ALL Ages-11-to-13 Ages-13-to-15 Ages-15-to-18 Ages-6-10 Ages-9-to-11 Capstone Climbing-and-Caving Day-Camp Introductory Mountain-Biking Multi-Element Ocean Rites-of-Passage SPACE-AVAILABLE Whitewater Wilderness-Skills
Cape Cod Surfing Bonanza
Sun Jun 25 - Sat Jul 1, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 13 - 15

For students who are interested in adventure sports training and practicing Kroka’s lifestyle in the middle of a busy vacation destination.Join us for an extraordinary week of adventure sports, sun and sand at the amazing ocean of Cape Cod. This trip is a must! In partnership with our friend, Eric Gustafson of Fun-Seekers, we will surf on surfboards and kayaks, windsurf when the winds allow, swim and paddle across the bay to Provincetown for dinner and ice cream. Camping in the forest of the Massachusetts Audubon Sanctuary we will mountain bike on single tracks to our daily destinations. Proven to be a fantastic experience, this trip is an awesome way to start your summer.

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for info & registration...
Bridge to Kroka
Sun Jun 25 - Sat Jul 1, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 13 - 15

Experience the thrill of adventure and wilderness while creating a close circle of new friends. This program is designed as an introduction to Kroka and will cover the basics of our curriculum: navigation, backpacking, canoeing, camp craft, and rock climbing. After two days of "Kroka 101" training at our base camp, we will depart for our journey by foot and paddle, experiencing the beauty of the wilderness as we swim, craft, and spend evenings by the campfire. This program is designed as a bridge for students who are new to Kroka's expedition lifestyle, and participants will be able to enter any intermediate Kroka program with competence and confidence.

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for info & registration...
River Rascals
Sun Jun 25 - Sat Jul 1, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 10 - 11

All you river rascals out there, it’s time to come together and head to the water! This will be a week of canoeing, kayaking, and swimming through currents, around bends, and into eddies. Skill building begins at our very own pond at Kroka base camp, after which we will embark on a four-day river expedition. Kroka’s unique paddling progression is rooted in developing skill and comfort in swimming the moving water as well as paddling both canoes and kayaks. In addition, we will simply soak in the joys of river life. Our afternoons will include camp set-up in the woods or on sandbars, roasting tasty bannocks over the fire, and time for play and discovery. Days end with craftwork, stories, and songs.

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for info & registration...
Introduction to Adventure - Session I
Sun Jun 25 - Sat Jul 1, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 10 - 11

Kroka’s classic “Introduction to Adventure” program has introduced countless children to the wonders of the wilderness since its inception in 1995. It is the perfect program for campers who are ready to participate in their very first expedition. The week begins at base camp doing useful work around Kroka’s village and the farm. We will go rock climbing, study plants and animals in the forest, and learn new wilderness skills. All of this is in preparation for a three-day mini canoeing expedition during which we settle into the backcountry rhythm of campfire meals, stories, and songs. Days will be filled with swimming, fishing, exploration and crafts. Activities will differ from session to session. This means children can attend both weeks!

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for info & registration...
Climbing Rocks
Sun Jun 25 - Sat Jul 1, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 11 - 13

We are all climbers in our hearts, whether we scamper across boulders, monkey up trees, or gaze at the tops of cliffs in wide-eyed wonder. This week of adventure will be dedicated to playing above ground. Our first days at the Kroka basecamp will set us to the rhythm of the farm as we care for the animals and pick strawberries. We will rock climb by day and join together in laughter and songs by the campfire at night. At the end of the week, we will journey into the wilderness and set camp at the foot of a tall climbing wall. With boundless opportunities to explore and discover, we will splash in swimming holes, and quest for the most amazing cracks, holds, and chimneys to climb. We will return to basecamp to share our stories and celebrate the joy of climbing rocks!

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for info & registration...
Fishing Adventure
Sun Jun 25 - Sat Jul 1, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 11 - 13

Join us on an adventure in fishing, crafting, and exploring the hidden secrets of the streams, lakes, and rivers that surround us. We begin the week at Kroka Village where we will carve our own fishing poles, learn to tie flies, and rig our lines. In the afternoons we will try our luck from shore, testing our patience and our wit while exploring the magical forests that surround us. Then with barrels packed and lines reeled tight, we will head out on a three-day expedition by canoe through one of Vermont’s most famous fisheries. Each day we’ll paddle further downstream, learning about currents, eddies, and fish habitat. In the heat of the day we’ll stop to swim and to test the many rope swings and jumping rocks along the shore! We will camp in the forest and cook delicious dinners over the fire. We eat what we catch: eager fisherfolk should be excited to catch, gut, clean, and cook their fish! If you’ve fallen hook line and sinker for the adventure of fishing, this expedition is not to be missed!

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for info & registration...
Pirates of Lake Champlain
Sun Jul 2 - Sat Jul 8, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 11 - 13

For beginner buccaneers
Ahoy! Bring your bandanas and your fearless sense of adventure as we take to the water as a band of scruffy pirates. We begin our adventure at Kroka Village making eye patches, a pirate flag and preparing for our expedition. With all of our provisions, we will head north to the infamous Lake Champlain. Traveling in our handmade voyageur canoes we will create a wilderness outpost for the week. The Champlain Valley holds an immense history, which we’ll learn about as we travel through waters filled with more than 300 shipwrecks. Each day we will embark on a mini-adventure: exploring the coastline by canoe, going for long swims, creating wilderness crafts, scrambling up rocks, fishing from shore, cliff jumping, and sailing the “sea”, weather permitting. We will enjoy magnificent sunrises over the Green Mountains and admire the spectacular skylines of the Adirondacks. Come join our rowdy band!

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for info & registration...
Intro to White Water - Level 1
Sun Jul 2 - Sat Jul 8, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 11 - 13

This is an unforgettable week of becoming one with the river! The journey will take us down the beautiful winding stretch of the Connecticut River flowing swiftly through Piedmont – the foot hills of the Green and White Mountains. Skill building begins at Kroka’s pond, after which we will embark on a 4-day expedition to camp at the base of a great rapid. Our unique paddling progression is rooted in understanding the power of moving water and developing skills in raft, canoe, kayak, and stand up paddle board, as well as comfort swimming in fast moving water. In addition, we will simply soak in the joys of river life in the summer. Our afternoons will include camp set-up in the woods and on sandbars, fishing, roasting bread-on-a-stick, and time for rope swings and river play. Days end with spoon carving and stories around the campfire.

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for info & registration...
White Mountain Multi-Element Expedition
Sun Jul 2 - Sat Jul 15, 2023
(14 days)
Ages 13 - 15

The White Mountains are famous for their dramatic rocky summits and steep valleys, and boast the highest peaks in the northeast. This exciting multi-sport adventure connects many hidden gems of the Whites and introduces students to all of Kroka’s core adventure sports. We begin at Kroka Village preparing food and equipment for our extended expedition. Setting off on foot, we follow the Appalachian Trail up and over Mount Moosilauke (elevation 4,802) and down to a network of old logging roads perfect for practicing map and compass navigation. Switching from backpacks to mountain bikes, we travel for three days along stunning singletrack bike trails to the headwaters of the Pemigewasset River. Here we find canoes awaiting ready for a paddle down the swiftly-flowing river that takes us to the foot of one of the most famous rock climbing crags in New England. Along the way we will be rewarded with breathtaking views, practice low impact camping, and study geography, geology and ecology of Eastern Alpine.

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for info & registration...
Intro to Rock - Level II
Sun Jul 2 - Sat Jul 8, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 13 - 15

Calling all rock climbers, tree climbers, parkour athletes, and bouldering enthusiasts for a dynamic week of rock climbing in nature. Journeying into the hills and hollows of Western Massachusetts we will establish a wilderness outpost close to three famous crags with climbs that will challenge beginner and experienced climbers alike. Each morning we set off to explore a different line of cliffs to practice toprope, sport, and trad climbing. Afternoons find us searching for caves and ruins in the forest, bouldering, cooking over the open fire, and practicing knot tying. Add to the repertoire the slack line, cliff-jumping and refreshing swims in the river and you‘ve got yourself a perfect summer week!

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for info & registration...
Wild Girls
Sun Jul 2 - Sat Jul 15, 2023
(14 days)
Ages 13 - 15

Wild Girls unite! As a unique community of adventurous, supportive, and collaborative girls and non-binary friends, we will embark on a journey full of singing, sunshine, water, and beautiful views. We will backpack through the mountains and down to the river where we will travel by canoe enhancing our paddling skills and ability to read the landscape around us. This rite of passage program is focused on development of willpower and wilderness skills leading up an experience of independent student travel where they must rely on each other and the skills they’ve learned. Within the enchanting landscape of mountains and rivers we will develop a strong connection to self to community, building sisterhood and confidence. Throughout the week we will have plenty of time for journaling, crafting, taking long swims, and observing wildlife.

