An Inside Look At Frost Valley’s New Young Women’s Leadership Maine Trail Builders Adventure Trip

04/13/2020

In order to give campers and parents an inside look at Frost Valley’s new Young Women’s Leadership Maine Trail Builders Trip, new Adventure Director Tori Staley answered some questions parents and campers might have about the trip.

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

“This trip is ideal for teens who will be going into ninth through tenth grade in September of 2020 who are interested in giving back on a trail crew, helping nature and working with a group of their peers. This trip will challenge expectations of what a work crew looks like and show young women just how strong and powerful they are.”

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

“No prior experience is necessary, but campers should have a willingness to perform manual labor and sleep in the outdoors and learn in nature. If you are unsure if this trip is a good fit for your camper, please email Tori at tstaley@frostvalley.org to set up a time to talk about it.”

3. Why was it important to make this an all-female trip?

“We got some really positive feedback on our Young Women’s Leadership – Long Trail Adventure Trip two years ago, both from the trip leaders and the campers. One of the trip leaders expressed the value in this type of trip, saying ‘an all-female trip was so important because it gave campers the chance to step out of their comfort zones in a very safe and non-judgmental environment. All the girls were able to take on leadership roles, learn skills, and open up in a way that, at this age, they might not be able to do in a coed group. While I see a lot of value in coed trips, all female trips give young women the unique opportunity to grow and challenge themselves.’ “All our Young Women’s Leadership Trips participants ended last year’s season feeling competent, strong, and confident in their ability to face adversity together. The Women’s Leadership Trips (link) were so popular last year we added two new trips to our 2020 Adventure Trips lineup.”

4. Who will lead the trip? Can you speak about their qualifications/experience?

“There will be two returning Frost Valley trip leaders who have years of prior experience with our Adventure Trip Program. Our Frost Valley staff members have Wilderness First Responder certification, which is the premiere emergency medical training for leaders in remote areas.”

5. Which trails will the campers will be on?

The campers will trekking and working on the trails in Acadia National Park in Maine.”

4. What skills will they learn during the program?

“Campers will explore the beautiful area of Acadia, Maine as they help maintain trails and complete service work with the National Park Service. Digging in the dirt, trimming trees and doing various other projects around the park, they will earn up to 35 hours of community service. The campers will learn Leave No Trace seven principals© with an emphasis on stewardship. They will also learn how to successfully function as a team, learning to put the needs of the group above their own, how to support others, and working collaboratively to accomplish group goals. Leadership skills and confidence will soar as each camper will have a turn being trail crew leader of the day as well as environmental educator of the day.”

5. What Leave No Trace seven principles© will they learn?

“In order to create as little environmental impact as possible while on the trip 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.”

6. What kind of meals will the campers have during the trip?

“The campers get to do some back-country cooking. Breakfasts will include things like cinnamon rolls, 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. Dinner will include hot meals that include pasta and other grains, vegetables, bean burritos, and soups.”

7. What other activities will the kids participate in outside of working on the trails?

“On days off, they’ll climb cliffs above the ocean and hike the highest peaks, knowing that the hard work of people just like them makes adventuring in the park possible. The campers will participate in a variety of teambuilding/leadership activities where they will learn about self-advocacy as well as how to support their fellow adventurers. The girls will take turns being trail crew leader of the day as well as environmental educator of the day. They’ll participate in journaling, project planning, and debriefing sessions. Additionally, all campers will have daily responsibilities that keep the group functioning well such as cleaning up camp, following bear safety protocols, taking care of the gear, and gathering fire wood and water.”

8. Is there anything you’d like campers to know about the Young Women’s Leadership Maine Trail Builders Trip?

“Northern Maine is some of the most pristine wilderness with the best sunsets that I’ve ever seen at a national park. Campers will return from this trip as confident leaders who form lifelong friendships with their fellow adventurers, and they leave stronger and with a newfound passion for nature.”

You can visit the Young Women’s Leadership Maine Trail Builders 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!