OVERNIGHT TRIPS
| On overnight trips, everyone becomes completely
engaged. Suddenly our minds no longer wander to the lives we
lead athome. Immersed in the experience, we are able to be completely
present and learn tremendously from every activity.With the
time available on multi-day programs, students are introduced
to wilderness living skills. They will learn how to start a
friction
fire with a bow and drill, make a basket of roots and bark,
make their own eating utensil by coal burning or make rope out
of
basswood bark. Overnight trips are between two days and two
weeks in length. |
RIVERS OF VERMONT
Grades 6 and up,
Late April – Mid October
Floating down the bubbling life force of the Earth in a canoe may
be the most powerful way of connecting to nature. The river is a great
equalizer: it carries people of all sizes and abilities. This expedition
begins with one or two days of paddling instruction and river safety
skills.When everyone has learned their strokes and communication signals,
the group heads to one of our many local rivers.We are blessed to
have outstanding fast-moving streams within a short drive from camp.
We will paddle on the river for several days, watching the picturesque
Vermont landscape unfold before our eyes. Around every bend the stream
holds a surprise for us: a fast rapid, a fallen-down tree that demands
quick attention, a beaver swimming across the river and splashing
his tail in greeting. At night we will set our camps on riverbanks
or mid-stream islands and sit by the campfire listening to the sounds
of the forest and the gurgling of water over rocks.
GREEN MOUNTAIN MULTI-ELEMENT EXPEDITION
Grades 7 and up,
Mid April – Mid November
This journey begins with a two-day gentle hike through the forest
that acclimatizes students to the challenges ahead. Following moose
tracks, map and compass, the group will reach the shore of a remote
lake. After learning paddlings, after learning paddling strokes
and safety skills, the group will travel by canoe for two days,
camping on islands until we reach the northern shores of the lake.
Now canoes and gear need to be portaged (dry land carry) through
a half-mile stretch of forest to a neighboring lake. Here, the group’s
newfound navigational skills and teamwork are put to the test. After
portaging and paddling across the second lake, the group can finish
their expedition, or continue on hiking through the mountains. This
trip can be extended with a longer hike that brings the group to
a fast-moving river where they, once again, meet their canoes and
a new challenge: white water paddling.
COASTAL SEA KAYAKING
Grades 8 and up,
Mid May – Mid October
Join us for this dreamlike expedition through the islands of the
rocky Maine Coast.We will follow the Maine Island Trail in solo
and tandem sea kayaks exploring islands rich with natural and human
history, foraging for food from the sea and the forest, swimming,
sun bathing and day dreaming along the way.Winds, tides and fog
will be our hosts on this visit to the world’s most magical treasure
- the Ocean. This trip presents incredible opportunities for observing
wildlife, including seals, porpoises, and a multitude of sea birds.
Students will have ample time to explore and be one with the elements.
Our route will encompass Blue Hill Bay, Isle au Haut National Park
and Swans Island. It may include both protected island waterways
and open ocean crossings.
TRADITIONAL NORTH WOODS WINTER CAMPING EXPERIENCE
Grades 6 and up,
January – Mid March
For thousands of years native people have joyously lived outside
in the winter.While most Europeans have forgotten the way, some
have carried on the tradition. Today you have a unique opportunity
to bring your class into the winter wilderness and experience it
not as a hostile frozen environment, but as an enchanted wonderland.
We will travel by ski and snowshoe over frozen lakes to our winter
camp deep in the National Forest. At camp, canvas cabin tents with
wood stoves and sweet smelling fir bough floors will welcome us
to a way of life long forgotten by modern people. Students will
cut firewood, chop a water hole in the ice, study animal tracks
and listen to the song of the crackling ice at night as they watch
the dance of the magical winter sky.
WAY DOWN UPON THE SUWANEE RIVER, GEORGIA AND FLORIDA
Grades 7 and up,
February-March
The historic Suwanee River originates in Georgia’s Okeefenokee Swamp
and its tannin-colored waters flow all the way to the Gulf of Mexico
in Florida. Amidst a majestic gum and cypress jungle, we will get
lost in the meandering current of time. The Suwanee will reveal
its treasures around every bend: a perfect white sand beach, a glimpse
of an alligator, or the site of an abandoned sulfur spring. This
trip is a great window into the human and natural history of the
American South, and an incredible opportunity to paddle warm, friendly,
tropical waters. This trip also provides the chance to travel through
warm magical country during the cold northern winter, soak in the
sun and swim in warm water. Kroka also offers a similar canoe expedition
through the FLORIDA EVERGLADES.
LEGENDS OF THE RIO GRANDE
Grades 8 and up,
November – February
Towering 2000 feet above our canoes, the canyons of the Rio Grande
define the border between Texas and Mexico. For thousands of years
native people of many cultures lived here, and voices of their spirits
still echo between the limestone walls. Experiencing the indescribable
beauty and sacred land of this place will forever change your relationship
with the Earth. Our trip can be as short as 100 miles and as long
as 250 miles. During the entire time we’ll have minimal human contact.When
we do meet people it will provide the added benefit of a cross-cultural
experience: two Mexican villages along the way are practically lost
in time. There are incredible opportunities for exploration: hiking
into vast mountains and the desert, incredible bouldering, caving
and most importantly, exploration of the slot canyons. Rapids, hot
springs, desert sun, javelinas and turtles – this is the wilderness
experience of a lifetime.
| “As a teacher, it was a rare and wonderful experience to observe
my students stretch, grow, and blossom under your guidance.
It is always a gift when I can step back and watch their learning
and interactions. Thank you. Lynne & Misha, your many kind gestures,
concern for my comfort, and support for my success warmed my
heart and empowered me as a teacher and a person. I cannot thank
you enough.” - Susan Neirenberg, Teacher,
Waldorf School of Baltimore,
Spring 2001 8th grade graduation trip. |
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