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for info & registration...
Wilderness Adventures for Girls Session 1
Sun Jul 2 - Sat Jul 8, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 11 - 13

Wilderness Adventures for Girls is open to female-identified and non-binary participants.
Attention all spirited and adventurous girls! Come join us as we journey into the outdoors. We will form lasting friendships as we live, play and laugh together. We will embark in canoes across a remote lake reaching a magical hidden cove where we will create our wilderness home. Days will be spent swimming, practicing paddling skills, making wilderness crafts, singing and exploring the lakeshore and surrounding peaks. In the evenings, we will gather together around the campfire to reflect on our experiences, play games and share stories. This fabulous adventure cannot be missed and can be continued on into the future with our Wild Girls program.

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for info & registration...
Wild Crafts
Sun Jul 2 - Sat Jul 8, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 11 - 13

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a time when all the necessities of life were made by hand from the raw materials of the earth? During this exciting week of adventure and discovery we will settle into traditional dwellings made from poles and sod. We will learn the names of trees as we search for the perfect branches that will become our bows and arrows. Days will be filled with playing forest games, swimming, lighting fires, learning to cook wholesome feasts, and experiencing a day of rock climbing. Venturing deep into the forest we will set up a wilderness outpost and learn a variety of primitive crafts. Come celebrate the wonder of craft - producing useful things from the gifts of the forest - and return home with your own creations.

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for info & registration...
Earth Bound Expedition
Sun Jul 9 - Sat Jul 22, 2023
(14 days)
Ages 12 - 15

Offered in partnership with the Maine Local Living School

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to gather everything that you need to live directly from the Earth? On this expedition we will travel to the working homestead of Maine Local Living School in Temple, Maine, where systems of sustainable living are well established. We will spend the first week honing skills with axe and saw, carving our own bowls and spoons, tanning a hide, processing acorns into bread flour, and drying fruits and vegetables from the garden to take with us on an expedition into the surrounding mountains. Once on expedition we will live simply, gathering food and medicine as we travel, drinking from mountain springs, making fire by friction, and sitting around the hearth hearing and telling the stories that remind us of what it means to be a part of the Earth.

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for info & registration...
In Search of Lost Caverns
Sun Jul 9 - Sat Jul 22, 2023
(14 days)
Ages 13 - 15

Warning: Caving requires a love of tight, dark, wet, muddy spaces as well as a thirst for adventure and discovery of secret places. Students should be physically fit to carry an overnight backpack up and back down the mountain with a smile! 

There is no adventure sport more secretive and alluring than caving. Hidden deep in the infamous Berkshire Hills are miles of underground passages with hidden entrances off the beaten track. Many of these caves were just discovered within the past 10 years! We begin the week at Kroka Village exploring abandoned mines and practicing vertical rope skills. From here we head west and establish a wilderness camp at the base of Mount Greylock. With map and compass and our traveling gear we will set out each day to explore the region's known caves and search for those that have not yet been found. We will swim in pristine waterfalls, descend into abandoned quarries, and visit natural marble bridges. We will cook delicious meals over the fire, share stories, and learn a wilderness craft. The journey ends with a 3-day expedition to a mountain peak, an exciting day of multi-pitch climbing, and a day-trip through one of the longest and most notorious caves in the Northeast.


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for info & registration...
Trailheads
Sun Jul 9 - Sat Jul 15, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 15 - 18

Kroka’s new Trailheads program is an entry-level expedition for all teenagers seeking adventure and community. During this jam-packed week we will travel on foot and by canoe through the wilderness, 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 pre-requisite for new students entering our three and four-week expeditions.

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for info & registration...
Wilderness Adventures for Girls Session 2
Sun Jul 9 - Sat Jul 15, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 11 - 13

Wilderness Adventures for Girls is open to female-identified and non-binary participants.
Attention all spirited and adventurous girls! Come join us as we journey into the outdoors. We will form lasting friendships as we live, play and laugh together. We will embark in canoes across a remote lake reaching a magical hidden cove where we will create our wilderness home. Days will be spent swimming, practicing paddling skills, making wilderness crafts, singing and exploring the lakeshore and surrounding peaks. In the evenings, we will gather together around the campfire to reflect on our experiences, play games and share stories. This fabulous adventure cannot be missed and can be continued on into the future with our Wild Girls program.

