FAQs

How will I know what to bring?
All kayaking and backpacking gear will be provided by Franklin Pierce. We also take care of food for the week. Personal gear such as clothing, toiletries, shoes, and a few basic essentials are yours to provide. Please see the link ‘Gear List’ for a specific listing of equipment necessary.   
Do I have enough outdoor experience to participate in this program?
This program does not require any previous outdoor experience.  Our trip leaders/guides will teach everyone how to pack, how to cook along a wide variety of other skills necessary for the backcountry. For any level of experience, this is a great opportunity to learn how to travel through the outdoors well. We do ask that everyone come with a positive attitude, a willingness to learn and the ability to overcome the physical challenges poses by multi-day backcountry excursions.
Should I pick Week One or Week Two?
Pick the session that works best for your schedule.  Either way, both groups will move into their dorms on the 25th.  There is a remote chance that sessions will be combined if not enough participants choose the first session. 
What kind of training do the leaders have?
Our student-leaders are chosen for their love of the outdoors, judgment, leadership skills and lovely personalities! They go through two weeks of summer outdoor leadership training, including a 2-day Wilderness First Aid certification in emergency medicine.
What about food?
We will carry and prepare all of our meals for the duration of the trip. There might be opportunity to stop back into civilization for a snack but that depends on the routes we choose.  There will be terrific vegetarian meals, but if you have food allergies, a strict vegan diet or a different food need, it’s important to inform us.
What are the physical demands of this trip and how should I prepare?
Prepare by staying active this summer. Run, hike, do pushups, swim, or bike. Each day in the field is full of activity, so be ready! Our first priority is safety and fun, but you’ll have more fun if you’re physically prepared to hike, paddle or climb.
Will there be shuttle transportation for students flying in?
We can make arrangements to pick up participants at Manchester/Boston Regional Airport (MHT).  Contact program director Doug Carty for more information.
Where do we go?
The routes change a little each year, but we always like to stay in the beautiful Granite State. Previous trips have been far north to Lake Umbagog or paddled sections of the Magalloway, Androscoggin or Connecticut Rivers. Backpackers have travelled through the White Mountains – typically the Kinsman Ridge, Bondcliffs, or the Mahoosucs. Other great spots are closer to home, like Mount Monadnock or the Wapack Range. The 2009 program will take kayakers down the Baker River and into the Pemigewasset.  Backpackers will trek sections of the 49 mile long Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway.