Another day, another blog post from yours truly! We know you’ve been waiting with bated breath for this post in particular— not because you want to read about how your favorite students are climbing mountains, admiring scenic vistas, and accomplishing incredible feats, but because you can’t wait to learn yesterday’s secret message! Fear not, the answer can be found at the bottom of this post. But first, sit back, relax, and enjoy these updates from the field!
Skip to a Specific Trip: MCJ, CI, NEMC, CRM, MCCE, MCP, NWX, PC, AXA, AXB, ECC1, ECC2
Maine Coast Junior (MCJ)
Today was MCJ’s first full day in Acadia National Park! After spending yesterday sea kayaking, this gang traded their water shoes for hiking boots and hit the trails today. They breezed through an impressive five miles for their first day hike, with some amazing views along the way! They hiked along beautiful Echo Lake, up Conner’s Nubble, and to Bubble Rock. We can’t wait to hear all about their biking adventure tomorrow!
Cape Cod & the Islands (CI)
What a day! CI got up bright and early this morning to catch their ferry from Martha’s Vineyard over to Nantucket for a day of ocean views and exploration. The group ate lunch once they arrived, then suited up to explore the island by bicycle (the best way to do it, as far as we’re concerned)! They then boarded the ferry back to Martha’s Vineyard, where they’ll spend the night. Word on the street is that there’s pizza for dinner… hope they save us a slice!
New England Mountains & Coast (NEMC)
Woohoo! It’s day hike number two for our trusty NEMC crew, and they are taking the White Mountains by storm. After a hearty breakfast this morning, the gang laced up their boots and hiked the famed Mount Pierce (fun fact: Mount Pierce was named after Franklin Pierce, the only U.S. president born in New Hampshire!). They had a fantastic day flexing their hiking muscles and getting settled into the beautiful terrain. They don’t have service at tonight’s campsite, but we can’t wait to see photos of what this group conquers next!
Colorado’s Rocky Mountains (CRM)
It’s a good day to have a good day, and CRM did just that! The crew woke up early today so they could get an awesome morning hike in before they packed up and headed for Estes Park. Van rides usually aren’t as cool as hiking, but when the road you’re taking is the highest continuous paved road in the country, it comes pretty close! After settling into their new home for the next handful of days, the group will get a good night’s sleep in order to be well-rested for their day of rock climbing tomorrow!
Maine Coast College Essay (MCCE)
The MCCE crew got to spend their morning at the yurts today, churning out essay ideas and rough drafts like the writing machines they are. After a five-star sandwich lunch, the gang loaded up and headed over to Bates College for their first admissions workshop, where they got valuable insight into the college admissions process from the Dean of Admissions himself, Jared. Tonight, they had some time for writing and relaxing before resting up for their community service day in Brunswick tomorrow!
Maine Coast Photo (MCP)
It was a busy day of fun and learning for our MCP group today! After an early wake-up, they laced up their shoes and took a nice morning hike to Ovens Mouth. They then spent the rest of the morning with Jaime, learning the ins and outs of capturing breathtaking portraits. We can’t wait to see all the amazing photos! In the afternoon, the crew took a trip to the beach for an awesome afternoon of swimming and relaxing. And if that weren’t enough, they’ve got more beautiful views to look forward to tomorrow when they head to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens for a photoshoot!
Northwest Explorer (NWX)
Our faithful NWX team undertook their second full day of backcountry hiking in the glorious Northern Cascades National Park today, which means they’re halfway through this backcountry section of their adventure! While there’s surely no shortage of picturesque views for them, unfortunately (or maybe fortunately?) going into the backcountry also means no cell service, so no pictures for us. We can’t wait to see what they’ve been up to once they come back!
Pacific Coast (PC)
Out in Mendocino, PC put down their bikes for the day in order to get some well-deserved R&R before their final push to San Francisco. They spent the day sleeping in, hanging out, and taking a nice walk to beautiful Big River Beach. Along the way, they also got a chance to pick up mail and make some phone calls home! Tomorrow, they’ll hit the road again to start the last leg of their spectacular journey down the west coast. We’re cheering you on, PC!
Alps Explorer A (AXA)
After a day of rest, the unstoppable AXA crew is back at it again and en route to their next refuge! As you could probably guess by now, there was no shortage of National Geographic-quality views along their trek today. Just look at that crisp blue sky and lush forest green, accentuated by the dazzling sun— it may look like a greenscreen, but that’s just the magic of the Alps!
Alps Explorer B (AXB)
Our AXB group checked off “Completing the Tour du Mont Blanc” on their bucket list today! We are beyond proud of them for their amazing accomplishment. They got some well-deserved time off their feet as they bussed to Fiesch this afternoon. While conquering the TMB is pretty cool, it’s about to get a whole lot cooler (literally!) – the gang has a glacier hike on the itinerary for tomorrow!
Europe Coast to Coast 1 (ECC1)
Today, the ECC1 crew continued their biking adventures along the beautiful French countryside, from Bar-le-Cuc and into the beautiful city of Nancy. They stopped for some groceries along the way, where it looks like they had a nice Lidl prom photoshoot! (See what I did there?) Check out all the flags on that bike – they’ll be able to add another in just three days when they roll into Germany!
Europe Coast to Coast 2 (ECC2)
The ECC2 team is back on their bikes today after their much deserved days of rest! It was a long 68-mile ride today, but you know they absolutely crushed it after going into the day with fresh legs and encouragement from one another. Not only were they spurred on by the prospect of naps at their campsite (sweet dreams, Mark!), but also by the beautiful views that they cruised past along the way – just look at those sunflowers!