CLICK HERE
for info & registration...
Red River Gorge Climbing Expedition
Sun Jul 9 - Sat Jul 29, 2023
(21 days)
Ages 15 - 18

This Capstone Expedition is open to students who have completed Climber’s Journey Up North or another intermediate climbing expedition, and by invitation. Students will be expected to complete advance preparation including food dehydration, route planning, and participate in group fundraising activities. 
Join Kroka’s infamous climbing team David “Davicho” Silva and Marga Cardoso in a trip to the Red River Gorge: the Climber’s Mecca of the Eastern USA. We begin our journey at Kroka’s basecamp where we will refresh our climbing skills on local granite. We will work on the farm and prepare food to take with us on our journey. Up early we will drive down to Eastern Kentucky, stopping along the way to explore the hills and hollows of the Appalachian Mountains. Here we will establish a wilderness basecamp where we set out each day to climb progressively more challenging routes featuring overhung jugs, hollows, pockets, slopers, horns, and crimps! Home to more than 3,000 established routes across more than 100 sandstone cliffs, the Red River Gorge is as alluring as it is expansive. In addition to boasting some of the best sport climbing anywhere, the region is filled with deep, clear swimming holes, ancient caves, and breathtaking views of the surrounding hills. When not on the wall we will study the folk history of the region, learn about the impact of coal mining on the landscape, work on wilderness crafts, and spend time giving back through community service.

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for info & registration...
Intro to White Water - Level II
Sun Jul 9 - Sat Jul 15, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 11 - 13

A sequel to Intro to White Water I, this program can also be a point of entry for those with previous white water paddling experience as well as students seeking to start at a higher level of challenge.

Become part of the infamous Kroka white water paddling crew! Upon arrival you will jump right in with your first kayaking lesson on Kroka’s pond. Traveling to our wilderness home on the Deerfield River in Berkshires, we will camp in a magical forest by the side of a clear mountain stream. Each day we will hike down to the river to practice rafting, kayaking, canoeing, stand up paddle boarding, and white water swimming. Working in small groups allows us to focus on the individual needs and learning styles of each student, making sure everyone experiences success. Students will learn skills enabling them to have a blast in Class II white water. In addition to paddling students develop appreciation for the vital role of water in the web of life and develop sound judgment and common sense inherent to adventure sports. The week will culminate with a run down the famous class III Zoar Gap! This program will prepare students for the next white water challenge: Paddlers Journey Up North.

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for info & registration...
Green Mountain Bikepacking Expedition
Sun Jul 16 - Sat Jul 29, 2023
(14 days)
Ages 15 - 18

From twenty-nine inch fat tires to frame and saddlebags, the sport of bikepacking has evolved from a technical adventure sport into a unique and sustainable way to travel through the landscape. This unique adventure links together several exciting trail networks in New Hampshire’s Piedmont and the Southern Green Mountains. Its route, running through the heart of Kroka’s adventure area, has a unique variety of terrain and rich cultural features. After two days of conditioning on local trails and preparing for expedition, we will begin a 10-day journey northwest. Along the way, we will pick berries, cliff-jump in refreshing swimming holes, scramble up rock faces, and share nourishing meals cooked over the fire. We will also face many challenges: ferrying our bikes across the river in a canoe, helping neighbors with a service project, and testing our navigation skills as we wind our way from one forest trail to the next. Finally, we will reach a spectacular underground cave, which will test our bravery, skills, and teamwork, inspiring a sense of wonder and awe for the world. On this expedition we will travel more than 100 miles self-sufficiently without getting into a vehicle!

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for info & registration...
Children of Kroka Village - Session I
Sun Jul 16 - Sat Jul 22, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 9 - 10

Come and play at Kroka Village! Roast bread-on-a-stick over a fire, pick berries, wade in the brook, and float boats downstream! During this exciting week, young campers will join in the life of the farm and garden at Kroka while staying at our base camp in earthen dwellings (also known as “Hobbit Holes”). This is an introductory program aimed at cultivating imagination and wonder. The long summer days will be filled with canoeing, fort building, working on traditional crafts, splashing in the pond, singing and storytelling. Each day we will immerse ourselves in a simple life, spending plenty of time exploring the woods and visiting the animals on the farm. Children of Kroka Village is the perfect experience for young adventurers for whom this is their first time at sleep-away camp.

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for info & registration...
Keepers of the Flame
Sun Jul 16 - Sat Jul 22, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 11 - 13

You cup it gently in your palm, the most powerful force on Earth, the source of life. This miniature sun spun to life with wood gathered from the forest has been enlivened from your gentle breath to become fire. During this adventure we will learn to make fire as was done in ancient ways with friction and flint and steel. As we travel the forest, we will learn to carry the fire with us, and to bring it to life in the wet and rain. Coals from the fire will burn the branches that become our spoons. As we deepen our relationship to this sacred element, we will learn to make, tend, use, celebrate, and care for it. We will come to know Fire as a sacred part of our lives. More than this, traveling through the wilderness will teach us to connect with the living Earth, be it gathering wild edibles or building an overnight shelter. We must all come prepared to carry an overnight backpack through the mountains, leaving modern conveniences behind, and proudly carry our inner flame of community.

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for info & registration...
Paddlers Journey Up North
Sun Jul 16 - Sat Jul 29, 2023
(14 days)
Ages 13 - 15

Our intermediate/advanced level training program is for everyone who loves the sport of white water canoeing and kayaking. Students without prior paddling experience will be asked to complete prerequisite training prior to attending.

This year we will return to Paddler’s Journey’s original stomping ground on the Rapid, Magalloway, and Androscoggin Rivers in Western Maine. We will outfit our boats and practice our rolls in the Kroka pond before departing on expedition. Once in Maine we will begin with a learning progression on a stretch of class II training rapids along the Androscoggin. From here we will take a day trip to an exciting class III rapid on the Magalloway before departing to the South Arm of Lake Richardson: the starting point of our four-day Rapid River expedition. Here, in a beautiful wilderness setting we will work our way down challenging class III and IV rapids. At the completion of the Rapid run we will cross beautiful Lake Umbagog, circling back to the Androscoggin: these class I and II rapids will look so small all of a sudden! Our journey will conclude at Mahoosuc Guide Service, Kroka’s partner organization, in Newry, Maine. We will base here at the foot of the spectacular Mahoosuc Notch, providing community service and helping take care of 36 sled dogs! We will end our journey climbing one of the high peaks and butt-sliding down some of the best waterfalls anywhere!

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for info & registration...
Children of Pumpkin Hill - Day Camp
Mon Jul 17 - Fri Jul 21, 2023
(5 days)
Ages 6 - 10

Young explorers, come join us at Pumpkin Hill Village for a week of cooperative play in nature. We will begin each day by visiting the animals on Kroka’s farm. Our cows, horse, and chickens love the attention! Afterwards, we set off for the forest where each day finds us doing something new: building fairy houses, exploring the Porcupine Cliffs, playing in the mud, or floating boats downstream. Our days are filled with games, songs, stories, and exploring the wonders and magic of nature.

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for info & registration...
Boys Rite of Passage
Sun Jul 23 - Sat Aug 5, 2023
(14 days)
Ages 13 - 15

Boys Rite of Passage is open to male-identified and non-binary participants.

A call to all boys who wish to become the best that they can be! Join us in meeting a challenge that could change how you grow into a man. During this two-week expedition we will challenge our minds, bodies, and spirits while immersing ourselves in the beauty of the Vermont wilderness. Like the ancient school of the Samurai, we will wake early in the morning with exercises that build our concentration and dexterity, our strength, and our will. The coming expedition will test us. We will carry everything we need on our backs. The mountains and river valleys will be our guides, the wind and the rain our teachers. We will not follow trails but blaze our own way, relying on maps, compasses, and our intuition. At night, we’ll gather around the fire to share wisdom and tell stories. As boys crossing the threshold into manhood, we will experience ceremony, build a joyful community, speak from our hearts, and have an opportunity to be alone in the wilderness. Will you join us?

