TA News

An adventure is an exciting, fun, and often brave journey – a challenge to try something new. In the TOP Summer Leadership Program, every trip is designed to be adventure. These multi-day programs push students out of their comfort zones, teach critical outdoor and survival skills, and foster student leadership and collaboration.

TOP Summer Leadership offered three distinct experiences this year, some included service projects, others traveled miles of wilderness, and all build new friendships and lasting memories.

• This year’s trail crew spent the week putting the finishing touches on Thetford Academy’s new Panther Pride Disc Golf Course. They built T boxes, removed brush, installed new trails and signs, restored old stone walls, and added a little art to this new recreation resource at TA.
  
• On the Connecticut River canoe trip, students paddled 50 miles from Wells River, VT to Wilder, VT. Along the way they camped at primitive campsites, fished, shared meals, managed challenging weather, and developed new friendships.
  
• This year’s backpacking trip included a 30 mile hike from Glencliff, NH to Lyme, NH along the Appalachian Trail. Students left “trail magic” for thru hikers, summited three major mountains, overcame challenges as a team, and bonded as a community.  

All of these experiences were screen and cell phone free to give the students the opportunity to disconnect and authentically interact with each other and nature. The goals of the TOP Summer Leadership programs are safety, leadership, and fun. Not only were these goals met, they were exceeded by a great group of students who chose to go on an adventure this summer.