Summer 2011Highlights - Northern Forest Canoe Trail

Summer 2011 Highlights  

The Northern Forest Explorers Youth Program ran twelve 5-day paddle trips during the summer of 2011, locations ranging from the Adirondacks to the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. More than 130 rural youth aged 10-14 endured heat, heavy rain, and thirsty mosquitoes without serious complaint and now have a better understanding of and a deeper appreciation for their own backyard waterways. Most of them can hardly wait to do it again next year!

Participants were given kid-friendly training in basic outdoor skills:

• Learned Leave No Trace methods
• Took water quality samples that measured oxygen content, ph, phosphate and nitrate content levels
• Caught and identified innumerable samples of aquatic life (some edible, some not!)
• Engaged in personal development games and exercises

Kids kept daily journals and they each wrote themselves a letter that we will mail back to them this coming winter. Stay tuned for social networking opportunities for participants to stay in touch with each other and the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.

Parent post-trip comments:

"The adventure of being outside all week, being on the water, strengthening her canoeing skills and making new friends: all of the above have created memories for my daughter that will stay with her for life."

"When we picked her up from the trip, she spent the whole car ride home talking non-stop about her experience. She told us about the staff, the other children, the physical demands, and the natural beauty. We told her that because she was successful with this trip, she will be able to take on any challenge that life gives her in the future."

"Totally awesome. Great Kids, great weather, great camp spots, great swimming, great intern. One of the best trips this summer. Let's say that these kids got A LOT out of it."

"Just elevated enthusiasm, constantly ‘rehashing' stories from the trip, laughing, contacting the new friends he made. It was all positive!"

To learn more about the Northern Forest Explorers Program, contact Youth Program Director Roger Poor, Roger@northernforestcanoetrail.org, (603) 801-9597.