We Sent 4 Interns Off Road on Our Testing Grounds. Here's What Happened.

Summer at Ford means a fresh class of interns bringing new energy to the office. They spend their days learning the brains of the operations, but to get to the heartbeat of Ford and our vehicles, you have to get a little dirt on your boots. 

While our vehicles excel at getting you where you need to go on pavement, they are purpose-built for adventure, whether it’s an occasional weekend escape or a deep-rooted passion for off-roading. To show the next generation of storytellers what our lineup can really do, we pulled four of our 2026 communications interns away from their desks for a day to test Ford capability on and off the trail.

With Ford Comms Manager Daniel Peake and Ford engineer Joe Neme acting as their guide, the group piled into 2026 Explorer and Expedition Tremor models to head north from Dearborn to the Michigan Proving Grounds, where Ford evaluates vehicles for durability and performance. 

It was shaping up to be a massive day of firsts (with some having zero off-roading experience), but one “first” actually started before they even hit the dirt. To make the highway miles breeze by, they engaged BlueCruise hands-free highway driving. Special shout-out to James Biglan, who got to experience the Level 2 advanced driver assist system for the very first time!

What awaited them was a powerhouse lineup of Ford vehicles: the Explorer Tremor, Expedition Tremor, F-150 Raptor, and Bronco Raptor. The mix highlighted the versatile choices Ford offers for every lifestyle. While the F-150 Raptor and Bronco Raptor are Ford performance powerhouses engineered for high-speed off-road thrills, the Tremor family bridges the gap — serving as a comfortable daily driver for families and professionals during the week and a trail-ready adventurer on the weekend.

All that was left to do was jump behind the wheel.

The Pre-Trail Jitters

Heading into the day, the interns’ expectations ranged from cautious excitement to intimidation.

For Georgia native and sport industry major Elisabeth Christina Kearney, “off-roading” meant getting tossed around on an ATV in the sand dunes, so she went into the day fully bracing for a bumpy ride. 

Katelyn Cannon, a first-time off-roader majoring in marketing, PR, and comms, admitted she assumed off-roading required a lot of vehicle knowledge, specialized equipment, and years of experience. “I’d never been off-roading before, so my prior understanding was based on what I’d seen online or heard from others,” she said.

Even those with a bit of experience under their belts were under the impression that off-roading was an exclusive club meant only for the experts. James Biglan, majoring in Digital media communications and economics, figured the trail was pretty much off-limits to the average driver unless they had the keys to an expensive, modified custom build. 

Gabrielle Scott, a Michigan native working on her master’s in public administration, was right there with him. "I had this belief that you needed a specific vehicle, exclusive for off-roading, and tons of gear just to get into the hobby," she noted.

Conquering Trails (and Assumptions)

Once the tires hit the dirt, those misconceptions quickly vanished.

Katelyn’s perspective changed completely as she progressed through the lineup. Starting in an Explorer Tremor, she was able to learn the fundamentals and build confidence. From there, she conquered a mud pit in the F-150 Raptor before trusting the Bronco Raptor’s Trail One-Pedal Drive on a steep descent. She finished the day in the Expedition Tremor, which exceeded her expectations with its capability and comfort. 

“What once seemed technical and intimidating turned out to be an incredibly fun and approachable activity with the right guidance," Katelyn said.

For Elisabeth Christina, the experience wasn’t as spine-rattling as she’d predicted. Even as the trail threw rockslides and puddles their way, the rugged ride turned out to be comfortable in the Bronco Raptor and Expedition Tremor. Most surprising, though, was how much she learned from the guides about off-roading. “It was very cool to hear about how Ford relentlessly tests its vehicles,” she said. “They’re fun to drive between point A and B, and then go off-pavement in the rocks, water, and mud.”

For Gabrielle, the biggest eye-opener was just how much capability and tech the vehicles have right off the factory floor. "This was my first time off-roading in vehicles with no aftermarket modifications," she said.  She loved using the Tremor's overhead 360-degree and front-end cameras to navigate the bigger drops. 

Redefining the Drive

By the time the dust settled, the interns left the Proving Grounds with muddy boots, big smiles, and a completely redefined view of what Ford vehicles can do.

Gabrielle summed up the group's collective revelation well: "With a good trail, great guides and spotters, and reliable Ford vehicles, off-roading becomes an enjoyable experience, even for beginners."

That trail-ready confidence is easier to embody than ever with resources like the onX Offroad app, which delivers navigation for off-road and the ability to find a trail that matches your skill level The best part is, you can navigate right from your vehicle’s built-in screen with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

To keep adventure within reach for novices and experts alike, Ford is offering one year of complimentary access to the onX Offroad app. And for practical off-roading tips, check out Ford’s new off-roading series, “Chasing Offroad Confidence.”

For these future storytellers, trading their desks for dirt was more than just a fun break from the office — it was a hands-on masterclass in Ford capability, engineering, and the sheer joy of the drive we are delivering to customers.