BCM was founded in the summer of 1989, when American Hiking Society founder Jim Kern spent a week in the Montana backcountry with his son and his son's friend.
Kern realized that every kid deserved the chance to explore the wilderness and experience the personal growth that only comes through physical challenges in the backcountry. Since then, BCM has hosted more than 9,000 under-resourced kids, conducted nearly 800 expeditions, organized over 5,000 volunteers, and provided nearly 42,000 nights under the stars for kids that would not have had the opportunity without BCM.
Every season, Gregory donates packs for BCM trips and expeditions—insuring that the kids have what they need to get down the trail. “It’s a perfect partnership,” Doug Sandok, Corporate Relations Director at BCM, says. “The Gregory team believes in getting kids into the outdoors and finding fun and enjoyment in the outdoors. Together we prove that the wilderness of the world is a resource for everyone to have access to. It’s a powerful, inspirational place.