reflection and
self-discovery
At Trek Epic we believe that emerging young adults have a deep desire to know “Who am I?” and “What do I have to offer the world around me?”
Older cultures used initiation rituals or “rites of passage” to help young people in defining their life paths and purpose. These rituals have long been replaced by the externally driven demands of college, trade school, and work life. Gone are the reflective traditions of the inner and outer journey—the guided quest.
Drawing on ancient traditions and rites of passage, Trek Epic provides a transformational and adventurous experience for emerging young adults, ages 18-24, and post college age adults, 25-32, who are seeking their own paths to self-discovery and purpose.
Every trek with Trek Epic is designed to inspire a deep sense of connectedness and personal support throughout the inner and outer journey, and to provide every trekker with a clear road map for moving forward in life in a positive way.
route over
hill and dale,
and through
farms, forests,
fields and
villages
Day One
We are typically eight trekkers and two or three guides. We arrive at our starting point and gather together for our first evening dinner, meeting each other and talking about the upcoming trip.
Day Two
We make our way to the first village on our path, often taking the train from the city to the countryside. Throughout the day, we take some time to rest, discuss logistics, and get ready for our trekking adventure to begin.
Typical Trek Day
We wake up early, enjoy a hearty breakfast served at 8AM by our innkeepers, grab a packed lunch, and hit the path for our day's journey at 9AM.
As we trek each day (typically eight to fourteen miles), we stop along the way to explore cultural and historic sites, reflect on themes and topics related to the discovery of our Core Gift, and exchange ideas. Sometimes we just take a break to admire the breathtaking panoramas, chat with a local, or massage tired feet.
When we arrive at our destination B&B, Inn or Hostel each day (usually around 4:00 or 4:30) we can rest and explore, visit with our host, and discuss our evening plan. After a delicious dinner of unique local fare, we are ready to begin our evening session which includes sharing stories, discussion, and journaling.
We close each day by celebrating the progress we made, the miles we walked, and the people we met along the way.
spark, that
essential fire
Trek Epic is dedicated to the belief that every one of us has a Core Gift that defines who we really are and how we can best engage in the world around us.
Our Core Gift reflects our best selves and is natural to us. Each person's Core Gift connects to how they truly want to be acknowledged by others, and fuel them with the power to approach life with purpose and self-confidence.
While on Trek, you will discover your own Core Gift through guided facilitation, dialogue and sharing with other trekkers. You can expect to be with a group of people with similar challenges so you can feel less alone on your personal quest. There is much comfort in knowing that others are asking the same questions.
By the end of your trek you will have developed a Core Gift statement that is uniquely yours—a portrait of your gift and how you offer it to the world around you. You will have had the opportunity to create a future vision for yourself that is doable and that you are eager to work toward.
vision of
Leslie Johnson
and Andrew
Bryan
The Trek Epic Journey: Rooted in Purpose, Evolving with the Next Generation
Trek Epic was founded in 2010 with a bold vision: to create trekking-based experiences abroad that would serve as powerful catalysts for reflection, growth, and the discovery of one’s Core Gift. Co-founders Leslie Johnson and Andrew Bryan imagined something beyond traditional travel—an intentional space where emerging adults could disconnect from daily pressures, walk through stunning landscapes, and reconnect with themselves in deeply meaningful ways.
The breathtaking trails of the British Isles provided the perfect backdrop for this unfolding vision. In the early years, Dr. Donald Chance, a seasoned college professor and veteran trekking guide, helped shape the adventure-based elements of the program. In 2012, facilitator Kim Mlinarik (now of Alchemy Adventures) contributed to the program’s evolution by introducing new thematic frameworks aligned with the unique needs of emerging young adults.
A major turning point came in 2013, when Bruce Anderson joined the Trek Epic team and introduced the Core Gift Discovery™ process, embedding a deeper layer of purpose-driven facilitation into the trekking model. This process quickly became a foundational element of every Trek Epic journey—helping participants define who they are and what they have to offer the world.
Now, Trek Epic is stepping into an exciting new chapter.
In 2025, guide and educator Josie Bryan joined co-founder Andrew Bryan to launch the next evolution of Trek Epic’s vision: the Gap Year Semester. This expanded program builds on the success of the 10-day international treks and weaves them into a three-month immersive experience of global exploration, mentorship, and Core Gift development.
With a Launch Trek and Capstone Trek anchoring the semester, participants are guided through a powerful arc of reflection, community, and purpose. The future of Trek Epic is rooted in this new offering—one that not only honors our origins, but also expands our capacity to walk alongside young adults at a deeper, more transformational level.
As Trek Epic continues to grow, our commitment remains the same: to walk with emerging adults as they uncover their Core Gift, connect with others, and begin to live lives of intention and fulfillment.
something
bigger
Looking Ahead: The Future of Trek Epic
Over the past decade, Trek Epic has become a dynamic and evolving incubator for guiding emerging adults through one of life’s most important transitions—answering the timeless questions: Who am I? and What do I have to offer the world?
With each trek and now with each Gap Year Semester, we continue to refine and expand our unique model of immersive personal development. Trek Epic combines the power of place, the rhythm of walking, and the depth of Core Gift Discovery™ to create transformational experiences rooted in real-world exploration.
Our Gap Semester program represents a bold step forward—extending our commitment to young adults through deeper mentorship, extended engagement, and an intentional structure that bridges reflection with action.
Trek Epic is not just a program—it’s a growing community. Every participant joins a living, breathing lineage of peers and mentors. Trekkers benefit from those who came before them and actively contribute to the journey of those who will follow. In this way, they help shape the evolving future of Trek Epic itself—becoming part of something larger than themselves, and walking forward with a clearer sense of who they are and how they want to engage with the world.
Purpose should never be a privilege—ask about a scholarship today.
Investing in Purposeful Growth: Support Trek Epic Participants
At Trek Epic, we believe that transformational experiences—those that combine immersive travel, personal reflection, and mentorship—should be accessible to young adults from all backgrounds. We are committed to ensuring that the cost of our programs does not prevent a motivated individual from participating in this life-changing journey.
Our full Gap Year Semester program, including two international treks, Core Gift Discovery™, and ongoing mentorship, is priced at $9,500 (excluding airfare and personal spending). This includes personalized college and career guidance, intentional coachmentoring, and deep reflective work that sets the foundation for a purposeful next chapter.
For those not ready to commit to a full semester, our 10-day international treks remain a cornerstone of the Trek Epic experience. These treks are priced at $4,500, which includes not just the trek itself, but also individualized support before and after—featuring the Core Gift Discovery™ process, goal-setting, and one-on-one coaching.
Thanks to our community of supporters, scholarship funding is available for both the semester and individual treks. We actively work with each participant to reduce financial barriers, and we offer fundraising guidance to help cover airfare or additional costs when needed.
If you or your organization believes in the power of intentional travel, guided self-discovery, and supporting the next generation of changemakers, we invite you to invest in this mission. Your tax-deductible donation directly supports Trek Epic participants and ensures that purpose-driven exploration remains available to all.
When you support Trek Epic, you’re helping a young person discover their Core Gift and take their next step with clarity, confidence, and direction.