Link Up Week 4: Recap

Our fourth group of Links arrived last Monday! Beginning in the third year at Mayhew, boys can participate in a five-day, adventure-based summer program.  Trips include canoeing, backpacking, and nature and wilderness skills training.  We discussed our plans for the week over a group dinner of chili and played a few games before preparing for Tuesday.

Tuesday morning the Links woke up to a delicious breakfast of French toast, fruit & bacon, we hiked the Lower Manning Trail that starts from AMC Cardigan Lodge in Alexandria and leads down to Welton Falls. The total distance from the lodge to the falls is roughly 2.4‑miles round trip. The group was thrilled to swim and find salamanders near the falls. They even saw signs of a recent moose as they discovered fresh moose scat along the trail!

Upon coming back from Welton Falls, we joined the second session campers out on Mayhew Island for a dinner of sloppy joes. The group had the opportunity to introduce themselves and share memories of which cabins they had been in while on the island. After dinner, the group headed to Sculptured Rocks, in Groton for another relaxing evening of swimming. Afterwards, we wrapped up the day with a group debrief & discussion of what to expect for Wednesday's canoe trip. After planning, the Links enjoyed their nightly reading of Holes by Louis Schafer.

Breakfast burritos were then served Wednesday morning as the group packed up and embarked for an overnight stay on the South End of Cliff Island, on Newfound Lake. The total distance from the Mayhew docks to the campsite made for an impressive 6-mile round trip paddle. The evening wrapped up with s’mores, some impressive fishing with one really impressive small mouth bass being caught! That evening the group once again debriefed around the campfire and reflected upon the day.

Thursday morning, the boys packed exceptionally well and were out on the water making our way back by 10am. We were welcomed back to the base house with broccoli & bacon quiches made by our Executive Director Peter! The Links then swapped gear and headed out for a hike up Mount Cardigan, in Alexandria just before dusk. It took us around an hour and 45 minutes to hike up to the AMC hut. After enjoying some snacks for all of our hard work, the group decided to see the summit as it is only a short 20-minute walk from the hut. Following the trip to the summit, the group went stargazing, spotting a few meteors and enjoyed a hot meal of Mac & Cheese. They ended the night with their nightly reading of Holes.

The group was ready for our descent Friday morning after a hearty breakfast of pancakes. We then returned to the base house to clean up and have some down time playing pool, playing basketball, and watching the movie, Holes! The Links enjoyed the week and expressed gratitude, as always!