Adventure Camps - Expeditions

Awesome Expeditions ...

offer a wide variety of exciting and challenging overnight adventure trips for teens ages 11 to 17 that range from 7 to 14 days.  Destinations throughout the northeast, including the Adirondacks, the Berkshires, Maine, Vermont, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, will be the backdrop for an adventure that you will remember for the rest of your life!  Expeditions allow you to choose from a variety of activities including backpacking, canoeing, sea kayaking, whitewater rafting, sailing, caving, rock climbing or biking.  With the guidance of our trained and certified leaders, you'll see some incredible sites, meet great people and learn new skills.  Prior experience is not needed for any of our overnight adventures, only your good attitude and your love of the outdoors.

Mission

The mission of The Mountain Workshop's Awesome Expeditions is to build strong, responsible, self-reliant kids and young adults through outdoor experiences and adventure travel. We strive to educate and help people develop self-confidence through safe challenges designed to take people out of their "comfort zones." Our goal is to help people connect with the natural world and instill values that will create mentally and physically strong individuals and passionate stewards of the environment.

History

With over 30 years of experience, Awesome Expeditions is a national leader in outdoor programming and adventure travel. Awesome Expeditions take participants on 1-2 week adventures and community service trips throughout the northeast, including the Adirondacks, the Berkshires, Maine, Vermont, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. We offer people opportunities for personal and social development through a well-planned itinerary of age appropriate adventures and experiences. Our expedition programs have a long-standing history of giving students a safe and rewarding platform to discover their true abilities.

Goals

Participants that successfully complete a Awesome Expedition with us will return home stronger and more confident. Through adventure and challenge, students will gain the leadership skills necessary to build successful adults. We help students achieve success on a course by providing them with a safe environment to share ideas, find and push their limits, and enjoy the outdoors.

Our goals are for Awesome Expedition participants to:

  • Move beyond self-constructed personal boundaries in order to grow in numerous ways.
  • Gain respect for other people and for the environment.
  • Understand their personal leadership style along with the ability to use good judgment.
  • Gain knowledge and an appreciation for "Leave No Trace" principles and minimum impact camping.
  • Use acquired outdoor skills to safely enjoy and experience the great outdoors.
  • Spawn creativity, adapt to different situations, and celebrate individual and group successes.

What to expect . . .

The Awesome  Expedition trips are designed to be exciting and rewarding experiences.  Participants will be part of a small group living together and participating in challenging activities.  Following the precepts of experiential education, campers will be actively involved in decision making, leadership, setting camp, meal preparation, clean-up and route finding.  Participants will be asked to set goals for themselves and the group.  To achieve those goals, a commitment to be a positive team member is required.  One program element that is non-negotiable is individual and group safety;  inappropriate or unsafe behavior will be dealt with swiftly by the trip leaders.

Group Size

All expeditions trips run with a minimum of 6 and no more than 10-12 campers and two adult staff members.  All programs are offered as co-ed, with one male and one female staff member assigned to each group. This small group allows for full group participation, interaction and decision-making, as well as individual instruction.

Transportation

We travel in passenger vans for all of our expedition trips.   The trips will begin at our pick-up location at Branchville Elementary School in Ridgefield, CT.  Please contact the office in advance if you would like to arrange an alternate pick-up location.

What is provided by The Mountain Workshop

All meals (except first day lunch), all camping and program equipment (except bikes for bike touring trips), all fees and transportation are provided.  A gear list is provided for each trip that includes personal clothing and gear required.

Accommodations

We will be staying in campgrounds, backpack shelters or hostels.   For trips that include camping, we will be sleeping in single gender 3 or 4 person tents.  The tents will be provided by The Mountain Workshop.  Campers will need to provide their own sleeping bag and sleeping pad.  With advance notice, rental of a Mountain Workshop sleeping bag and pad can be arranged for $25, due on the program's first day.  Refer to trip specific program details and gear lists for information regarding accommodations.

Participant Commitment

For most programs, previous experience is not necessary.  Attitude is everything! All activities are designed to be age-appropriate and instruction is provided for each activity.

Reasonable physical condition and a desire to participate is needed.

All participants share in The Mountain Workshop's Contract, agreeing to work individually and as a group towards goals set together, to adhere to behavior and safety rules and to give and receive feedback during daily "Group" meetings.  The group provides the opportunity to share insights, concerns, plans, successes, difficulties and appreciations.

Finally, unsafe or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.  With a serious infraction, parents are called. The camper, counselors, and parents will discuss the situation and if the unsafe behavior continues, parents will be asked to pick up their children without compensation.

Safety

Safety is our primary consideration at all times. It is the bottom line in all decisions regarding the outdoors. While outdoor activities do entail certain risks, we greatly reduce the chances of injury with strict guidelines and thorough instruction. Our staff is certified in First Aid, CPR, Lifeguard and/or Waterfront Lifeguard, Wilderness First Aid, and all are trained in the safety aspects of the activities according to the industry standards. We are extremely proud of our excellent safety record.

Awesome Expedition trips to select, based on age and destination: