By Michelle Davis
Hey NFCT Blog Readers! I’m Michelle Davis, the Youth Program Intern for the NFCT’s Northern Forest Explorer’s program. I want to let you all know what’s up with me for the next four weeks.
This weekend I’m making the trek from NFCT headquarters in Waitsfield, VT to Adventure Bound‘s base in Caratunk, ME. From there, I’ll be taking four different groups of kids between the ages of 10 and 14 from the towns of Stratton, Jackman and Rangeley, Maine out on the great, wide (and sometimes narrow) waters of the NFCT for three nights and four days. I’ll be on the Moose River for three of the weeks, and on Flagstaff Lake for the other week.
My goal for the summer, among other more typical and standard goals for interns (like furthering my education, learning more about myself and the outdoors, and giving kids from rural Maine a fantastic week that they won’t soon forget) is to see a moose. Live and in person. Front and center. Maybe not so up close and personal, though. With any luck, I will be seeing at least one. My longtime companion and stuffed animal moose named Melvin, has graciously agreed to take this journey with me and I hope he’s not offended that his plush and inanimate presence just doesn’t cut it.
I’m really looking forward to partaking in this adventure. I love working with kids in any capacity, but taking kids out for overnight paddling trips is exciting. I think one of the most important things I can do as an Environmental Studies student and a nature enthusiast is share my love for the outdoors with others. Who better to share it with than kids, bursting with energy and enthusiasm, just waiting to be directed? Hopefully, these kids will develop or further their passion for the natural world, and gain some great experience while they’re at it!
Stay tuned. I’ll try to post updates about my trips every week, hopefully with pictures of the kids (and a moose) included!
Until then, take it easy,
Michelle
Hey Michele! Had a great trip this past week, looked for you on F.B but couldn’t find you. Thanks for a great trip, ill be looking forward to seeing some pictures of koolaid mustaches!