Kroka’s new Trailheads program is an entry-level expedition for teenagers seeking adventure and community. During this adventurous week we will travel by foot and by canoe, experiencing the wonders of nature in a supportive community of peers. We begin by hiking through the Piedmont of the White Mountains toward the freely-flowing waters of the upper Connecticut River. After two days on foot, we descend from the mountains to the river where canoes await. Here we experience the joys and challenges of expedition life, paddling by day and setting a wilderness camp by night to cook delicious meals over the fire. You will come away with the skills to thrive on your next Kroka adventure.
Note: Trailheads may be used as an admissions prerequisite for new students entering our two and three-week expeditions.
Come along in a journey that retraces ancient wisdom and ways from the river out to sea. We begin at Kroka preparing food and equipment for our long journey. Next we head up to Maine to the homestead of a local artisan who will teach us to carve our own wooden paddles! With paddles in hand we are ready to set off down the Penobscot River, the ancestral home of the Penobscot Nation, which we will follow all the way out into the ocean. Learning the indigenous story of relationship between people and place, we will spend a day with Penobscot guides on Sugar Island focused on native plants and crafts, visit the Penobscot reservation on Indian Island, eat a traditional meal, and learn basketry and crafts. An exciting day of white water below Indian Island will bring us to where the river becomes tidal and our rhythms shift to paddle with the tides, sail with the wind, and navigate between islands and through fog. We will learn practical leadership skills, become expert ocean navigators, and learn to set camp on the rocky shores and inlets of the spectacular Deer Isle Archipelago. Through it all, we share in the hard work and simple joys of our salty, nomadic life.NOTE: this is a pilot program offered in partnership with NH DOE’s “Learn Everywhere” which grants high-school credits for experiential summer experiences.
This is a Capstone Expedition which includes some pre-program student meetings and preparation.
Join world-class climbers and mountaineers David Silva Alvarez and Marga Cardoso in an exploration of classic Appalachian rock. West Virginia’s New River Gorge is the east coast’s largest, most diverse and highest quality climbing area with over 3000 established routes in durable sandstone. Traveling to Appalachia means enjoying traditional folk music, working on farms tucked into the folds of the mountains and experiencing the rich and tragic history of the region with the exploitation of its indigenous people and natural resources. Two weeks is just enough time to build a tight-knit community of friends and tire our muscles from long days of climbing, but it will be a fast-paced trip! Designed for returning Kroka climbing students, this program is the next step in skill-building for students who are passionate about the sport and ready to become climbing leaders in their future.
Join us on a service-learning adventure rooted in community connections, sustainable living, and the good feeling that comes from giving back. We begin the week at Kroka where we will help on the farm and discover the joys of hard work and simple living: a meal cooked entirely from fresh ingredients; a swim in the cold pond in the afternoon. From here we set off on a journey to help neighbors in need and serve our community. Traveling by bicycle under our own power we will visit local leaders, elders, and artisans, each of whom has something to teach us. Every encounter is a gift and we will give back through our labor as we hammer, saw, sow and harvest, growing our capacity to serve and finding joy in simple living. At night we will camp in beautiful places, swim in pristine swimming holes, and form the bond that comes from living together.