"We [Heart] Canoeing!"

NEA II, UPDATE #1: Adventures in Optimism and Rain

New England Adventure Families and Friends,

Greetings from Windsor Mountain!
I got a chance to meet the NEA II team when they camped at Windswept very close to our home base at WM International Summer Camp. I was really impressed by their smooth team dynamics and overall optimistic attitude. Evidently they have been dealing with some rain, as you will see in the blog photos where their clothes are hanging to dry, but they were excited about what is yet to come and the canoeing and climbing they had done so far.

Student Notes:

Sviatoslav - Had fun canoeing in the rain with Chovi and without a paddle. He loves the physical exercise and is really enjoying all the members in the group.

Chovi – Has faced the challenge of camp life, packing tents, cooking in the woods, and learning more about life outside the comforts of home, but has shined. He’s proud to have overcome his germ-o-phobia and is psyched for the days to come, dirt and all.

Mr. Grubb – Loved rock climbing. He had never done it before, but went for it full steam ahead. His nervousness with heights made him take a few extra breaths, but he made it as far he could on the climbing routes and had a great time doing it.

Naomi – Is so happy she made it as far as she did rock climbing at square ledge. She loved having the chance to dunk her cousin Ari after a hard canoe paddling day on Lake Mooselookmeguntic. Naomi has spent a good amount of time meeting new people and bonding with her peers on the rocks and in the van, and just around everywhere she goes.

Juliet – thought canoeing was great, especially when we had canoe wars and could flip other peoples boats over. She really pushed herself during the climbing portion of the trip and is proud she reached her goals of climbing as far as she did and had a great time doing it.

Ari – really enjoyed the first day of canoeing (with Sage) even though the winds were so strong they got blown off course and needed to have a quick rescue pull back towards the campsite. He had an awesome time repelling down square ledge, through his fears of falling, and he did absolutely fantastic.

Ian – really enjoyed canoeing on Lake Mooselakemeguntic despite the strong winds. He has been a source of knowledge within the group for all things New England. He really enjoyed cooking franks & beans for the group on Student Island.

Alec – despite being the youngest member of the group, and initially a little nervous about camping, has been a stellar group member. He had a great time cruising the waters of Mooselakemeguntic with his bandana firmly attached to his head, & loved the rock climbing & repelling - he was literally dancing on the rock. He is always ready with a joke and is not afraid to throw himself into group life.

Sage – has had a great time making friends in the group. He is always willing to hang out with anyone. He was a wonderful canoe-ist – teaching others rudder & j-stokes, and singing camp songs loudly across the waters. He also excelled at climbing. He is looking forward to our sea kayaking and continuing to hang out with his new friends.

Phil – has been a wonderful group member so far –although he has found certain aspects of the trip challenging (like keeping track of gear!). However, he has truly risen to the occasion. We’ve seen a lot of progress since the start of the trip, and have really enjoyed his observant and insightful nature. Phil is enjoying getting to know the team, and had a great time canoeing & challenging himself with rock climbing – although he was very nervous about the height, he gave it a red hot go!

Livy – is in love with the trip and the group and the places and the activities and the food &… she could just go on forever! She did really well climbing & repelling and enjoyed trying to find her balance while bouldering. She’s been loving hanging out with the other campers, and is excited to cook pancakes for us all for breakfast.

Ally – is a star – she is a wonderful presence within the group. Always ready to help out with group chores or with a hug for someone, she is observant, communicative & respectful of everyone. She had a great time during our canoe wars – hiding under capsized boats & ganging up on the leaders! Although a bit freaked out about repelling, she swallowed the swarm of butterflies in her stomach and told jokes on the way down – showing others how rewarding facing a fear can be!

We will send one last email update with reminders about pick-up times and other end-of-trip details. Keep an eye out as we keep adding to the NEA and our Bridge trip blogs.

WHOA!

NEA I, Update #2: News from the Road

New England Adventure Families and Friends,

Greetings from Windsor Mountain! I had the pleasure of meeting our NEA group last night, great kids (good job!). They seem to be a regular little, or rather large, family out there. I dropped off mail, which made me very popular (especially when one student opened homemade chocolate goodies), and as I left them Noah, Christian, and James were working on a Mexican meal. I got great reports all around that the kids are having a blast and I even got one request to join the second round of NEA! And before I left, the kids and I got together and we made you this...

