An Inside Look at Frost Valley’s Adirondack Trail Builders Adventure Trip

01/28/2019

In order to give campers and parents an inside look at Frost Valley’s Adirondack Trail Builders Adventure Trip, Adventure Director Zach Eigenbrodt answered some questions parents and campers might have about the trip.

1. Can you describe the campers this trip would be suited for?

“This trip is perfect for campers in the ninth through twelfth grade who are up for a challenge this summer. It’s going to be physically and mentally tougher than some of our other trips, but also incredibly rewarding. It’s perfect for campers who want to give back to a place that has served Frost Valley for many years now – the Adirondacks. Campers will earn 35 hours of community service for helping to maintain the trails. They will learn all about trail building, while also making sure to create as little environmental impact as possible in the process.”

2. What prior experience and/or approval is necessary to register for this trip?

“Campers should have some experience camping in a tent in the woods and hiking for between five and eight miles. Campers will need endurance to hike to the top of mountains. While there is no prior approval necessary, we do encourage campers to have experience with either Frost Valley trips or similar experience when they register.”

If anyone is unsure if this trip is a good fit for them, please call Zach Eigenbrodt at 845-985-2291 ext. 265 or email him at zeigenbrodt@frostvalley.org to set up a time to talk.”

3. Who will lead the trip? Can you speak to their qualifications/experience?

“Since this is a co-ed trip, there will be both a male and female Frost Valley trip leader, in addition to the Adirondack Mountain Club who will be facilitating the trail building process. The Adirondack Mountain Club will be providing a lot of the technical trail building training. Our Frost Valley staff members have Wilderness First Responder certification, which is the premiere emergency medical training for leaders in remote areas. They also undergo background checks and a rigorous two-week training process at Frost Valley before they go out on the trail.”

4. Do you know which trails the kids will be working on?

“We’ll be in the high peaks wilderness area of the Adirondack Mountains. The trip leaders will be working with the Department of Environmental Conservation to determine which trails need work.”

5. What wilderness skills will they learn during the program?

“Trail building is the primary focus of the trip, so campers will be using various trail building equipment like handsaws, shovels, ditch diggers, loppers, and brush clearers. Campers will also be learning all about environmental impact so they understand why this work is so important. Additionally, they’ll be learning how to use a camp stove, how to set up a tent, and how to use a map and compass.”

6. What Leave No Trace Seven Principles© will they learn?

“In order to create as little environmental impact as possible while on the trail or camping out, campers will learn the Leave No Trace Seven Principles© including: Plan Ahead and Prepare, Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces, Dispose of Waste Properly, Leave What You Find, Minimize Campfire Impacts, Respect Wildlife, and Be Considerate of Other Visitors. The Adirondack Mountain Club is an official training site for Leave No Trace seven principals© so they will focus on making sure the campers understand how important these principals are.”

7. What kind of meals will the campers make on the trail?

“The campers will have breakfasts that include things like oatmeal, granola, and cereals. The campers will do a lot of snacking during the day to keep their energy up. They’ll have things like tortillas with soy nut butter and granola bars. Dinners will be hot meals consisting of things like pasta and other grains, vegetables, bean burritos, and soups.”

8. What other activities will the kids participate in outside of working on the trail?

“The campers will have two days off during the trip, which they will spend climbing, exploring Lake Placid, or going on a hike. They will participate in group discussions on service leadership and what it means to be a leader in their community. They will also enjoy hanging out at the campsite and making new friends.”

9. Is there anything you’d like campers to know about the Adirondack Trail Builders trip?

“I want campers to know that this is a wonderful opportunity to see the lesser-traveled trails of the Adirondacks and to see places and views that few others get to see. They will see true undisturbed wilderness, as well as gain knowledge about how important and intentional trail maintenance is because it creates tails that minimize our impact on the environment. This trip will create life-long lovers of the outdoors!”

Go to the Adirondack Trail Builders Adventure Trip page to view the trip itinerary and packing list. Call 845-985-2291 for more information or register online.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Frost Valley YMCA

Frost Valley YMCA is a 5,500-acre, year-round camp - There's something for everyone here in the Valley. From group and family retreats to overnight camps to horse camps to teambuilding, we've got you covered. School groups love taking a three-night field trip to explore the natural world and learn about the environment and their classmates. Family weekends are the perfect getaway for the young and the young at heart. Teambuilding retreats afford corporate, collegiate, religious, and other groups the opportunity to challenge themselves and effectively work toward common goals. In the summertime we're where kids and teens gain independence, explore the world, and make lifelong friends through various camps such as traditional sleepaway camp, farm camp, horse camp, adventure trips, and day camp. Call (845)985-2291 or email info@frostvalley.org to learn more today!