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for info & registration...
From Cedar to Sea
Sun Jul 23 - Fri Aug 18, 2023
(27 days)
Ages 15 - 18

Come along in a journey that retraces ancient wisdom and ways from the river out to sea. We begin our journey 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! We will meet master canoe builder, Rollin Thurlow, and learn how he builds handmade cedar canoes. We will also enjoy Maine life in the summertime: swimming, paddling, and exploring the northern forests. After a week of preparation 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 for our boat’s maiden voyage. 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 other 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.

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for info & registration...
Introduction to Adventure - Session 2
Sun Jul 23 - Sat Jul 29, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 10 - 11

Kroka’s classic “Introduction to Adventure” program has introduced countless children to the wonders of the wilderness since its inception in 1995. It is the perfect program for campers who are ready to participate in their very first expedition. The week begins at base camp doing useful work around Kroka’s village and the farm. We will go rock climbing, study plants and animals in the forest, and learn new wilderness skills. All of this is in preparation for a three-day mini canoeing expedition during which we settle into the backcountry rhythm of campfire meals, stories, and songs. Days will be filled with swimming, fishing, exploration and crafts. Activities will differ from session to session. This means children can attend both weeks!

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for info & registration...
Caves, Cliffs and Waterfalls
Sun Jul 23 - Sat Jul 29, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 11 - 13

Don't miss this unique adventure that combines rock climbing and underground exploration! Our expedition begins with a hike to an impressive rock face hidden deep in the woods. After a day and a half of climbing we will continue on our hike, ending at a spectacular waterfall. Refreshed by plunging into crystal clear pools it is time for caving! We will search the woods for caverns that take us deep into the glittering underground world. As we gain experience, we will scurry through tunnels, wade through underground streams, and witness beautiful rock formations that showcase millions of years of geologic history. To wash off the cave mud, we will spend our afternoons swimming in a mountain river and at our wilderness camp learning to live in harmony with nature.  Each day concludes with campfire stories and songs.

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for info & registration...
Bold Coast Sea Kayaking Expedition
Sun Jul 23 - Sat Aug 5, 2023
(14 days)
Ages 15 - 18

A rough, wild line that few sail, and fewer kayak. Dramatic cliffs and prominent tides. Paddling towards Canada, sometimes with the water, and sometimes against it. The name of the coast speaks for itself. After honing our sea kayaking and expedition skills along tamer sections of the Maine coast, we will set off for the easternmost miles of the U.S. coastline, paddling by day and carefully searching for hidden coves to spend the night. We’ll dive into the history of the region, of colonial settlers, of lonely lobstermen and shipwrecked boats, of the indigenous who came first, and take in the pristine beauty and nature of Maine's farthest reaches. After a brave final crossing we enter the safe waters of the harbor and arrive at our destination. Come along on an adventurous paddle that is a feather in the cap of any sea kayaker!

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for info & registration...
Canadian Expedition
Sun Jul 30 - Fri Aug 18, 2023
(20 days)
Ages 15 - 18

Kroka’s annual Canadian Expedition is a capstone experience for students ready for the adventure of a lifetime. Each year we take a team of dedicated paddlers to one of the great rivers of the North: the Ashuapmushuan, Coulonge, Moisie, Broadback, and others. Pristine and breathtakingly beautiful, these rivers drain the vast northern forests of Quebec and Ontario, accessible only by remote logging routes seldom driven. Traveling self-sufficiently downriver, we experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the north country and some of the best whitewater paddling in the East. In the afternoons we make camp along the gravel bars and rocky beaches, gather mushrooms, fish and berries to eat, and sleep under an endless starry sky. Canadian Expedition takes us deep into remote wilderness where the joys and challenges of expedition life bring out our best selves. As we travel to and from the river we experience the cultural lifeways of northern people, visiting with local indigenous communities, post-industrial villages, and the old cities of Quebec and Montreal. Students are expected to dehydrate expedition food and take on advance preparation tasks before the start of the expedition.

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for info & registration...
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Sun Jul 30 - Sat Aug 12, 2023
(14 days)
Ages 15 - 18

Open to students who have completed “In Search of Lost Caverns” and interested students with prior caving experience. As part of advance preparation, students will be expected to fundraise toward group equipment purchase. 