NEA I, And now from Cat and Tony…

Hello from the New England Adventure!
Our trusty friend Lou has tracked us down in the woods of Pawtuckaway State Park and forced a computer into our hands so that we can let you know how your sons and daughters are faring on our trip. We are having an amazing time – we couldn’t be happier with our group and have lucked out big time with the weather, seeing only one rainy day - which didn’t dampen the spirits of our group – we even canoed 14 miles through it! The past three days we have spent rock climbing at Square Ledge, (opposite Mt. Washington – what a view!) and also here at Pawtuckaway in southern New Hampshire. Tomorrow we pack up and start heading up the coast of Maine, in order to begin our sea kayaking, before driving back towards New Hampshire. Everyone has been having a great time, our student-chosen and student-directed meals have been wonderful (stuffed peppers, Mexican feasts, and chicken stir-frys...we’ve been eating well!) and the van rides have seemed short with all the jokes and songs. Below are some very short updates on our students – we know you’re hanging out for news, hopefully this will fill in some gaps before they call on the 18th!
All the best,
Cat and Tony.


Cal is a continuous source of enjoyment and wonder for the whole group. His active imagination has kept us entertained, and his ability to think clearly and express meaningfully what he is feeling is a great talent. He excelled at climbing; finding holds where others could not, and virtually running up the walls to the top. He can often be found exploring in the woods, or looking for bugs, puppies, and other exciting things…

Jaz LOVED climbing. She was SO excited to reach the top of the walls, and was extremely proud of herself. We’ve really enjoyed seeing her interact with the group in constructive and meaningful ways; she is often the voice of reason within group discussions, and also often the one laughing the loudest in any game or fun time.

James is often found behind the lens of his camera, and has taken some amazing shots of our adventures. He is always positive and ready to talk about anything, whether it be world issues, or whether deep-dish or thin-crust pizza is better. He rose admirably to the challenge of climbing and rappelling; although nervous at first, he pushed through the fear and climbed like a champion.

Simone makes this look easy. She is never phased, always positive and always looking for more ways to challenge herself. She is a rockstar in our group, always smiling, always helping, always hanging out with everyone and ready to go again. She loved climbing, getting to the top with grace and style – just as she does everything else.

Christian has continued to impress us with his maturity and self-awareness. He’s having a great time climbing and hanging out in Pawtuckaway State Park, and is immersing himself more fully in our communal living. We’ve been enjoying seeing him enjoy himself even more.

Sam has been challenging himself by teaching others skills he already knows. He has really enjoyed furthering his skills in climbing and belaying, and is a respected and well-liked group member. We’ve really enjoyed his knowledge and awareness of the wilderness, and the group has benefited from his presence. He’s started to really let his hair down and is having a great time with the group.

Noah continues to impress us with his inter-personal skills; he gets on well with everyone in the group and is very responsive to the needs of those around him. As we write this, he is putting together a feast of burritos (or ‘burnt toast’, as he has taken to calling the meal) for the group, helping two other boys co-ordinate the meal admirably. He had a great time climbing, trying the harder climbs, and supporting other members of the group as they were on the wall.

Ian has continued to amaze us with his wonderful grasp of people and his understanding of how group dynamics. His ability to overcome personal challenges and remain in high spirits throughout the trip shows great courage and personal awareness, and although he takes time most days to journal, he is an active part of our group. He has had a great sense of achievement in rappelling and climbing, and worked very hard to reach the top on our hardest climb!

Mazin has continued to entertain us with his wit and humor. He really challenged himself climbing and progressed an enormous amount over our three days; from refusing to even tie into a rope on our first day to climbing more than 15 feet off the ground and being lowered down from the climb on our last. His willingness to face a personal fear in this way has impressed the whole group.

Well…that’s all for now. Our group will be setting out to sea kayak and then make their way back to New Hampshire, spend a day doing community service on a local farm, then clean up their group gear, have a nice final banquet, and close up the program here at Windsor Mountain on July 23rd.

We will send one last email update with reminders about pick-up times and other end-of-trip details.

NEA I, UPDATE #1: Camping Adventures

New England Adventure Families and Friends,

Greetings from Windsor Mountain...
Week 1 is in the books! I just returned from Dolly Copp Campground up in The White Mountains, home base for the rock-climbing segment of NEA I. I can guarantee that the whole group is safe and sound, having fun, and really looking forward to learning the basics of climbing. The area is absolutely beautiful, and when the group reaches the top of their first rock-face tomorrow, they will have a magnificent view. If the weather is clear (as the report says it should be) they will be able to see Mt. Washington, the highest peak on the East Coast.

