Flying Cloud is once again filled with the shouting and laughter of campers, and not a second too late – the chipmunks were getting a little too bold for my liking! That’s right, campers have returned from their overnight trips. They encountered majestic views, wild animals, steep climbs, clear lakes, and so much more. Perhaps most importantly, they had the opportunity to experience something that might have seemed daunting, if not impossibly difficult, and found the strength and skills to overcome the challenge as a team. These are the adventures they went on.
A six-day expedition through the Maine wilderness, campers who embark on Flagstaff find themselves paddling over sunken towns, orienteering with a map and compass, and riding out strong tailwinds in order to meet up with Saltash Mountain Camp to give away their canoes and drybags and lace up their hiking boots for three more days of hiking along one of the most beautiful and varied sections of the Appalachian Trail. A capstone trip for our most experienced campers, Flagstaff tests physical and mental endurance learned from years at Flying Cloud and rewards campers and staff alike with unforgettable views and an unshakable sense of achievement.
Four days spent canoeing on the Raquette River in upstate New York might sound like a breeze until you consider the twists, loops, and other curveballs that the river throws at its travelers. Campers on this trip heavily familiarize themselves with a map and compass, utilizing the land to triangulate an approximate position on the map and determine the best route. Equally important is the appreciation and aptitude for teamwork that comes from getting to point A to point B when the route is far from clear and the stakes – getting into camp before nightfall – feel very high. Campers are rewarded with cool, clear water, the satisfaction of covering a bunch of miles, lush waterways, fishing, birds, and certain centeredness that only comes from finding one’s path.
Among my fondest memories as a Flying Cloud camper, and one of the hardest things I’ve ever done – the White Mountains hiking trip. A grueling first day of straight uphill, steep and long, grants an otherworldly hiking experience as each subsequent day is spent hiking along ridgelines and summiting peaks, beautiful views afforded on all sides. This trip is physically demanding, and requires mental fortitude as well – to look at a peak 10 miles away and say “we’re going there, today? That’s impossible!” and then look back at the starting point while standing on that peak after a long day’s work is a richly rewarding, near indescribable feeling.
Now to see how each camper will bring the lessons and growth from their trip with them into life back at camp, to embody and to share with others. Although I’m sure the main thing on most camper’s minds right now is what’s for dinner, and what game are we playing this evening – very understandable after a few nights on the trail!
Til next time,
-Charlie