By Krissy Navrat, Expeditionary Programs Manager
Last Sunday, our first teen expedition group of the summer wrapped up their two-week kayak adventure. Champlain Discovery is a kayak expedition that journeys from the southern tip of Lake Champlain in Whitehall, NY and travels all the way to the Canadian border.
We had an amazing journey with this year’s expedition group, and we wanted to share their trip diary with you, courtesy of our trip leaders, Viva and Gabe, and participants. Scroll down to read through the highlights of this trip!
Tuesday, July 9, 2024:
Champlain Discovery is officially underway! This trip started at the Museum and our first day was filled with lots of training, getting to know one another, and getting familiar with our kayaks. We spent most of the day on the water, practicing paddling techniques and wet exit rescues. We ended the first day with a quick paddle on Lake Champlain to explore the palisades in New York. The group camped at the Museum for our first night, we feasted on homemade pizzas followed up with some s’mores and a good night’s sleep before we start the journey.
This morning, the Museum team dropped our group, gear, and kayaks off at South Bay ramp in Whitehall, New York. The group was chatty, smiling, and very excited to get on the water for their first day of the expedition. Once we got all the kayaks loaded up, we took a few quick group pictures, and we set off! Our current plan is to make it to Adirondack Cove by Friday evening. On Saturday morning, we’ll receive a resupply from the Museum team while we’re camped in Adirondack Cove.
Friday, July 12, 2024:
The Champlain Discovery trip is doing great so far on their expedition! While there were big storms and flooding in Vermont this week, we have not had a problem with the rain.
On day two, we made it to our campsite at Chipman’s Point earlier than expected. This gave us plenty of time to set up camp, stay dry, and prepare for the incoming storms. The trip leaders communicate with local weather services, meteorologists, and the Museum team daily to get the most reliable and quick weather updates. We’re making great time despite the rain and the group’s morale has been amazing.
Over the past few days, we have kayaked around sail boats and took time on land to play cards while we let our gear dry out. On every expedition, we bring along a High/Low Bag for the group. The High/Low bag is a mystery bag that usually contains special treats and fun goodies, duct taped to conceal the insides. The group decides when they want to open the bag which can be at their highest high or their lowest low. The group made the decision to open the bag to keep spirits high during the storms!
Monday, July 15, 2024:
We’re officially on day 8 of Champlain Discovery! Can’t believe it’s already been a full week of kayaking. We’re having a great time out on the water.
We got a visit from the Museum team on Saturday for a resupply and hearty breakfast of fresh eggs, ham, toast, and strawberries. They also brought along some extra surprises for this intrepid group including ingredients for s’mores, brownies, Gatorade, and even some soda!
Despite their many days of rain, this group has found ways to stay motivated and determined along their journey through Lake Champlain. They have kept their gear dry, and they’ve made great progress in their expedition so far. We can’t wait to see the north end of the lake and we’re already talking about ways to make the final leg of the trip extra special.
Friday, July 19, 2024:
We’re nearing the end of our two-week kayaking journey on Lake Champlain! Things are going really well and it looks like we’ll have nice weather for the final leg. The views in this region of the lake are beautiful and the group is having fun on the water admiring the Adirondack views and practicing forming a “pod,” as well as continuing to play games, checking the map, and having fun around the campfire each evening on land.
When it comes to fun, something that stands out on this trip are the activities we’ve been doing to entertain our minds when on the water. Kayaking can get a little repetitive sometimes, especially in open water, it feels as if you are not moving anywhere. For entertainment, we’ve been going through countless riddles! Some have been annoying, some funny, and some extremely frustrating. To my surprise, many of the best riddles have come from the kids, and many left me stumped, asking for countless hints. My favorite riddles so far have involved the whole group: “What can I bring to the picnic? If my water bottle is a banana, is my pfd one too?” It’s all about catching onto the trend and many of these riddles have turned into inside jokes through out the trip.
Monday, July 22, 2024:
Champlain Discovery has officially come to a close, and we can’t believe what an amazing trip it has been!
Despite storms and soaring humid temps, this group managed to make the most of their time out on Lake Champlain. In true positive form, the group decided that to mark the final morning of the trip they wanted to wake up early and paddle into the sunrise. They were rewarded with a stunning sunrise and a rainbow before we set off to “touch” Canada. What a great way to end an amazing expedition! It was terrific paddling into our pickup spot at Sandy Point where all their families and the Museum team were waiting. Truly a celebratory final day.