Here is a run-down on the trip so far:
Day 1: Orientation at Windsor Mountain/Windswept. The group got together at our base camp here in Windsor, NH, and headed up the road to their first campsite, where they played loads of fun getting-to-know-you games, learned to set-up their tents, and had their first shot at cooking on a two-burner camp stove.

Day 2: Orientation at Windsor Mountain/Windswept/Mount Monadnock. After their first night camping out, the group was up bright and early for a hike up to the top of Mount Monadnock, where they enjoyed the awesome view and had a tasty picnic lunch.

Day 3: Travel Day. The group packed up the vans and drove up to Lake Mooselookmeguntic, where they spent their first real night "out in the woods".

Day 4: Canoe Training Day. The group loaded their gear into four canoes, made the short paddle to their first campsite, unloaded the gear, then got back in the canoes for some basic canoe lessons. After a couple of hours, a couple of flipped canoes, and a brief encounter with "Mosquito Island" (ask your kids when they get home), the group retired to their campsite for food, fun, and easy swimming by the shore.

Day 5: Massively Challenging Canoe Day! The group paddled 14 miles (that's right, 14 miles) on this day! Despite rocky, difficult portages, and two huge rainstorms, the group made it! Everything except the food and the tents got completely drenched (including the students), but they did it! Cat and Tony were really impressed with the way the group handled the day, and spirits were high when the clouds finally parted, and they were able to cook dinner under clear skies.

Day 6: Short Paddle/Travel Day. The group paddled to their take-out spot on Lake Mooselookmeguntic, transferred all the gear back to the vans, and made the drive up to Dolly Copp Campground in The White Mountains. This is where I met the them last night and took a break from the busy busy travel-manager life to eat dinner (prepared by Cat and Tony--Cat made vegetable coconut-milk curry, and Tony made a 'wilderness thanksgiving dinner') and listen to this excited group of teens tell stories about their trip--they already have a ton!

Day 7: Hey, that's today! Day 1 of rock-climbing at Square Ledge.

Now, the part you have all been waiting for--specific notes on each student:

Mazin has been growing more and more comfortable in this new environment every day. He quickly mastered the basics of canoeing, and actually began giving helpful advice to his peers. He was a canoe star!

Ian has made an honest and heartfelt attempt to befriend every person in the group. He is having a GREAT time, and can always be counted on to share a smile and a nice word with someone in need.

Noah has impressed the leaders with his enthusiasm and effort. He gives 100% at all times. He also impressed himself with how quickly he picked up the finer points of canoeing, and is thrilled that he can now steer a canoe effortlessly.

Christian has settled into the camping lifestyle with ease. He is a very powerful paddler, and works very well with every member of the group.

Cal made such an incredible dinner his first night on cook crew that he left he whole group literally BEGGING for more. His continuous joking and positive energy is a source of great enjoyment for the whole group. Cat and Tony tell me that "He is hilarious".

Sam has great outdoor skills. With previous experience canoeing, rock-climbing, and kayaking, he is able to lend an extra hand when needed, which really helps the entire group. He is at home in the outdoors, and Tony and Cat are very thankful for his mature and responsible presence.

James has found his groove in the group, and is a total delight to be around. He picked up canoeing in a hot second, loves sitting around the campfire telling stories, and is always happy to share his opinions about whatever the group is discussing.

Jasmine is totally psyched on the trip, and sees the group as her new (albeit temporary) family. Though canoeing in a windy downpour is not exactly her cup of tea, she made the most out of her time on the water by singing songs and engaging in fun conversations.

Simone has adjusted well to group living. Her quiet, steady presence is a blessing. She has quickly made many new friends, and is often at the center of group games. This was her first time canoeing--hesitant at first, she picked it up very quickly, and loved it. She also loves the mountain sunsets!

As I write this, Tony and Cat are teaching the group the basics of rock climbing up at Square Ledge in the White Mountains. When I left them last night they were all well fed, happy, and excited about the next phase of their adventure. After three days of climbing in the Whites, they will head over to the breathtaking coast of Maine for a couple of days of sea-kayaking in and around Casco Bay near Freeport. I am so jealous! After kayaking, the group will make their way back to New Hampshire, spend a day doing community service on a local farm, then clean up their group gear, have a nice final banquet, and close up the program here at Windsor Mountain on July 23rd.

This weekend, we will send another email update with reminders about pick-up times and other end-of-trip details. Also, you can check out what is happening with all of our travel programs here: http://www.windsormountain.org/student-travel-community-service/blog-links.html