This time last year we had only one boy enrolled for our two domestic trips. Fast forward a year and we're up to the 85% full point...and that is exciting. We still have room, but only limited space on the Wyoming & Montana trip (maybe two openings). At this moment we have plenty of space on the West Virginia-Tennessee adventure.

I'm in the process of sending our printed material to folks on the mailing list and hope to get our fall online newsletter out within the next two weeks. But being a one-person shop (during this time of year), it's a slow process. But you don't have to wait. 

Click to see the printed flyer that's going out.

And click this clink to see just some of the reasons why you might love a trip with MTA.

Of course, you don't have to read anything to sign up. Well, other than the application. Click here to access the online application to get a head start on your 2016 summer adventures.

We had a great time out in Wyoming & Montana this past July. It was the first MTA experience for 60 percent of our group this summer and I think most would agree it was a fun time. The other 40 percent of the boys have been on two, three, four, and even five MTA trips before. They knew what they were getting into, but of course - every trip, every day is a different experience. It's just one of the things that differentiates these programs from a typical summer camp experience. The boys this summer hiked and explored in the Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, rafted the Yellowstone River, took a horseback trail ride in Cody, visited a couple of museums, saw a rodeo, and of course - got glimpses of lots of wildlife including a mama bear with two cubs, bison, elk, antelope, and bighorn sheep. Click to see some photos from our most recent trip.

And we're always looking ahead...

Boys are already signing up for our 2013 trips. The first up (June 2013) is a seven-day experience in the West Virginia mountains. We'll base in the Greenbrier River Valley area which has plenty of great activities to keep us as busy as we want to be. We'll get to hike, explore, tube, take a train ride, visit America's best-kept secret, bike on the Greenbrier River Trail, and much more. The activities are suitable for all ages starting with boys who will have finished the third grade. Click for more info on West Virginia.

The Europe by Eurail expedition will be our major trip for 2013. This is our fourth adventure across the Atlantic. Can you imagine traveling across Europe by train getting to choose where you want to visit, how long you want to stay, what you want to see? This is exactly how we do it. We will have reservations for the first two or three and last two or three nights - then every day in-between is up to us. This trip already has a waiting list, but if you're interested in joining us there's always a chance. Most of the boys have been signed up since January or February and circumstances do change. So click to read more and let me know if you want to add your name to the roster. There's a chance we'll do another trip to Europe as soon as 2014 or 2015 since these trips have always had very strong demand.

Our day started this morning with boys getting to sleep in a bit and then they were treated to breakfast in bed by our four able-bodied waiters – AKA Mark, Ray, Howard, and Jeff. It wasn’t much of a breakfast but the boys enjoyed the special treat.

After we packed up we checked out the Welty General Store in Dubois. This store, in existence in Dubois since the 1890s, sells lots of cowboy clothes and other Western supplies – like knives. And yes, some boys bought some. They had to have adult permission and we gave it. The knives are supposed to stay in the boxes and packed in the luggage and not removed until they get home. Once those knives get home I guess parents can decide what to do with them.

After the general store we drove one minute and saw our first glimpse of a giant jackalope and were lucky enough to get a photograph of each boy riding it. You’ll see those photos in today’s posting. In fact, you’ll see photos from four years ago of the three boys who are repeating this trip – a “then” and “now” photo. It was a hoot. Mark Gilbert, Stephen Baker, and Hunter Smith were all on this trip in 2008 and rode the jackalope back then when they were 11 years old and were “more than happy” to ride it this morning at age 15.

The final stop in Dubois was at the National Bighorn Sheep Center. The docent presented an excellent overview of bighorn sheep and then we saw a short video about these great animals. Dubois is home to the largest herd of wintering bighorns in the lower 48 states. Boys got to spend some time exploring the museum after the video.

After leaving Dubois we started the relatively short trek back to Jackson for our last couple of days. We drove along the Togwotee Trail motor route which is an incredibly beautiful drive through the mountains with views all around for the entire route. The highest point on the drive was Togwotee Pass at almost 10,000 feet in elevation. As we started our descent we could see the Tetons in the distance and it wasn’t long after that we re-entered the Grand Teton National Park. By this time just about everyone needed to use the bathroom and one wasn’t to be found – so keeping in the cowboy tradition we found a bunch of trees. Nope, no photos of this activity!

We gave the boys a couple of hours of down time after checking into the hotel. They could hang out in their rooms and/or go swimming and hot tubbing.

And finally we ended the day with a visit to the Bar J Ranch in Wilson, WY (just ten minutes away) for our chuckwagon dinner and cowboy musical revue. The boys were pretty impressed with the yodeling.

It was a great day! I’m already starting to miss the boys and the excitement and adventure of this trip.

Click to see photos from our trip.


Check out this ten-second video of the Bar J Wranglers at our chuck wagon dinner. It's a little shaky, but considering I was hand-holding the camera from near the back of the house - I was pleased.

Today's adventures started with a visit to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody. We let the boys explore a little on their own before having a guided tour focusing on the life of William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody. We were divided into two groups for the tour and the kids were excellent. The Buffalo Bill Historical Center is a world-class museum - actually five museums in one.

From Cody, Wyoming we drove to our night's destination in Dubois, Wyoming. It was a long trip but the scenery was absolutely worth it. We drove through the Wind River region of Wyoming along the Wind River Mountains and even passed through the Wind River Indian Reservation.

We got into Dubois just about the time most shops were closing which probably wasn't a bad thing, though most boys aren't quite shopped out and still have money left. We did have time for some swimming, hot tubbing, basketball, and walking the wooden sidewalks of Dubois and then walked a hundred feet to the Cowboy Cafe for dinner where amazingly the boys picked up their sixth and seventh sincere compliments. This is by far a record - and compared to last year's zero number of complements - nothing short of phenomenal.

We are heading into Jackson tomorrow morning for our final couple of days. Lots ahead.

Click to see photos from our trip.