"I can't thank you enough for providing Michele with an awesome Montana Photojournalism Camp experience. She hasn't stopped talking about it and showing off her pictures. She loved all of you and in fact one of the first things she told me was that as much as she was upset about me leaving her at the airport on that first day - she was just as upset at leaving you all behind on the last. She didn't want it to end. When I first caught sight of her returning, she looked taller and her smile wider than before - all signs of her increased confidence in herself. That is exactly what I was hoping for from this experience! She is looking forward to another one of your camps next year."
Montana Photojournalism Camp
Montana Photojournalism Camp - Girls Summer Camp
Picture yourself at a girls summer adventure camp in Montana - imagine, you’re on location participating in a two week photojournalism assignment: A Portrait of an Alpengirl and her Adventures!
This Alpengirl camp session focuses on digital photography, creative journal writing and outdoor adventure in wilderness areas surrounding and in Yellowstone National Park.
Our girls photo adventure camp in Montana is an ideal session for teenage girls who want all the multi-adventure activities that Alpengirl is known for, plus a camp experience that encourages artistic creativity and visual expression.
DatesThis camp session is 14 days. June 23 - July 6, 2012. AgeGirls attending are age 12-15 this summer and have completed grades 6th - 9th before this summer. This camp session is limited to 12 adventurous teen girls.Arrival & DepartureThe official arrival and departure location is the Gallatin Field Airport in Bozeman, Montana (USA). Girls arrive on June 23 and depart on July 6. See Travel Information for details.
| TuitionCamp tuition is $2290 and includes everything except personal packing list gear and transportation to/from Bozeman, MT. Highlights
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A Portrait of an Alpengirl and her Adventures
Your Alpengirl summer photojournalism camp assignment is to focus on FUN while capturing the essence of your Alpengirl camp experience in photographic image and written word and compiling your creativity into a final portfolio of work: A Portrait of an Alpengirl and her Adventures!
Camera Adventures
Daily Photo Challenges
A new "Photo Challenge" will be introduced daily during camp. The challenge will inspire you to look beyond your normal vision and try something new to demonstrate your understanding and interpretation of a photography idea introduced such as "rule of thirds" or "macro photography."
Creative Journaling
Creative journaling during camp is mostly a self-directed and personal activity that allows girls to be flexible in their own form of written artistic expression. Personal artist statements, photo captions, pencil sketching, diary entries and poetry are all encouraged. Girls will keep their own private journal and share with the group as desired. Girls will be asked to choose excerpts from their journals to add to the final portfolio. Excerpts chosen should enhance the selected portfolio photos and "tell the story" of adventure camp with Alpengirl.
Digital Cameras & Journals
Girls will bring their own digital camera and protective case, memory cards, back-up batteries, chargers, disposable waterproof cameras, pens and a personal journal and should possess a basic understanding of functions available on their camera. If you do not own or wish to purchase these camera supplies, please let us know, we have some extra supplies to loan you for this camp session. We’ll make due with whatever camera and supplies you arrive with, don’t let these supplies limit your creative expression. Please refer to the “Camera & Journal Bag” area of the packing list for more specific camera and gear information.
The Camp Itinerary
Day 1: Arriving at Gallatin Field Airport in Bozeman, Montana, your Alpenguides will greet you and introduce you to the rest of your group for general camp introductions before hopping in the van for a drive to our first campsite. At the campsite, we'll review our photojournalism assignment, Portrait of an Alpengirl and Her Adventures. The first of many delicious and fresh camp gourmet meals will be served before our first evening of tent camping with new friends. Camping near Bozeman, MT.
Journaling in Yellowstone
Day 2: Yoga introduction in the morning followed by a review of camera function basics and "Top 10 Tips" of basic photography that we'll refer to throughout the session. After lunch, we’ll enjoy whitewater river rafting class III-IV rapids of the Yellowstone River - a thrilling opportunity to try out our waterproof cameras! Camping near Gardiner, MT, just inside of Yellowstone National Park.
Note: Yoga is an integral part of all Alpengirl camp itineraries and the start to most days.
Day 3: Day hiking, wildlife viewing, geyser watching and exploring the wonders of Yellowstone National Park. Our journey into Yellowstone will fascinate with fossil forests, Old Faithful, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, paint pots, bubbling mud cauldrons, waterfalls, bison, elk and explosive geysers! Camping outside the Park near West Yellowstone, MT.
Day 4: An easy, flat-water canoeing and swimming day on the Henrys Fork of the Snake River. Alpenolympic bucket hair-washing competition tonight! Camping same.
Day 5: A full day of exploring mountainous and rugged terrain by horseback. Our western trail ride will take us into the remote and pristine Centennial Mountains. Our day is highlighted by untouched scenery, leftover snow fields, early blooming wildflowers and fresh water springs and at our highest elevation, we’ll peak out on the continental divide with views of the Grand Tetons of Wyoming in the distance! Tonight is our campfire dinner complete with s’mores and Alpenolympic talent show entertainment. Camping in the Centennial valley.
Day 6: A rest day to re-supply food, take showers and do laundry. Camping near Ennis, MT.
Tent time
Day 7-10: Backpacking in the mountains for 4 days and 3 nights. An introduction to backpacking includes learning how to properly pack, adjust and carry your backpack. We’ll lighten our load and only pack essential clothing, food and gear. Then, leaving our van and extra gear behind, we'll grab our cameras and backpack for a round-trip total of about 11 miles to a high mountain lake located in a magnificent alpine bowl. We'll attempt to get to the lake on the first or second day of backpacking and allow one or two days of day hike exploration around the lake or even a 10,000 foot peak attempt that offers "top of the world" views and perhaps an opportunity to photograph the mountain goats that linger here! The last day of backpacking is one long and continuous descent followed by quick showers at our campsite.
Day 11: A full day of rock climbing in the Gallatin Canyon. Camping near Three Forks, MT.
Day 12: Today we’ll print photos, burn cd’s, take showers, do laundry, and start portfolios: A Portrait of an Alpengirl and her Adventures. Camping near Bozeman, MT.
Day 13: Finish portfolios and go souvenir shopping in town. Tonight we’ll award “best of” categories in each campers portfolio and have our traditional end of session awards ceremony. Camp same.
Day 14: Departing from Gallatin Field Airport in Bozeman, Montana. See you next summer!
Itinerary Campsites & Amenities
9 of our nights are spent in tents in public “front country” campgrounds where we have pre-assigned campsites with neighbors and campground hosts nearby, running potable water, and private outhouses or flushing toilets.
1 of our nights are spent in tents on land that is privately owned where we have access to running potable water and private outhouses.
3 nights are spent in tents in wilderness “back country” areas where we will purify our water before drinking and learn and practice basic Leave No Trace camping skills such as how to select a campsite and how to go to the bathroom and keep clean outdoors.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a sample itinerary. Alpengirl reserves the right to cancel or alter any aspect of our program, including program itinerary, trip dates, activities or location, as a result of unforeseen circumstances, including weather, environment, or health hazards. To the best of our ability, substitutions of activities will be comparable to, or better than the original activity.
Why This Camp ROCKS!
At Montana Photojournalism Camp, outdoor teen adventure is matched with artistic creativity and each girl has a final photo and writing portfolio to share with friends and family upon return home!
