Link-Up Week 1: Recap

We’ve officially finished our first link-up trip of this summer, to great success!  Beginning in the third year of the Mayhew Program, boys can participate in a five-day, adventure-based summer program.  Trips include canoeing, backpacking, biking, and nature and wilderness skills training.

The first group of Links arrived on at the Base House on Monday evening for a little bit of relaxation before a busy week. They had a dinner of chicken fried rice and a discussion about their goals and ambitions for the week’s trip. There were a lot of questions and excitement about our upcoming hike up Mt. Cardigan Thursday evening. We spent a bit of time brainstorming what the group may want to do with their Tuesday before the camping portion began. The group said they’d be interested in swimming and fishing but most importantly they requested to see a tank. After suggesting a trip to the aquarium, it became clear they were more interested in the kind of ‘tanks’ one could find at the Wright Museum of World War II.  

A Tuesday breakfast of French toast and bacon help kick off the day and we set off to the Wright Museum, where they spent their morning learning about the lives of Americans during the Second World War. Having an opportunity to check out some preserved military equipment was a major highlight. After the drive in the van back to Bristol, we decided the best way to beat the 99-degree weather was with a swim at Sculptured Rocks, where we enjoyed the cool water and the shade of the rocks and trees. That evening we joined the rest of the community on Mayhew Island for dinner and sharing memories of camp. We capped that day off with some more swimming in Newfound Lake, before going back to the base house to prepare for Wednesday’s canoe trip. 

We set out Wednesday after a great lunch of quesadillas and started paddling towards our campsite on Cliff Island at Wellington State Park. The Links made quick time getting there taking advantage of the calm waters and warm weather. And after the essential work of setting up camp was done, the group was able to enjoy the lake with some swimming and fishing. Into the evening, the group reflected upon their time in the program and discussed leadership traits. One topic that resonated with the group was how lions behave in the wild and how their mentality makes them king of the jungle. This helped focus the group's discussion around achieving and setting new goals and mentally prepared us for the upcoming hike. 

In the morning, the Links paddled back and welcomed with a precooked lunch from our executive director and office staff. We prepared for the hike up to the AMC Mt. Cardigan High Cabin, the Links refueled with multiple servings of Peter’s (Mayhew ED) curry rice. With dark clouds we were fully prepared for a hike in the rain, but luckily the rain passed just before we started our ascent, and by the time we were able to summit, it had cleared enough to give a great view of the sunset. Settling into High Cabin for the evening, the Links were able to kick back, enjoy a pasta dinner, and play games late into the night, before falling asleep to a reading from Hemmingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. 

Friday morning the Links woke up one at a time to the smell of the fresh pancakes that would sustain them for the hike back down. Making quick work of packing their gear and descending the mountain, we were lucky enough to run into a group of two cabins of boys from Mayhew Island (Up Dog, and the Sour Snappers) about to start their own ascent up the mountain and for many of them this was their first time. While their hike was just beginning, we were able to swim in the chilly spring waters at Welton Falls before finishing the week at the Base House.