Much like the heroes in beloved Disney movies like The Incredibles or Mulan, our students are crushing it in the field. Even when faced with challenges, our groups “Just Keep Swimming.” Dory would be proud! We may not be able to be there with them, but the mysterious magic of the internet gives us a portal into their world. Let’s see what our adventurers got up to today!

Skip to a Specific Trip: MCJ, CI, NEMCA, NEMCB, MCCE, VLCA, VLCB, GSA, NWXA, NWXB, PC, ACC1, ACC2

Maine Coast Junior (MCJ)

In Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother turns a big pumpkin into a beautiful carriage for Cinderella to ride to the ball. Similarly, our MCJ’s used their carriages (read: bikes) to explore the carriage roads in Acadia National Park. Financed by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. as a way to enjoy Acadia by horseback without having to worry about traffic, the carriage roads are specifically designed to blend with the landscape. With the sun shining down on them it was a fairytale of a day! Here they all are, fully adorned with their crowns and tiaras (read: helmets)!

 

Cape Cod & the Islands (CI)

“See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me! And no one knows how far I’ll go….” Moana’s epic ballad could have been the soundtrack for our CI crew today. The group made their way out on the water to stand-up paddleboard today! Who knows, maybe some of our group fell in love with the ocean just like Moana!

New England Mountains & Coast A (NEMCA)

Gusteau, the famous Chef in Ratatouille, had two great mantras. The first was that “Anyone Can Cook.” The second, “If you focus on what you left behind, you will never be able to see what lies ahead.” Today our NEMCA troop moved to a new campground! While the old spot was awesome, we are excited for what lies ahead! Despite having a transit day, our explorers managed to get a great day hike in too. May the rest of their days be as amazing as Remy’s ratatouille!

New England Mountains & Coast B (NEMCB)

“A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.” –Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh. The NEMCB crew definitely made a difference today! This morning they volunteered with the New Hampshire Forest Service, cutting back some brush near the campground road with clippers and hand saws. Afterwards they got some yummy ice cream as a treat. They may not be in The Hundred Acre Woods but they are certainly living the dream!

Maine Coast College Essay (MCCE)

Our MCCE writers have been working hard on their essays. This process is one that takes a good deal of self-reflection, patience, and revisions. As Mufasa advised his son, “Look inside yourself, Simba. You are more than what you have become.” This morning, MCCE continued their individual conferences with Leah, our writing instructor. In the afternoon, Chuck, Sage, and crew went kayaking and enjoyed the sun! Hakuna Matata — we have no worries that their essays will be amazing and no doubt that their afternoon was awesome.

Vermont & Lake Champlain A (VLCA)

Edna Mode, the Avant Garde super suit designer in The Incredibles, never looks back — it distracts from the now. While we love this ‘live in the moment’ energy, we encourage the VLCA bikers to look back on all they’ve accomplished! This morning they volunteered at the Intervale Center, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen community food systems. After lending some hands to help harvest crops, the troop headed to downtown Burlington to explore and for their final dinner. Truly incredible job on this trip, team. We will miss you when you depart tomorrow!

Vermont & Lake Champlain B (VLCB)

VLCB volunteered at Intervale Center, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen community food systems, in Burlington this morning. This afternoon, the group explored the beautiful downtown and had their final dinner together. We are super duper proud of all these bikers have accomplished over the past 11 days. This group has become a family. Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten. We hope they don’t forget their epic travels together!

Golden State Adventure (GSA)

As Bert from Mary Poppins puts it, “there’s the whole world at your feet.” Our GSAers put their feet into motion on their day hike today! What better than a hike with oceanic and island views?! As they are out of service in the Channel Islands, we won’t be seeing any photos of their day’s feat. That being said, we are excited to see pictures soon. Their trip sure does sound “practically perfect in every way!”

Northwest Explorer (NWXA)

We all felt a bit like Rapunzel this past year, trapped inside our homes, dreaming of adventure. Well Rapunzel ended up getting her adventure in the end, and so did our NWXA crew. This morning this bunch hiked 5 miles out from the backcountry and have nothing but amazing stories to share from their time off the grid! As Rapunzel says, “Venture outside your comfort zone. The rewards are worth it.” From these pictures, it sure seems so!

Northwest Explorer (NWXB)

NWXB is off to find Neverland (read: go camping in the backcountry)! These happy hikers set off this morning, and we are so excited for all they will experience over these next few days. We won’t be seeing a photo from this dashing crew because they are too busy living in the moment to send one over (read: they don’t have any service) but we can’t wait to see the snaps when they get back. All it takes is faith, trust, and pixie dust to have a successful backcountry trip — and we’re certain they’ve got all three!

Pacific Coast (PC)

Lumière, the candelabra from Beauty and the Beast, advised Belle: “You don’t have time to be timid. You must be bold and daring.” We aren’t sure if Lumière magically appeared this AM to motivate the crew, but we can guarantee they were bold and daring today. Way to go PC, y’all crossed the border into California! Belle wanted “adventure in the great wide somewhere.” Maybe she should join our PCers, as they are certainly having the adventure of a lifetime!

America Coast to Coast 1 (ACC1)

Whew! ACC1 rode 71 miles today! Just like Hercules, they have proven that they can go the distance. Riding from Pie Town, NM (we know, we still can’t get over the name either) to Springerville, AZ was no piece of cake (pie?), but these heroes crushed the mileage. They are cruising through the country with style. We are in constant awe of them– ride on, Mark, Grace, and co.!

America Coast to Coast 2 (ACC2)

Mowgli, the young Jungle Book protagonist, wisely said “For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.” We totally agree. At times, though, when the Wolf and the Pack are working tirelessly, the strength needs to be outsourced. ACC2 has been riding hard, so today they had a rest day to recharge some of those batteries. They started the morning with a later wake up and pancake brunch– yum! They had all the Bare Necessities needed to relax, rejuvenate, and do some laundry. Wahoo!