Glossary of Terms for Teen Wilderness

Appalachian Trail - This footpath, connecting Georgia to Maine, runs through the White Mountain National Forest and western Maine. Many teens hike a small part of it on their program's backpacking section. (See also features and other details about the AT.)

Camping Locations - During backpacking sections, teens camp in several different places: managed backcountry campsites, which have a caretaker, wooden platforms for tent pitching, and a composting toilet; an impacted area, which doesn't have "amenities" but is appropriate to set up camp off trail; and "pristine" sites where no one has camped before and hopefully no one will ever camp again to help protect the area. Teens learn Leave No Trace skills and ethics on all trips so they can make wise decisions in the backcountry.

Debriefing - About once a day, the group of teens discusses how the trip is going. This exercise — somewhat structured in format - is critical to keeping communications open. It also provides a comfortable environment to share thoughts, concerns, and feelings with others. Instructors have many ways to facilitate these debriefings, and some groups even devise creative names such as "snarfels" to describe this beneficial activity.

Drinking Water - When teens are not near a potable water source, they fill water bottles at streams, springs, or other natural water sources. Iodine tablets are used to purify the water for safe drinking. Staying hydrated is vital in the backcountry, so we fill up every chance we get. Each participant carries at least two quart-size water bottles.

Equipment and Packing - Participating teens are provided with a list of clothing and equipment for the trip. The AMC provides all the group gear, such as tents, cooking equipment, and food, as well as the technical gear needed for the paddling, rock climbing, and mountain biking program sections. We ask participants to supply their own personal gear, such as backpacks, hiking boots, sleeping bags, clothing, and water bottles. (We offer a very limited supply of some of these items for participants to borrow.) On the first day of every trip, the instructors will review the equipment to be sure teens have the proper gear.

Food Drops - On average, the group of teens won't carry more than about five days of food at a time. To have fresh food when they are on the trail longer, the instructors will schedule a food drop. The group will meet a van at a designated location where a trail crosses a road. There they pick up fresh food and dispose of trash.

Leader of the Day - On the Leadership Training Program and the Ultimate Expedition, teens each have a chance to lead the group for the day. The leader makes decisions with any necessary guidance from instructors, and deals with at least one scenario about something that might go wrong on a trip. At the end of the day, the leader is given feedback from the instructors and the rest of the group to help develop and improve leadership skills.

Leave No Trace - This national education program is designed to teach people about how to recreate responsibly in the outdoors. Leave No Trace skills and ethics are taught on all Teen Wilderness Adventure courses and incorporated into all group decisions in the backcountry. When possible, we try to share this ethic with those we encounter on our trips.

Lightning Drill - One of the inherent risks of enjoying the outdoors is dealing with storms. In order to minimize the danger of a lightning storm, teens practice several precautions, such as getting off the water if paddling or taking appropriate cover if on the trail.

Portage - During canoe trips, teens sometimes must carry the boats and gear across an area of land to get from one lake to another. Most trips do one short portage, and a few trips do two.

Rock Climbing - On the first day of the three-day rock climbing section of a trip, the group stops at the International Mountain Climbing School headquarters in North Conway to meet their climbing guide and get gear — helmet, harness, and climbing shoes. Then the teens head to the nearby Cathedral Ledge area to learn about belays, rope systems, and climbing techniques. At the end of the day, they return to their campground to eat, relax, and debrief. On the third day of the rock climbing program, the group splits into small groups, each with an IMCS guide, to do a multi-pitch climb (multiple rope lengths). If it rains, teens use an indoor climbing gym in North Conway instead.

Small Group Expedition - This component of the Leadership Training Program and the Ultimate Expedition occurs at the end of the trip. The group of teens splits and both small groups plan a three-night backpacking trip. The participants put to use all they have learned to plan their route, order their food, and pack their equipment. The groups head in different directions with one of the instructors "shadowing" them, that is, hiking or camping less than a quarter mile behind the group. In this way, the small group of teens practices the leadership skills they have been developing but as a self-sufficient group. Yet, they know that the instructor is right behind them if they need help. On the last night of the trip, the two groups and the two instructors rejoin for a final evening together.

Transition Day - On trips that include more than one activity (e.g. backpacking and canoeing), the group will have a "transition day" when they switch from one activity to another. We might stop back at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center where the trip began or go meet a resupply van. The group gathers food for the next section of the trip and exchanges appropriate gear. For example, a group transitioning from backpacking to canoeing will be picked up in a van at a trailhead, repackage a few boxes of food, exchange their backpacks for waterproof dry-bags and repack their gear. They will be outfitted with personal floatation devices (life vests) and paddles, and help pack their gear onto the canoe trailer. Then they'll be dropped off at the lakes for their paddling adventure. Transition days can be a bit hectic, but with everyone cooperating, the group can get back to the woods quickly to continue the adventure.

Wilderness First Aid - This three-day course is a component of the Leadership Training Program and the Ultimate Expedition within Teen Wilderness Adventures. An important part of becoming a competent outdoor leader is having the first-aid knowledge to handle emergencies in the backcountry. Scenarios play a key role in this course to get hands-on practice. Upon successful completion of this section the participants in the Leadership course will get a WFA certification from SOLO, one of the leading organizations specializing in wilderness medicine.