The Northern Forest Explorers Youth Program, which will launch across New York, Ver-mont, New Hamp-shire, and Maine in summer 2011, has received grant funding to offer rural youth five day paddling trips that support healthy lifestyles and connect them with pride to the natural world.
Participants will spend five days paddling on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) learning basic outdoor skills, environmental and ecological relationships, and self- and group-leadership basics.
Three sessions are scheduled in each NFCT state for summer 2011.
The NFCT seeks to integrate the program into Trailside communities by partnering closely with local schools and community organizations.
Targeted communities and their regions in the Adirondacks this year includes:
Old Forge/Eagle Bay/Inlet Region, July 11 to 15 and Long Lake Region, July 18 to 22.
The Tupper Lake/Saranac Lake region is currently filled.
First day is a day trip only, and all are invited to participate in the activities and check out the program. Children do not have to be a participant to attend.
The per child cost is $100 and financial support is available to assure that this program is available to anyone interested in taking part.
NFCT piloted the program with communities in Maine and New Hampshire.
The early results were overwhelmingly positive, as community participants have seen the transformation that can occur when young people are given the opportunity to learn and grow in an experiential, outdoor setting in their own backyards.
Space is limited to 12 participants per trip who will be selected on a first come, first served basis.
For more information or an application contact Roger Poor, Director of Northern Explorers Youth Program at (603) 801- 9597, or email: roger@northernforestcanoetrail.org.
The Northern Forest Canoe Trail is a 740 mile inland paddling trail tracing historic travel routes across New York, Vermont, Quebec, New Hampshire, and Maine.
NFCT connects people to the Trail’s natural environment, human heritage, and contemporary communities by stewarding, promoting, and providing access to canoe and kayak experiences along this route.
More information is available at the website: www.northernforestcanoetrail.org.
