PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Our culminating summer experience is for older kids (6th-8th grade). While our other camps are centered in Burlington and rooted in one geographic place, our Adventurers program gets kids out into the vast Vermont wilderness. We alternate our trip between hiking the Long Trail and paddling the Winooski River. Inspired by the adventures of the great naturalists of the 19th century, we will spend three days (9am-3:30pm) at Bent Birch Base Camp at Rock Point in Burlington introducing basic camping skills (setting up camp, cooking over a fire, orienteering, natural navigation, wilderness first aid, wild edibles, paddling, and more). Using our newly acquired skills, the group will head out on a 3-day, 2-night wilderness trip hiking the Long Trail. No previous camping or backpacking experience necessary.
SCHEDULE:
- Monday-Tuesday (9am-3:30pm): At Rock Point in Burlington
- Wednesday (9am): Arrive at Rock Point with backpacks packed and ready to go, leave for the Long Trail
- Friday (afternoon): Return to Rock Point around 2-3pm (will call parents as we leave the trailhead)
Two Groups:
There will be two groups hiking the long trail simultaneously and in opposite directions! The groups will be loosely divided by an open minded gender split. There will be a “Girls+” cohort as well as a “boys+” group. Families can sign up their kiddo for whichever group best works for them. Why divide by gender? Well, backpacking can be a new edge for a lot of kids, and over the years we’ve found that we get more kids feeling more confident when they can sign up with peers of the same or similar gender. There will still be plenty of time for the groups to mingle together in our two days of preparations and planning!
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