EcoTrek Epicenter

2008-10-08T22:42:00.006-04:00

ECOTREK REUNION
Saturday, November 1
9am-7pm
Meet at Labrador Hollow Unique Area (Tinker’s Falls Trailhead Rt. 91)

Come for a day of games and other intense adventures on the North Country National Scenic Trail! $35 for the day, food, fun, and crazy shenanigans included. Call 673.1350 or email matt@baltimorewoods.org with any questions.

What a summer we had in 2008! Thanks all of you for another amazing summer of ECOTREKS! Whether we were making human s’mores, crammed in a lean-to waiting out a rain storm, getting me unstuck from tight spots while caving, or frying up fresh fish, it was all a blast. Each action packed adventure taught me more about how my actions affect other people and our world. I hope reaching the heights we did this summer showed you that each of you has the potential to achieve great things! I hope to see all of you back at this year's ECOTREK REUNION.

Also make sure you check out this years pictures!

2008-01-11T14:21:00.003-05:00

ECOTREKs Summer 2008!

This summer Baltimore Woods presents three different ECOTREKs, each an intense Adirondack adventure that will build character and inspire care for the wonderful environment that surrounds us. Whether teenagers are just starting to venture out on wilderness adventure treks, or are experienced in the ways of the wilderness we have an ECOTREK for you!

Advance ECOTREK - Session 1 (July 7-11)
Five days in the Adirondacks filled with high ropes and caving adventures, and oh yeah, climbing to the top of NY'S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN, Mt. Marcy!

Über ECOTREK - Session 2 (July 19-25)
One night in Balitmore Woods, then for some surf & turf!
Surf = Three days on the classic canoe route up Long Lake and the Raquette River.
Turf= Three days backpacking into the Seward Range and tackling its four High Peaks!

ECOTREK - Sessions 3 & 4 (August 4-8 & August 11-15) One day at Baltimore Woods, four days in the Adirondacks on whitewater and backpacking adventures!

CLICK ON THE ECOTREK PASSPORT & TRAVEL GUIDE FOR MORE INFO!

EcoTrek Fall MiniTrek

2007-10-31T14:48:00.001-04:00

EcoTrekkers reunite! This fall's three day MiniTrek is a great way to meet up with fellow EcoTrekkers or try an EcoTrek for the first time. Learn primitive survival skills at Baltimore Woods and put them to use on an overnight trip into the Ha-de-ron-dah Wilderness near Old Forge, NY. Meet 9am Saturday at Baltimore Woods for a night spent here in The Woods, then venture into the Adirondacks and spend that second night in the wilderness. Monday, after a visit to Old Forge the MiniTrek wraps up back at Baltimore Woods. Click on the EcoTrek Passport link on this page to access the application form and pricing. Hope to see you all there!!

Journey on...

EcoThanks

2007-10-24T13:02:00.000-04:00

As Thanksgiving approaches, the EcoTrek leaders would like to give thanks to this year’s EcoTrekkers for another great summer of Adirondack adventures, and offer special thanks to those that helped restore the overlook on the Overlook Trail this summer. Baltimore Woods would also like to thank all who supported our EcoTrekkers. Eastern Mountain Sports in the Carousel Mall once again generously supported the EcoTrek, equipping teens to continue enjoying the outdoors for years to come. To give thanks to its CIT’s, Baltimore Woods is offering all who have CITed for at least one week, a $100 discount on next year’s EcoTreks. Also EcoTrekkers can look to continue enjoying Adirondack adventures on this November’s MiniTrek (Nov. 10-12), and be watching for updated details on next year’s EcoTreks.

Journey on…

Expanding EcoTreks

2007-09-12T09:40:00.000-04:00

This summer's expanded EcoTrek schedule offered first-time EcoTrekkers Adirondack whitewater and backpacking adventures while expanding returning EcoTrekkers’ experiences to include adventures on high ropes elements, spelunking and swimming in caves, and backpacking to the top of New York’s tallest mountain, Mt. Marcy. Keep checking the EcoTrek Epicenter for pictures and more information on the EcoTreks’ continually expanding schedule, including a chance to catch up with fellow EcoTrekkers at this fall’s EcoTrek Reunion.

Journey on…

Girls EcoTrek

2007-08-10T19:30:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately, the Girls EcoTrek for Aug. 13-17 has been cancelled due to low enrollment. Please join us next summer on another EcoTrek adventure, or even one of our weekend expeditions during the upcoming school year!

Welcome 2007 EcoTrekkers!

2007-06-25T13:07:00.000-04:00

Adirondack black bears are back up to full weight after their long winter nap, which must mean spring is over and summer is here, and with summer of course comes CNE's EcoTreks! ** side note - full weight for an average Adirondack black bear is just over 200 lbs., which is about what I weigh, so EcoTrekkers have nothing to fear, with Matt their fearless EcoTrek Leader near! **

All kidding aside (well maybe not quite all kidding aside), Matt and Mud have worked hard to process your applications, thanks again for all the thoughtful responses, and info packets, known as your EcoTrek Passports, have been sent out for the first EcoTrek week (July 9-13). If you didn't get one or have additional questions you can email me at kauffman.m@gmail.com. I look forward to meeting all these first time EcoTrekkers and your parents (at the 7pm informational meeting) on Monday July 9th!

