Our Story

Mathew Gershater, the founder and executive director of Idaho BaseCamp (IBC), started this journey in the summer of 1998 when he carried out the first iteration of what would become Mountain Adventure Tours, with just four families and a vision of Enviro-tainment — the experiential method of teaching people important values, life skills, and appreciation of the planet through the use of entertaining activities within our environment, both in the wilderness and in our communities. Over the years, while this goal remains unchanged,  it evolved into a larger purpose, and IBC was born. 

In 2014 IBC became a 501(c)(3) certified nonprofit organization and is now the leading resource for outdoor adventure education in the Wood River Valley, committed to cultivating leaders, individual and community development, and serving the environment.

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Based in Ketchum, Idaho, with a campus location in Bellevue and our flagship location in the high desert outside Mackay, IBC currently offers a range of different outdoor education programs available to children regardless of socioeconomic status. These programs help children develop social and emotional skills, improve their mental health, and instill our core values: Personal Responsibility, Courage, and Respect for All. Our programming also places a strong emphasis on team- and trust-building skills, applicable in all aspects and phases of our participants'; them  lives and careers.

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At Idaho BaseCamp, we believe that everyone has the potential to be a leader, and we are committed to providing opportunities for people to learn and grow through outdoor adventure education. We also believe that a healthy environment is essential for a healthy community, and we work to educate and inspire people to take action to protect our planet.

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We are grateful for the support of our staff, board, sponsors, partners, and donors. It truly does take a village, and their tireless and continued work has made it possible for us to grow and thrive over the years. Together, we can — and have — made a difference.