hot to the touch. I immediately confronted the camp counselor (Tara Watson) about the condition of my son and wanted to know what happened to him. I was blown away when she replied with a laughter, "I think he might have slept in an ant bed or something, I'm not the nurse". I would expect that an organization that takes on such a high level of responsibility by caring and watching over someone else's children would hire personnel that would be a little more professional or at the very least show some empathy to a situation such as this. Initially when I contacted Mr. Hardy (Owner) he informed me that Cassandra Atkins was the person who was supposed to be responsible for first aid for the children. Since Ms. Watson made it very clear that she wasn't the nurse I called Cassandra on the way to the hospital hoping for some type of insight to this horrific situation. I asked Ms. Atkins about the medication and care that she provided to my son and she advised that a couple days prior she gave him 1 Benadryl with some itch cream. I later found out that the bare minimum of recommended treatment would have been 1 antihistamine every 6 hours until the symptoms subside. I wasn't in denial that my son wouldn't have come back without some type of bug bites or even abrasions. This wouldn't have even been that big of an issue had proper care been provided and an explanation on how they even became so severe. But the fact of the matter is that it was obvious from the severity of the wounds that they were not properly cared for. We took pictures so we could show Mr. Hardy since at that time we thought that he cared about my son. The ER doctor was surprised at the amount of bites and said he had only seen 2 cases before that were of this gravity. One was a paraplegic man that while mowing, ran into a tree with a bee hive. The other was a drunk guy that fell into an ant bed. He also mentioned that had this not been related to a camping excursion, he would have contacted CPS. The doctor further advised that he identified multiple tick bites, mosquito bites and fly bites. The end result of the hospital visit was a prescription for Prednisone, Ibuprofen & Benadryl every 6 hours. We also need to follow up with his pediatrician on the possibility of Lyme disease. We contacted Hardy and asked him if he was aware of our son's current condition. We were floored when he admitted he was aware and acted almost annoyed that we brought this to his attention. It was even more of a shock that he placed the blame on my 14 year old son for not applying bug spray. Hardy became very defensive and sarcastically explained that the first aid box was returned emptied and then patronized us by telling us someone must have used it up. It amazed us that they proclaim to provide each trip with an extensive first aid supply and somehow the box was emptied by the end of the trip. We also brought up other concerning issues like my son not being enforced to wear his seat belt. Hardy accused my son of not telling the truth since he has never had these issues. At this point it was apparent that Hardy wasn't planning on taking any responsibility for any mistakes that he or his staff have made and contended that our son was a liar. He also advised that if we had any further comments about the incident to contact his attorney but refused to give us his name. There were other concerning parts of the trip about how my son was forced to eat burnt spaghetti from a bottom of a pan until he threw up. I respect the concept of Leave No Trace but if I was to give you my personal opinion I believe Mr. Hardy is out to make a quick buck by the hiring these unqualified young adults who have absolutely no clue of the concept but only to use it in a form of hazing for their own personal enjoyment. It's my belief they have no business taking care of children and honestly I'm so grateful that our son came back to us alive. read more

Not only did Epic Adventures give my nephew something to do this summer, it gave him a ton of new friends. My nephew is just like everyone else his age. Messes around on his phone all day and then complains that he doesn't meet quality friends. Having been in the cub scouts as a kid, I learned a lot of life skills and had my share of outdoor adventures that way. I figured I would sign him up for a 10 day adventure to Texas through Epic Adventures. I hadn't heard of the company before but after reading the reviews, I felt like this was the place for him. Everyone was super accommodating over the phone which put me at ease. To say that my nephew was nervous is an understatement. He thought he wouldn't fit in and that he wouldn't be able to keep up. As soon as I dropped him off though, he found his first friend. I got periodic updates throughout the 10 days on his progress but what surprised me the most was his reaction when I came to pick him up. He was very emotional while saying goodbye to his new best friends that he had made on the adventure. He told me that they had been through a lot and he planned on keeping in touch with so many of them. Next year should be fun as I plan on sending him to a few different adventures through Epic Adventures. Why wouldn't I? He loves it and I get a much needed break! read more