Highlights
- Hike above tree line in the White Mountains
- Whitewater raft the mighty Androscoggin River
- Sea kayak Maine’s rocky coast
- Explore and celebrate in historic Portland, Maine
Trip Details
- Start: Wakefield, MA, USA
- End: Wakefield, MA, USA
- Age Range: 12 - 14
- Cost: $3,399
Dates
Jun 27 - Jul 5 (Available)
Jul 17 - Jul 25 (Available)
Aug 1 - Aug 9 (Available)
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Trip Itinerary
Packed with adventure, this nine-day trip for middle schoolers is the perfect outdoor sampler, loaded with activities both in the mountains and on the water. Hike to fantastic views in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, raft the Androscoggin River, and paddle sea kayaks along the Maine coast. Whether you are new to the outdoors or have camped your whole life, New England Mountains & Coast is a great way to explore Maine and New Hampshire’s outdoor spaces and try something new!
Hiking New Hampshire’s White Mountains
After meeting outside of Boston, our group will travel north into New Hampshire. There, we will spend the next several days tackling some wonderful day hikes and taking full advantage of all that the Presidential Range of the White Mountains has to offer. As we climb above tree line, we will eat lunch in beautiful alpine meadows with stunning panoramic views. We’ll discover hidden waterfalls, swim in cool mountain streams, keep an eye out for moose and other wildlife, and maybe even make a summit attempt of Mt. Washington, New England’s highest peak!
Whitewater Rafting the Androscoggin River
Taking a break from the trails, we will cool off in the Androscoggin River with an exciting day of whitewater rafting. Our professional rafting guides will teach us the proper technique and safety protocols before navigating the exciting Class II rapids.
Sea Kayaking, Community Service & Exploring Portland
Our last stop on this trip brings us to Maine. There we will join sea kayaking guides and spend a morning learning the fundamentals of safe paddling along Maine’s rocky coastline. As we explore the small islands in Casco Bay, we will picnic at water’s edge and maybe even enjoy a refreshing dip in the Atlantic. Our trip wraps up with some rewarding volunteer work with a local community organization before a final, festive dinner in historic Portland, Maine. A perfect ending to the perfect New England youth camping adventure!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Please see our General FAQ page for many more frequently asked questions and answers!
How physically challenging is New England Mountains and Coast?
Given a rating of Challenge Level 3 (out of a maximum 10), we consider New England Mountains and Coast (NEMC) to be a beginner hiking trip that any moderately fit, motivated student can successfully complete with some prior preparation. Compared to similar hiking trips, we believe that NEMC is similar in challenge level to Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, but easier than Maine’s Downeast Explorer. Please note that all of Apogee’s Challenge Levels are not scientific and are subjectively calculated by the Apogee staff.
Where will my child be sleeping at night?
Our New England Mountains and Coast groups will be camping every night in established, front country campsites over the course of our trip. Leaders will separate students by gender into tent groups and will rotate those groups several times over the course of our trip. Students will generally share a tent with two or three other students.
What does a typical day on New England Mountains and Coast look like?
The wonderful thing about our programs is that every day is different and exciting, so no two days will be exactly the same. That said, the general layout of a day on New England Mountains and Coast starts with a morning activity (usually from about 8:30 AM until lunchtime), then an afternoon activity (after lunch until about 4 PM). The morning and afternoon activity may be the same (e.g., hiking up to the summit of a mountain in the morning, eating lunch on the summit, then hiking down in the afternoon), or, on some days, they will be different (e.g., rafting in the morning or community service in the afternoon). After the afternoon activity, the group returns to their campsite, prepares dinner, and plays some evening games before the evening “Apogees and Perigees” circle that wraps up each Apogee day. For more detailed information on the day-to-day schedule of this trip, please contact us.
What is the maximum number of students I can expect on my child’s Apogee trip?
There are never more than twelve students on an individual session of this trip. Additionally, we limit enrollment by gender to two-thirds/one-third. Groups are always led by two or three of our excellent trip leaders.
How will I communicate with my child while they are on this trip?
We are a technology-free program, meaning that your child won’t have access to their phone or other electronics over the course of their trip. We have one email stop on our New England Mountains and Coast program; parents, relatives, and friends are welcome to use this to send messages to our office, which will be forwarded along to the group on a designated “email day.” If you have an urgent message to get to your child, please call our office and we’ll work to get you connected with your child.
My child will be flying to this trip start. How will they connect with their leaders?
Please note that Apogee staff members do not travel with students; our trip leaders will already be in Boston on arrival day and will stay at our headquarters in Maine after the trip ends. We will ask you to share your child’s detailed flight itinerary with us prior to the trip so that Apogee staff can be fully prepared to be at the airport to greet them on arrival. Once students are with their leaders, they will call home to let their parents know they have arrived and are with their group. Please see our blog post for specifics regarding students using an airline’s Unaccompanied Minor escort service. Further, we encourage you to coordinate travel with other attendees; we are happy to put you in touch with other enrolled families from your region. We will provide enrolled families with a Travel Information document covering details specific to traveling to Boston and home from Portland, including airport information and arrival and departure time windows. Please contact Apogee with any specific questions or concerns regarding drop-offs and/or pick-ups.
How does group move from place to place on the trip? Do they have a van?
Yes – the group will move around in their 15-passenger van, with a trailer used to store and transport their duffel bags and camping gear.
Is there any “backcountry” hiking on this trip?
In a word, no. All of the hiking on our New England Mountains and Coast (NEMC) trip is on established and frequently-used trails. Some of the hiking does include trails that are more than one hour from definitive care (this is the usual definition of “backcountry” hiking). That said, our NEMC groups camp in established campgrounds every night (the majority of which are located inside the White Mountains National Forest), and students can expect regular access to running water and bathrooms. The trip van with all of their gear will be parked at their campsite, so students do not need to carry group gear such as tents, cooking equipment, and food in their backpack at any time. Showers will not be available at every campsite, but students can still expect to shower regularly.
How much weight will my child carry on the hiking portions of this trip?
Not a lot. As there is no overnight backpacking on this trip, your child will be carrying between five and ten pounds during their longer hikes, composed mostly of an extra layer of clothes, rain gear, water, and snacks.
What does the community service portion of this trip entail?
The specifics of our community service projects and the number of hours we volunteer varies slightly from year-to-year. In the past, we have worked with a non-profit local farm or the Adaptive Outdoor Education Center on a variety of tasks including trail maintenance and garden work or food organization, etc. Students can expect 2-4 hours of community service work, usually over the course of one day.
Aside from the trip cost, what are the additional expenses for this trip?
Apogee’s tuition costs are meant to be all-inclusive and include all meals, accommodation, and activity fees. The most significant additional expenses on our New England Mountains & Coast trip will include travel to and from Wakefield, MA (or to Boston and from Portland, ME, if flying), hiking boots, sleeping bag and pad, and personal gear. We suggest that you review the packing list (downloadable on this webpage) to determine what personal gear you already own and what you might need to acquire for this program. Please also check out our Gear Recommendations blog post for links to our personal recommendations.
