By Susan Miller, Director of Marketing/Communications

Here’s what it’s like to prepare for most typical, modern-day, week-long vacations: We assemble a variety of comfy and dressy clothes in neat piles, making sure we have the right shoes to go with our outfits. We grab an extra suitcase if we’re feeling indulgent. We stash our credit cards and extra cash and plan to splurge on meals and such. We pack the bare essentials for grooming and beautifying; safely assuming that our climate-controlled hotel will provide the basic necessities like soap, shampoo, towels, hair dryers along with clean bathrooms, beds with soft sheets, big screen TVS, WiFi and room service. We make sure to include power cords for our assorted electronic gadgets, and then off we go – usually in the comfort of a plane, train or automobile.

This is definitely not the case for our intrepid Rangers, who, this week boarded a school bus and headed out on a Boots & Boats trip, hiking the Appalachian Trail and canoeing the Delaware River. Instead of fashionable outfits, these teens (boys and girls, ages 14-16) packed a minimum of wick-able clothing, wool socks and sturdy, worn-in boots. They’re hauling their stuff in backpacks, along with sleeping bags, tents and

the food and utensils they will need for the week. They aren’t concerned with make-up and hair products this week; they surely are concerned about having adequate sunblock, bug spray and bandages for blisters. They didn’t bother to pack fluffy towels; they won’t be showering until they get back to camp at the end of their trip. (And, boy, will that shower feel good!) They’ll be lucky if any of the camp sites have privies or pit toilets. (Have no fear … all of our Rangers learn the art of taking care of “business” outside, using the Leave No Trace principle.) While their leaders will carry cell phones in case of emergency, none of the campers will have access to electronics while on the trip. It’s kind of hard to imagine being so blissfully disconnected in this day and age!

On the Wednesday before their trip, the teens were super excited as they prepped the food they would need to bring. With guidance from our amazing kitchen staffers, campers chopped vegetables, created snack packs, bagged hot dogs, rice and other staples – all the stuff they will need to survive in the wilderness for a week. I so can’t wait to hear about their trip when they get back. I’ll keep you posted!