MIDDLE SCHOOL ADVENTURE AND SERVICE PROGRAM
JUNE 18 - JULY 1, 2024
(Limited space available)
JULY 5 - JULY 18, 2024
(WAITLIST)
LENGTH 14 Days
COMPLETING GRADES 6-8
SERVICE HOURS 15-25
ARRIVE/DEPART Portland, Maine (PWM)
TUITION $5,250
This middle school adventure and service program is a perfect introductory trip. We explore the vast adventurous landscapes of Maine while helping support local environmental projects with the Maine Island Trail Association. Acadia National Park provides a natural outdoor playground as we climb, canoe, raft, hike, camp and bike to explore one of the best National Parks in the country.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
click on the images to learn more!
TRIP OVERVIEW
Activities
Whitewater Raft: The mighty Kennebec River
Hike: Explore Acadia National Park and Baxter State Park
Sea Kayak: Blue Hill Bay and Somes Sound
Rock Climbing: Acadia National Park
Explore: Bar Harbor
Bike: Woodland trails of Acadia
Moose Safari: See moose in natural surroundings
SERVICE
A Certificate of Community Service indicating the total number of hours worked and a group Presidential Volunteer Service Award will be issued upon successful completion of the program. Service work could include some of the following projects:
Beach clean-ups
Tree planting
Trail maintenance and coastal erosion projects
Cleaning up washed up floats on the shore of the islands
WHAT IS INCLUDED AND EXCLUDED IN TRIP TUITION
The trip tuition listed above includes accommodations, activities, meals, and group gear. The tuition does not include personal gear and clothing, travel insurance, spending money, and travel expenses such as airfare to and from the start and end of the program, unaccompanied minor fees, and baggage fees.
Accommodations and showering
Accommodations are cabins and yurts for 4 nights and tent camping for 9 nights. Bedrooms in the cabins/yurts will be divided by gender and participants will sleep slumber party-style – in sleeping bags, rotating available beds nightly, and sharing beds as needed. For tent camping, we aim for it to be 2 participants in a 3-person tent or 3 participants in a 4-person tent with luggage.
Bathrooms and showers can be rustic so please be prepared. In an effort to save time and conserve water resources in the areas we are traveling, participants will have access to showers every 3-4 days. Bathrooms are a mix between flush toilets and latrines.
FOOD
Participants on this trip will plan, prepare, and eat meals as a group. Split up into smaller cook crews, each crew will have the chance to prepare a meal approximately once per day. This process is supervised by staff who offer advice on nutrition, and menu planning, and ensure safe food storage, preparation, and handling.
Meals are prepared on back-country-style camp stoves. Meals are nutritious and filling, but the back-country nature of the program often necessitates a simpler menu than a restaurant or home cook might allow.
We are able to accommodate all dietary requirements and preferences.
TRAVEL
Families are individually responsible for booking their own airfare or making their own travel arrangements to get their students from home to Portland (PWM) on the first day of the trip, and from Portland (PWM) to home on the last day of the trip. RLT will provide exact windows of time that we require all students to arrive and depart within. It is imperative that no one make any travel arrangements until RLT directs them to do so.
TRAVEL INSURANCE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Road Less Traveled does not provide its own insurance nor do we require travel insurance for domestic trips. However, travel insurance can protect your investment in your participant's trip from the risk of unexpected expenses from last-minute cancellations or early trip departure. If you are interested in more details regarding travel insurance, please visit our FAQ page or you may contact a member of our team at info@theroadlesstraveled.com or 773-342-5200.
TECHNOLOGY
As part of the RLT experience, our trips are electronic-free. While it is encouraged to travel with cell phones, leaders will collect phones and any other personal devices after all participants arrive on the first day. It can feel tough initially to not have access to your phone, but it really helps everyone in the group to connect and have a really great trip experience. This includes phones, iPods, tablets, gaming devices, music devices, smartwatches, etc. All electronics will be held by RLT leaders, kept safe and dry for the duration of the trip, and returned at the end of the program. All cameras, go pros, etc. are acceptable and can be kept with you! If you do not have a camera, please note that leaders will also be taking photos throughout the program, and these photos will be shared through an online gallery.
“The program truly met my expectations and goals. Eloise came back more confident, proud of her accomplishments, and happy with the relationships she formed. We are all grateful for this experience!”
- SUMMER 2023 ALUM PARENT -
SAMPLE ITINERARY
*Please note the itinerary listed below is the intended itinerary for this trip. No two trips are exactly the same. All itineraries are subject to change to ensure the best possible program experience. Weather, group dynamics, new opportunities, and the unpredictability of travel all shape the final trip itinerary - and it's all part of the adventure!
Arrival and transfer to moosehead lake (Day 1)
Participants will fly into the airport in Portland where the leaders will be ready and waiting for them. Once the whole group has arrived, we transfer to our accommodation and spend the evening playing games and getting to know each other and our new home.
hiking Mt. Kineo (day 2)
Spending the day hiking Mt Kineo allows us to explore the mountain vistas and stunning lake views from the summit. The trails lead us past flint cliffs as we keep an eye out for wildlife along the way. There are multiple trails of varying difficulties, depending on group energy and ability.
white water rafting (day 3)
Get the adrenalin pumping as we white water raft the raging class III and IV rapids of the Kennebec River. Our guide teaches us key paddling techniques to help us navigate rapids, drops, and bubbling whitewater!
waterfall hike and moose canoe tour (Day 4)
Paddling in canoes, we go on a unique Moose Safari to learn about these majestic creatures and try to spot them in their natural habitats. Did you know, that despite their size and weight, moose are very adept swimmers? They are able to swim for several miles and can even be totally submerged under the water for around 30 seconds.
hike borestone mountain (day 5)
Hike in the Borestone Mountain Audubon Sanctuary! We'll keep our eyes on the skies looking for woodpeckers, warblers, and even peregrine falcons perched on the cliff faces. This is a moderately strenuous climb that culminates with spectacular 360-degree views from two peaks at nearly 2,000 feet.
transfer to acadia national park (day 6)
For the second part of our trip, we transfer to Acadia National Park. With over 47,000 acres of wilderness, this is the perfect outdoor playground for us to explore.
community Service Work (days 7-9)
The next few days we focus on service work to help give back to the natural landscapes we are visiting. We work with the Maine Island Trail Association on various projects including beach cleanups, planting trees, trail maintenance, erosion control, and learning about environmental restoration and other protection initiatives. We hear about the ongoing work happening behind the scenes to protect these landscapes and allow visitors to enjoy them in a sustainable way.
Explore Acadia National Park (Day 10)
As our service wraps up, we continue to explore different parts of Acadia. The miles of trails and coastline let us explore inland and along the water’s edge. We take time to enjoy these surroundings while swimming, playing games and discovering some of the hidden secrets of Maine.
rock climbing (day 11)
Master your rock climbing skills on the granite cliffs rising way above the treeline. Our guide will help us develop our climbing technique, belaying and ropework skills, and how to read the rocks and different routes.
biking acadia trails (day 12)
Bike along the historic carriage roads of Acadia National Park! 2-wheels are a great way to explore the wooded trails and exposed coastline.
Mt Cadillac (day 13)
An early start but totally worth it! We climb to the top of Mt Cadillac to watch the sunrise. This is a really special moment of the trip, with golden views reaching as far as the eye can see. We finish the day with our final banquet, RLT style, and reflect on the group’s experiences.
Homeward Bound (Day 14)
We say final goodbyes in Portland and board flights back home.
Find Out More
Hold Your Place
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