Northern Forest Explorers

Overnight adventures for kids ages 9-15 on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. Spend four-to-six days exploring the Northern Forest, paddling, camping, learning outdoor and leadership skills. Meet new friends, discover new talents and fall in love with the natural wonders of the Adirondack Park in New York, northern Vermont, New Hampshire’s North Country or Maine’s North Woods. A skilled and trusted set of outfitters have led Northern Forest Explorers trips for many years. Check out the list of trips below. Sign up contact the outfitter directly.

Adirondack Trips

Matt Burnett Guiding will once again offer week-long team building trips this summer!

TRIP A: Long Lake to the Crusher, July 10-14 (THIS TRIP IS NOW FULL)
TRIP B: Long Lake to the Crusher, July 24-28 (THIS TRIP IS NOW FULL)
TRIP C: Blue Mountain Lake to Long Lake, Aug. 7-11

The classic Adirondack canoe trip! A 30-mile paddle with only one portage: the infamous Raquette Falls carry. Enjoy the transition from village to wilderness, from motorized waters to the wild beauty of Raquette Falls.

The cost per participant per trip is $600. There is a limited amount of scholarship money available; use the links below to apply.

Scholarship Form (Online)
Scholarship Form (PDF)

For more information, call (518) 524-6441 or email [email protected].

Vermont Trips

Our friends at NorthWoods Stewardship Center are hosting one trip this summer!

This trip will take place Aug. 14-18 and is intended for kids age 10-16.

Click here to learn more.

Scholarships Available

Through generous support from individual donors and grant funders, Northern Forest Canoe Trail has a limited number of partial and full scholarships available on a first-come, first-serve basis. To apply for a scholarship, fill out this form. If you would like to support our scholarship fund, make a donation and indicate that it is for Northern Forest Explorers in the Special Notes field.

Maine – Teens to the NFCT!

NFCT and Teens to Trails are working together to send eight trips full of Maine Outing Club members across the entire trail in Maine over the next three years in anticipation of our 25th anniversary. If you are part of an outing club in Maine and would like to participate, contact Samantha Andrews at Teens to Trails, [email protected].  To learn more about our partners at Teens to Trails visit teenstotrails.org.

2023

Rangeley Lakes – THIS TRIP IS FULL

Flagstaff Lake to the Dead River – THIS TRIP IS FULL

2024

Moose River-Bow Loop to Grand Falls vis Spencer Stream

Moose River to Northwest Carry on Moosehead Lake

West Branch Penobscot: Lobster Stream to Chesuncook Dam

2025

Allagash: Chamberlain Bridge to The Thoroughfare

Allagash: The Thoroughfare to Allagash Village

St John River: Allagash Village to Fort Kent

Get Outside

Being outside is fun, but it’s a whole lot more! Studies show that spending time in nature improves health by lowering stress, and increasing vitamin D absorption, which helps fight certain illnesses. It increases concentration and helps kids be more active addressing obesity and depression. Kids benefit developmentally from being outside too: time spent in nature has been shown to improve creativity, problem solving and social skills. Help your kids get ahead: get them outside!

Northern Forest Explorer Stories

And Into the Forest We Go (2021)
Rendezvous on the Raquette (2019)
5 days on the Saranacs with the Northern Forest Explorers (2019)
Peek into the Life of a Northern Forest Explorer (2016)
Jack Skiff’s LOCALadk Story (2014)