Our flagship arctic program BASECAMP will be hosted at Arctic Hive in Wiseman, AK for the 7th time in 2027. Attendees build confidence to safely manage T1D in a wilderness setting and learn first-hand the importance of getting out and adventuring with T1D. For many, it is their first time flying without their parents, or being this far from home at all! We will be with you every step of the way to plan and prepare so you feel peace of mind and your teens are ready for the trip of a lifetime to one of the most beautiful and vast mountain ranges in the world: the Brooks Range. Our scenic and sometimes challenging day hikes immerse participants in experiential education outdoors, daily trip planning, and team bonding.
The use of Arctic Hive is always 100% donated to Riding On Insulin so all fundraising dollars above the hard costs per participant will go directly to the organization. These retreats are the ROI version of an annual “gala” — but instead of fancy dresses and tuxedos, we'll be hiking pristine wilderness, trading stories around campfires under the midnight sun, exploring the Brooks Range and much more. Since the venue is donated, registration dollars — whether you choose to pay in full or fundraise your fee — will pay for the minimal costs of the program (transportation, food and fuel) and the fundraised portion goes right back into our 1-day ski, snowboard and surf camps.
In this way, Riding On Insulin can depend less on fluctuating funding in the future, and focus more on what we do best: Empowering those impacted with T1D!
Click the logo to LEARN more:
BASECAMP: An arctic fundraising retreat for teens age 15-18 with Type 1 diabetes
... press play below to get an insider's view into what our retreats are like:
BOUTIQUE ACCOMMODATIONS
Here at Arctic Hive, we have three 12x12 cabins to keep you cozy warm during your stay with us — there are mountain views in every direction, and plenty of windows to see the wild landscape and the northern lights! All cabins are off-grid, heated with Swedish Nordic oil stoves that keep the space warm and cozy , with solar/battery powered lighting with inverter batteries for charging small devices. There is no cell phone reception from the cabins — although we do have access to a cell booster for short check-ins and phone calls to family if needed! Although social media check-ins and quick phone calls are totally fine, we just don't want anyone planning on having sufficient internet for heavy-internet related tasks.
You'll have the opportunity to charge small devices via generator or solar power (such as your insulin pump, phone or camera). It wouldn't be wise to bring larger electronics like computers, as they draw so much power from the small battery banks. The cabins are located just a short walk up the hill from the Igloo. There is one composting outhouse that's cleaned and attended to daily — along with a few designated "facility trees" in the woods. If you're inexperienced with either of these methods, our team will assure you're up to speed upon arrival!
