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A Little More About Us…
GO WEST!!! USA is not designed to correct "bad" behavior, but instead to be a haven of enthusiasm, respect, trust and responsibility.  Disrespectful behavior requiring extensive attention or breaking the law  will result in dismissal. Click here to download a copy of our Youth Application which clearly defines the boundaries of our program.

GO WEST!!! USA is not just a three week vacation for the teens who participate. They must demonstrate a willingness to work together, before and during the expedition.  They must participate in the fundraisers and  community service events. During the expeditions, the teens must (all chores are supervised and/or taught):

  • Fuel the Vehicles

  • Wash dishes

  • Setup/Break Camp

  • Wash Vehicle

  • Hike over 100 miles

  • Cook Meals

  • Check Tire Pressure

  • Change Motor Oil

  • Carry Firewood

  • Change Tires

  • and much more!

With an introduction to:

  • Astronomy

  •  Forestry

  • Orienteering

  • Guitar 101

  • Nature Photography

"Many of our teens here in Central PA have never even seen a starry moonlit night. "   
 - Rob

Our Expeditions are both physically and mentally challenging, but in the end we fully expect the experience to be one of the most rewarding in the lives of the teens who participate.

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GO WEST!!! USA was founded in the early 90s by Rob Golden as a life-changing, non-profit educational travel program for low income teens. We promote high  self-esteem, positive choice, leadership and teamwork among youth, ages 13 to 18.  We take the teens on a 21 day, cross country expedition, teaching “life skills” and responsibility along the way. We challenge the teens who take part in our program to step out of their comfort zone and into the adventure zone. We travel by van, we sleep in tents at state and National Parks (no hotels for us), and we cook our own food. The teens must also take part in our Volunteer America program, a program that has the teens performing over 40 hours of volunteer service throughout their journey.

On a GO WEST!!! USA expedition, youth between the ages of 13 and 18 are provided an opportunity to take part in backpacking and hiking expeditions normally outside their reach. Recent expeditions have been to Aspen, CO, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Yosemite National Park and many other places where they learned to appreciate and be concerned about the environment. To qualify for these expeditions, potential participants must demonstrate their commitment to the program by enthusiastically participating in planned events, workshops, and fundraisers.

At GO WEST!!! USA our mission is to promote positive choices, self-esteem, leadership qualities, and team work among teens using nature as an educational setting. Our philosophy is that nature is a safe environment to develop and promote self-esteem, positive leadership qualities, teamwork and a positive attitude toward life. Our goals are to inspire youth towards alternative challenges that are guided by positive role model adults and peers.

Program Goals:

  • Transform Lives
  • Build healthy peer relationships
  • Provide educational awareness
  • Promote environmental consciousness
  • Provide a source of support and motivation
  • Provide physical conditioning
  • Provide more exposure to other people and cultures
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© 1993 - 2011 GO WEST!!! USA. All Rights Reserved
 A Safe, Fun-Filled Adventure Travel Program for Teens! | 4333 N6th St Harrisburg, PA 17110 | 717-943-5414 | email: robbie@gowestusa.org