Join Kroka’s resident caver and explorer Ezra Fradkin on a journey into the unknown world of caves. The secrets of the underland are revealed on this bold new adventure for students ready to take their caving experience to new depths. We begin our journey at Kroka where we will learn vertical rope techniques used in caving and prepare the food and gear for our expedition. Heading west across the Hudson River, we will face our first test as we squeeze, chimney, crawl, and descend through some of New York’s most infamous caverns. Then turning southward we will follow the limestone belt of the Appalachian Mountains down to Greenbriar County, West Virginia. Here caves are measured not in feet but in miles, and the history and lore of cave exploration goes back to before the revolutionary war. Camping in the wooded Appalachian uplands by night and exploring by day, we will visit pits, crawlways, blowholes, fissures, and decorated cathedrals. Deep underground we rely on our spirit, teamwork, and wit to discover the secrets that lie in the Center of the Earth. Along the way we experience the rich folk music tradition of the region, help out at a honeybee sanctuary, visit abandoned Appalachian coal fields, and give back through meaningful community service.


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for info & registration...
Food, Farm and Fire
Sun Jul 30 - Sat Aug 5, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 11 - 13

Engage your senses in this adventurous week of growing, foraging, and cooking delicious food. Become a master forager, a farm-to-table chef, and a connoisseur of wild tastes. We begin our journey on the Kroka farm, where we will cultivate vegetables and nurture animals that will provide us with the gift of food. Trading our pitchforks for knives, we will learn and master technical cooking skills from local celebrity chef Theresa Darling. We will test our recipes in Kroka’s state-of-the-art sustainable kitchen – then take it up a notch by cooking over the open fire in the backcountry. With bags packed full of fresh ingredients, we will hike out to a wilderness campsite and build a stone hearth for cooking. Here we blend the culinary skills of the kitchen with the wild wisdom of the woods. As we prepare our recipes we will form a close-knit community of friends and share stories and songs. Our week will culminate with a student-prepared feast to share with the Kroka community!

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for info & registration...
Bike Girls!
Sun Jul 30 - Sat Aug 5, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 11 - 13

Bike Girls is open to female-identified and non-binary participants.

Come join the Bike Girls as we journey boldly into the wild places! We will form lasting friendships as we learn the art of mountain biking, with the Green Mountains of Vermont as our home. We will live, play, laugh, and learn the beauty of riding our bicycles, all the while experiencing the magic of living in nature, crafting with our own two hands, and sleeping under the stars. As a pack of wild and adventurous girls, we will practice biking skills, navigate the forest roads and single-tracks, and learn to fix our own bikes, taking home with us new skills as bike mechanics. In the evenings we gather around the fire to share stories and to set our intentions for tomorrow’s adventure. We will come away from this expedition empowered as females, ready to use our new riding muscles to face the challenges and experience the beauty of the world! No previous mountain biking experience is necessary and bikes are available for rent!

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Children of Kroka Village Session II
Sun Jul 30 - Sat Aug 5, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 9 - 10

Come and play at Kroka Village! Roast bread-on-a-stick over a fire, pick berries, wade in the brook, and float boats downstream! During this exciting week, young campers will join in the life of the farm and garden at Kroka while staying at our base camp in earthen dwellings (also known as “Hobbit Holes”). This is an introductory program aimed at cultivating imagination and wonder. The long summer days will be filled with canoeing, fort building, working on traditional crafts, splashing in the pond, singing and storytelling. Each day we will immerse ourselves in a simple life, spending plenty of time exploring the woods and visiting the animals on the farm. Children of Kroka Village is the perfect experience for young adventurers for whom this is their first time at sleep-away camp.

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for info & registration...
No Brakes
Sun Aug 6 - Sat Aug 12, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 11 - 13

Join us in discovering the adventure of backcountry bikepacking! After tuning up our bikes and practicing riding techniques on Kroka’s bike course, we will head into the forest for a week filled with spectacularly wild mountain bike adventures. The rich history of New Hampshire has left our forests full of wondrous dirt trails alongside abandoned root cellars, mines, and wilderness lakes. We will return to Kroka for campfire meals and cozy dwellings during the first half of the week. Our next adventure will be a two-day overnight expedition. Each day will include discovering and playing in wild swimming holes, games, and evening stories by the campfire. In addition to technical riding, students will learn how to take care of their bikes and participate in community service projects. This introductory program is excellent preparation for our Mountain Bike Expeditions!