Passports for the Advance EcoTreks will be going out this week, so soon enough you will be hit with an avalanche of legal release, medical, gear request, behavioral contract, and emergency contact forms. Get them in as soon as you can dig yourself out! And we'll be seeing you soon.

Journey on...

Application Deadline Extended!!!

2007-06-13T14:50:00.000-04:00

Friday June 15th is the last day to contact the CNE office about new applications for the summer of 2007. The only exception is the "Girls EcoTrek" August 13-17, we will be excepting applications for that week up until August 1st. Please download and send in your applications as soon as possible, and at least give us a call (315.673.1350) to let us know you plan on attending. Our Advance EcoTreks are near capacity, it's neat to see so many EcoTrekkers coming back!! And our first week of EcoTrek is fill up fast, so get those applications in!!

More info on this years EcoTreks, final itineraries, packing lists, contact numbers, and other info will be sent to you as soon as we process all 2007 applications. So be looking for you EcoTrek Passport Packet to be coming in the mail the week of June 18th.

Thanks for all your interest and support, we're looking forward to another exciting summer!

Journey on...

EcoTrek Info Meeting May 15th

2007-05-11T17:40:00.000-04:00

Past and perspective EcoTrekkers and their parents are invited to come to CNE's headquarters at Baltimore Woods Tuesday May 15th at 7pm to find out about the amazing opportunities this summer's EcoTrek presents. Applications, prizes, and refreshments provided. There have been a few changes in the way the Advanced EcoTrek will run as compared to last year's EcoTreks so please come on out so we can start prepping you for this years run at the highest point in the state!

Journey on...

Summer 2007 Teen EcoTreks Schedule

2007-03-16T15:00:00.000-04:00

Schedule

EcoTrek Session 1: July 9-13, 2007
Advance EcoTrek Session 2: July 23-27, 2007
Advance EcoTrek Session 3: August 6-10, 2007
Girls EcoTrek Session 4: August 13-17, 2007
EcoTrek Session 5: August 20-24, 2007

Click on EcoTrek Passport to register now and save!

Our Newest EcoTrekker

2007-02-02T00:37:00.000-05:00

Faith Mary Kauffman joined us on Jan. 5th!

Holla Back!

2006-11-06T10:34:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I know I'm still an old white dude, I'm just looking for some feedback, so holla, or write, or type, or call, or whatever, just get back to me on this...

Later this month the prices and dates for next years EcoTreks are going to be posted here at the EcoTrek Epicenter, and as CNE looks ahead to put these adventures together we want the advice of seasoned EcoTrekkers. Please comment on this post and let me know what you think about including the following activities (we can only end up doing one or two of these a week):

Rock Climbing

Spelunking (cave exploration)

Whitewater Tubing

High Ropes Course

If you had to pay for them yourself, what would you think about doing the following activities?

Whitewater kayaking (w/ a guide)

parasailing

Look Mom My Picture's in the Paper!

2006-11-01T00:17:00.000-05:00

Just a heads up as the November/December issue of CNE's newsletter "The Overlook" comes to your mailboxes this week. Check out the article on page 7. Some of you are even pictured alongside the article!

Keep checking in at this blog, we'll give you inside scoops like this as well as the first info available on early bird specials for next summers expanded schedule. We'll also be looking for EcoTrekker feedback as we shape these new programs for next summer, so please feel free to comment on any post or pictures shared here on this blog. Until next time, journey on...

NEW ECOTREK WEEK 1 PICTURES!

2006-09-29T13:21:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Bryan Stokes-Cawley we have new pictures of the fist week of the EcoTrek. After the rains subsided he got some sick nasty ;o) pictures! To enjoy these or any EcoTrek pictures, click the picture below or the link to your session in the "EcoTrek Pictures" section of the blog.

Week 1 Ecotrekers at the Slide Brook lean-to

EcoTrek Success

2006-08-09T03:00:00.000-04:00

Thanks again for making the first summer of Centers for Nature Education's EcoTreks a success! Jessica and I learned so much from the experience and I hope all our EcoTrekkers can say the same. Enjoy some of the pictures that we have at this point. More pictures of the first week should be posted shortly. Keep checking for updates as we look to expand our EcoTrek offerings next summer. We're looking for more extreme experiences (rock climbing, spelunking) and higher mountains! Journey on...

Thanks To First EcoTrekkers Ever!!

2006-07-31T15:46:00.000-04:00

What A Week!!
Our first EcoTrek group returned a little soggy, a little sore, but hopefully a little more wilderness savy too. The Adirondack Mountains threw all they had at this hardy group of teenagers, but also rewarded us all for persevering by providing beautiful views from the top of Dix Mt., the physical goal for the week. I believe the hardships we all had to overcome along the way only served to spur us on toward our mental and emotional goals as well. I learned how to be a better leader and steward of this earth's natural and human resources. I hope the EcoTrekkers can say they learned a lesson or two about the humbling power evident in nature, and how to be grateful for the simple comforts of home.

Unfortunately, due to the record rains we recieved as we headed into the wilderness, we didn't bring our digital camera with us :o( I know the memories of 12 wet people packed into an Adirondack lean-to, and the nearly perfect views the next day from the top of Dix Mt. will be captured by my minds eye better than any camera's images could. Hopefully these memories will also forever be in the minds of the first EcoTrekkers ever!

Special thanks to you guys and gals for your patience
and help, as well as the many lessons you taught
Jess and I as your EcoTrek Leaders. We hope you'll
be back next year for another ride in the Death Star!
Till then journey on...