Camps of The Aloha Foundation

2968 Lake Morey Road, Fairlee, Vermont 05045 | 802-333-3400

Adult Adventures

Lynn Daly, Registrar

Since 1978, the Hulbert Outdoor Center has provided unique wilderness opportunities to people of all ages. Trips have included backpacking, canoeing, rock-climbing and back-country skiing throughout New England, eastern New York State, and Canada.

We believe that individuals learn best when they experience things directly -- that thoughtful reflection on powerful experiences, coupled with guidance from caring leaders, produces lasting, postive growth. Participants in Hulbert trips will make new friends, learn life-long skills, and take home memories of beautiful wilderness areas, along with the satisfaction of challenges well-met. All accomplish more than they ever thought possible.

Hulbert Outdoor Center, which served nearly 6,000 people last year, considers its mission to enable people to enrich and change their lives, their communities, and the world around them through experiential education programs, including:

Intergenerational Canoe Trip to Maine's Rangeley Lakes

Elderhostel Canoe Trip to Maine's Rangeley Lakes

Northern Issues Trips

Family Canoe Trips

Camp to Camp Backcountry Skiing in the Maine Woods

Camp to Camp Backcountry Skiing in the Maine Woods

 February 21-26, 2010

The Maine wilderness is renowned for its scenery, wildlife and deep snow! The Moosehead Lake Region of Northern Maine is a special environment with thousands of acres of undeveloped land. It is an ideal location for this exciting backcountry ski trip. Join Hulbert Outdoor Center Director, Andy Williams and ski with a small group along newly completed trails and old logging roads. A warm cabin awaits you each night with a home-cooked meal.

 Our trip begins and ends in Greenville, Maine, however; skiers may opt to take the Hulbert Outdoor Center van from Fairlee, Vermont. AMC’s recently purchased Medawisla Camp, a traditional sporting camp north of Greenville, Maine will be our starting point. A hot home-cooked dinner will be waiting for us. After a good night’s sleep in a warm cabin we will have a hearty breakfast and start out for a full day ski. Our destination will be the historic West Branch Pond Camps, where we will spend two nights. Eric Stirling, fourth generation camp owner, will tell stories of growing up in a traditional sporting camp while we enjoy his tasty dinner. Spend the next day exploring the area on skis or just relaxing by the fire. From West Branch Pond Camp we ski to AMC’s Little Lyford Pond Camps for our final two days of skiing and exploring. 
 
Equipment will be transported, and skiers need only carry personal gear needed for the day. This trip is designed for skiers with intermediate level knowledge and experience in backcountry skiing. Trails are broken, but not groomed. Average length of a ski between camps is 7-13 miles.
 
There will be ample time for natural history, tracking and photography. Learn about the history of the great Maine woods and the current initiatives to save this unique wilderness from significant development pressures.
 
Rate: $860.00 includes 5 nights lodging, meals, transport of 1 duffel and leadership/guide. Extra costs include Hulbert Outdoor Center van ($50), van travel meals, and unexpected weather-related lodging while traveling to or from Maine. A portion of the tuition will be donated to AMC’s Maine Woods Initiative.
 
 
 
 

Family Canoe Trips

Canoe-camping adventures for the entire family. One-week and weekend programs available. For more information visit Family Canoe Trips on our website.

Rangeley Lakes Canoe Camping Trip for Families

August 8-14, 2010

You are cordially invited to a Hulbert Outdoor Center canoe-camping trip. Experience the joy of waking to the call of a loon after a peaceful night’s sleep at the edge of a serene lake in the beautiful Rangeley Lakes Region of Western Maine. Enjoy the natural world at a leisurely pace, while exploring this protected area via canoe. You can relax, make new friends, and enjoy time that is often lost in the hectic pace of everyday living.

This trip is fully outfitted and includes transportation, canoes, cooking gear, group equipment, instruction, delicious food, and lots of good, safe adventure. Participants will provide personal gear and their sleeping bags and pads. Hulbert has sleeping bags and pads for rent if needed. Accommodations, while on our trip, are in two-person tents provided by Hulbert Outdoor Center. We will canoe to a different campsite each day.

This trip will be led by a Maine Guide, and an experienced Hulbert Outdoor Center Instructor. Our group of 6-10 will be from a variety of backgrounds.  The trip is a moderate one as we will canoe every day and set up camp each afternoon. The trip begins and ends at the Hulbert Outdoor Center in Fairlee, Vermont.

Registration Form

Itinerary

Equipment List

Bibliography

General Information

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Northern Issues Trips

Trips that combine adventure with the unique opportunity for emersion in communities and cultures of the far North. Whether learning about the ancient, woodland-dwelling Cree people of Quebec, Canada, or investigating the collapse of the cod fishery along the coast of Newfoundland, participants will have the opportunity to interact with the people and learn about their relationship with the land.

Cree Culture in Northern Quebec—Adventures for Snow Walkers
March 13-24, 2010

Adults who are active and enjoy camping are invited to travel with staff from Hulbert Outdoor Center in Fairlee, Vermont, to Northern Quebec, to learn more about the ancient Cree culture. The group will be based in the newly created village of Ouje Bougoumou, a community which strives to use the best of both traditional culture and the modern world. Ouje Bougoumou has been recognized as a model aboriginal community by the United Nations. We will travel, by foot and snowshoe, to a bush camp with the family of Anna and Dave Bosum, our Cree hosts. In the beauty and quiet of the bush we will learn the traditional skills from Elders who live off the land as their ancestors have for thousands of years. We will experience the stunning and wild beauty of Northern Quebec in the late winter. Our group will stay in traditional prospector-style wall tents with woodstoves and floors of spruce boughs. The nature of this trip demands participants to be physically active, flexible and adaptive, since traveling in the North is sometimes unpredictable. Weather and time schedules occasionally leave us open for unexpected adventure and wonderful opportunities.