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for info & registration...
Treasure Island
Sun Aug 6 - Sat Aug 19, 2023
(14 days)
Ages 11 - 13

For novice - intermediate buccaneers

 

Come one and all for a two-week treasure-hunting adventure! We will form our crew and head to the coast of Maine where we will take to the sea in voyageur canoes modeled after those that have been navigating northern waters for thousands of years. On the first day, we will travel a short distance across a sheltered bay to our first wilderness island home. We will sail from camp to camp, practice fire building, and create wilderness crafts.  There will be islands to overtake and explore, coves to brave cold waters in, and tidal pools to investigate. We will forage for mussels, fish for mackerel, and harvest shells and special seaweed. Everyone will come away from this week having witnessed beautiful sunsets and made lasting new friendships. Sign up to uncover some of the mysteries of the sea!

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for info & registration...
Climber's Journey Up North
Sun Aug 6 - Sat Aug 19, 2023
(14 days)
Ages 13 - 15

For students who have completed Climbing Rocks and those with independent climbing experience. Students should be physically fit to carry an overnight backpack up and back down the mountain with a smile!
 
Living in the woods, swimming, crafting, and climbing remote cliffs will fill our lives and strengthen our spirits. The first part of the week will be spent reviewing the basic skills of belay techniques, knot tying, and anchor placement. Then it’s off to the peaks of the Adirondack Mountains where we will continue to advance our technical skills. In addition to top roping and bouldering, students will practice following a leader on multi-pitch sport and traditional climbs up to 5.8. At the culmination of the training we will climb a magnificent slab with breathtaking views all around. Our climbing expedition will end at the foot of the renowned Hudson River Gorge where we will paddle Kroka’s Russian catarafts down class III and IV rapids. Climbing is not just a sport: it is a way of life in which we connect with nature and our inner selves. Bring your spirit and determination and challenge yourself to take the next step. You are sure to experience the rewarding feelings of accomplishment, pride, and connection.

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for info & registration...
Bushwhack!
Sun Aug 6 - Sat Aug 19, 2023
(14 days)
Ages 15 - 18

Join us for a bushwhacking and canoeing trip rooted in the ancient traditions of wilderness travel. Following ancient trade routes used by native peoples of the north woods, we will learn to rely on the forest to provide us the resources we need. We will learn to make fire by friction, forage for berries and wild mushrooms, catch fish, and build shelter from found materials. We will learn traditional crafts from wood and leather and cook delicious meals over the open fire, learning to sustain ourselves and sustain the Earth in reciprocity. As we basecamp, backpack, pole and paddle through seldom-traversed reaches of New England, Bushwhackers should be prepared to leave the comforts of civilization far behind. In return you experience the joys of self-discovery, deep connection, and a forever home for yourself in nature. 

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for info & registration...
Singletracks
Sun Aug 13 - Sat Aug 19, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 13 - 15

Singletracks is a sequel to No Brakes or Bike Girls, or for students with independent mountain bike experience.

This new and exciting week is all about mountain bike riding along the most beautiful exciting trails in Vermont. Departing Kroka’s basecamp for the Green Mountains, we will set up a welcoming camp hidden deep in the forest where we can pedal to some of the most fascinating bike courses Vermont has to offer. Each day we will set off on our bikes along a mixture of single and doubletrack trails that wind and swerve up and down the mountain. Along the way we will stop to pick berries, jump into refreshing swimming holes, and learn about the mining history of the area. Afternoons find us cooking delicious meals over the fire, carving wooden spoons, forming a close-knit community of friends. Come join us for loops, climbs, berms, and some of the most exciting drops and jumps of New England!

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for info & registration...
Farm Magic
Sun Aug 13 - Sat Aug 19, 2023
(7 days)
Ages 9 - 11

Do you love taking care of animals, helping others and digging in the dirt? Do you love exploring and playing in the natural world? Kroka’s farm program may be just the program for you! Farm Magic is filled with extraordinary adventures both on the farm and in the forest! Together we will uncover the mystery of how, from tiny seeds, we grow amazing things to eat. The magic of the living earth will present itself in front of our eyes as we sow seeds, water, weed, and harvest the gifts from our organic gardens. We will visit the animals, collect eggs, observe the bees at work, make yogurt and cheese, and work with Brita, our horse. Afternoons will be filled with swimming, paddling, rock climbing, games and searching for hidden treasures in the forest. There will be time for crafting, singing, telling stories and, of course, making new friends!

CLICK HERE
for info & registration...