What is the itinerary?
Getting Started: We’ll start at camp and spend a day building our cohort and preparing for our adventure!
Part 1: Wilderness Experience: We’ll head to the Adirondacks for a week of living in the backcountry wilderness. Here we will ground in our community and nature-based values, deepening our connection with self and spirituality. We’ll canoe to a backcountry wilderness campsite, cook our own food over the fire, swim, stargaze, fish, and explore the beautiful wilderness of the Adirondacks Lakes region. Teens will define and create for themselves a meaningful Shabbat experience rooted in tradition, Eden Village magic, and the stunning backdrop of the Adirondack wilderness.
Part 2: Montreal Adventure: Then the group will hit the road for a week in the city of Montreal! Discovering how we can find and create Eden Village magic in ourselves and all around us, we’ll explore the historic Jewish communities, foodways, and modern cultural experiences that Montreal has to offer. All the while, we’ll be singing, dancing, angel-walking and love pranking our way through the streets of this vibrant city. We’ll spend our second Shabbat in the city.
Week 3: At Camp: After our many adventures we will re-immerse ourselves at camp for a final few days and Shabbat, sharing the stories and lessons we’ve learned and enjoying the sweetness of being surrounded by our broader community. Teens will participate in some regular camp programming as well as tribe-specific activities.
What if I have no canoeing or camping experience? How rigorous is the trip?
Teens do not need any prior experience to participate in this program. It is designed to support campers who have never been camping, challenge expert wilderness adventurers, and engage everyone in-between. The trip is full of challenge-by-choice moments and is designed to be accessible to a wide range of people. Participants need to be able to carry their backpacks with all of their belongings on their own, help paddle a two person canoe, and be willing and ready to sleep outside and have no bathroom or running water for a week.
Who leads the wilderness trip?
We partner with Destination Backcountry, a local wilderness guide service we have been working with since we started this trip in 2021. They provide certified wilderness guides familiar with the area who join our group, keep everyone safe, and provide epic knowledge and experience to our team!
Is this trip for my camper?
We strive to make this trip as accessible as possible. Our hope is that most campers who have grown up at Eden Village are able and excited to participate in this program. However, due to the nature of the travel and backcountry components of the trip, we are not able to provide the same level of support as at camp. If your child has a food allergy, dietary restriction, health condition, mental health or behavioral support need, please read more in our trip participation and support guidelines and be in touch with us to discuss their individual needs and whether this trip is the right fit for your child.
Will I hear from my camper while they’re on the trip?
While on the trip, teens will not be able to write home as they normally do during their time at camp. Instead, we will be writing email updates to all families throughout the trip providing updates on the group and their adventures. If an issue arises with your child during the program, we will be in touch with you directly.
What does my camper need to pack?
Packing for this program is not like packing for camp. We provide very detailed instructions to make sure everyone has what they need. All participants will need a hiking backpack (45-65 liters) to pack in, a sleeping bag, and sleeping pad as well as a few smaller camping items like water bottles, a headlamp, water sandals, etc. The rest of the camping gear will be provided by camp. If you don’t have a backpack, sleeping bag, or sleeping pad, please be in touch with us about borrowing something from camp. You can see a detailed packing list here.
Will the trip spend time at camp?
Yes! The trip will start and end at camp, spending a few days at camp on either end of the trip.
Is the trip kosher and shabbat friendly?
Yes! The trip is fully kosher and supportive of traditional shabbat practice. While in the wilderness teens will learn about how to keep shabbat in the woods and set up an eruv around our campsite. In Montreal we will kasher our kitchen and get to taste some of Montreal’s kosher treats!