Our group of 7-10 will be from a variety of backgrounds, but all will be students of life. The trip will begin and end in Ouje Bougoumou. However, participants who want to travel as a group may choose to take the Hulbert 15 passenger van from Fairlee to Ouje Bougoumou. Participants also have the option of meeting us in Quebec City or Chibougoumou. Participants are responsible for meals during travel to and from the village whiich usually is under $35 USD. The Center and the Bosums will provide all camping gear except sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and personal equipment. Sleeping bags and pads may be rented from Hulbert Outdoor Center. The trip is moderately demanding, since the schedule is full and we are snowshoeing and walking. As with all Hulbert trips, your health care provider must sign your health form. Cost: $1,500 (US Funds), plus travel meals($30.) Cost includes transportation to Ouje Bougoumou, lodging, food, camping equipment, Hulbert leadership, Deb Williams & Hans Carlson, and Cree guides, Anna & Dave Bosum.

Registration Form

Bibliography

Itinerary

General Information

BROCHURE

     

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Northern Issues Canoe Trip - James Bay Region-Quebec

Cree Culture in Transition: Forestry and Sustainable Cree Culture

2010 dates to be determined.

Hulbert Outdoor Center's Northern Issues Trip to the James Bay Region of Northern Quebec, is a unique opportunity to spend time in an indigenous society that is struggling to maintain its traditional culture while contending with the ever-increasing pressures of resource extraction on its land. Group will travel to Quebec where we will examine forestry operations, visit two Cree villages, and then proceed by canoe along a traditional bush camp route in the company of Anna and David Bosum, a Cree family. By investigating current social and economic issues facing the village, as well as experiencing the traditional Cree lifestyle in the bush, students gain insight into the complexities of social and economic development facing an indigenous Canadian community. Time will be spent in two Cree villages, Waswanapi, site of the Cree Model Forest and Ouje Bougouomou, a new village which strives to use the best of both their traditional culture and the modern world for sustainability. Ouje Bougoumou has been recognized by the United Nations as a model aboriginal community.

Participants in this course will be from a variety of backgrounds. There will be a maximum of 6 participants and two leaders in this group. Participants must have some canoe camping experience. Travel by van, will start and end in Fairlee, VT. The nature of this trip demands participants who are flexible and adaptive, since traveling in the North is sometimes unpredictable. However, weather and native time schedules occasionally leave us open for unexpected adventure, and wonderful opportunities.

Hulbert Outdoor Center and the Bosum Family of Ouje Bougoumou will provide all camping gear except sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and personal equipment. A very detailed equipment list will follow should you decide to join us. The trip is moderately demanding, since the schedule is full and we will be canoeing and camping.

Total cost of the trip including credits is $1,200. It will include transportation, food, camping equipment, leadership, Cree guides and canoes. Travel expenses will include 2 meals enroute amounting to about $50 US. Upon receipt of your deposit, a confirmation packet with detailed information, background reading, equipment list, etc will be sent.

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Intergenerational Canoe Trip      August 8-14, 2010

Grandparents and grandchildren paddle across Maine's Rangeley Lakes through our Elderhostel program.

Be apart of a unique opportunity that let’s you spend quality time with your grandchild while canoeing on the Rangeley Lakes in Maine. Wake to the call of loons, sleep on the edge of beautiful wild lakes. Enjoy the natural world at a leisurely pace while you and your grandchild learn camping and canoeing skills for a safe and memorable trip. You and your grandchild will relax, make new friends and spend that special time together that is often lost in the hectic pace of everyday living. Sleep in tents and learn the art of outdoor cooking. During the trip there will be ample time for natural history observations: bird watching, astronomy, and animal habitats.This trip is fully outfitted and includes transportation, canoes, cooking gear, group equipment, instruction, delicious food and lots of good safe adventure…all provided by the capable staff of Hulbert Outdoor Center. To register contact Elderhostel, Inc.

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Maine's Rangeley Lakes Wilderness Canoe Camping for Women

Exploritas/Elderhostel for active women - new this year

September 5-11, 2010

Explore, by canoe, one of Western Maine's historic and natural treasures, the Rangeley Lakes. The region encompasses 110 lakes and streams, thousands of acres of wild forests and mountains, and a beauty and peace that is extraordinary. It is a place where the Abenaki set up summer camps for the abundant wildlife; moose, bald eagles, osprey, beaver, trout and landlocked salmon are common sights. The rich historic traditions of logging and fishing which contribute to the legends of the past and the economy of today, are still reflected in the character of the landscape and its people.

We will paddle to lakeside campsites, set up camp, cook tasty meals and sleep in comfortable roomy tents. Baking clinics and other woods skills will be taught by patient and experienced trip leaders. Participants will receive instruction in paddling techniques and wilderness trip planning. Tents, stoves, canoes, cooking gear and a gorgeous setting is provided by Hulbert Outdoor Center.

This unique trip is designed for 10 intermediate canoeists who have some knowledge of camping. Enjoy the natural world around you as you wake to the call of a loon or watch the moonrise over Lake Mooselookmeguntic. First and last night at Hulbert Outdoor Center. Transportation provided to Maine. During four nights of camping, we sleep two people per roomy tent. Clean outhouses while canoe camping. The Rangeley Lakes are rich in human and natural history. Time permitting we will visit a small local museum in Rangeley, Maine. Hostelers may purchase fishing licenses in Rangeley as well. 

Registration Form

Itinerary

Equipment List

Bibliography


Custom Trips

Custom canoe, hiking, snowshoe or backcountry skiing trips can be designed especially for you and your group or your family. Just give us a call at 802-333-3400 or complete the Send Me More Information form!