AMC Expands Winter Family Outdoor Programs

TUESDAY, 28 OCTOBER 2008
Submitted By: Sherwin Mapanoo

The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is extending its newly introduced family weekend series throughout this upcoming winter, to include adding one of its Maine Woods lodges to a choice of other locations in New Hampshire. AMC's weeklong family camp, being offered for the first time in winter this year, will also expand on the variety of programs especially for families during the February school vacation weeks.

A full season of AMC's guided, family-friendly experiences will range from a naturalist-led overnight trip in the backcountry at an AMC hut, introducing older families to four-season hiking, to a winter family camp week of snowshoe walks, snow shelter building, cross-country ski tours, and dog-sled rides for kids ages five-12 in the comfort of a lodge setting. Along with a specially planned mix of activities, guided nature hikes and naturalist workshops are part of each program.

Snowshoes are available for guests to borrow at AMC's New Hampshire lodges, plus there is free use of L.L. Bean gear at Highland Lodge, making it easier for families to get outdoors together. All of AMC's lodges and huts are located in or near National Forests, State Parks, or other forest areas, with access to many miles of hiking, snowshoe, and ski trails surrounded by diverse natural habitats for wildlife watching.

Visit AMC's Winter Planning Guide for more details, including information about a new health and wellness weekend series, Ski & Stay packages, and other deals – www.outdoors.org/winterguide.

All families are welcome to join winter family weekends and school vacation week activities, designed for kids ages five and older, unless otherwise noted.

Winter Family Weekend Series

December 12-14; January 30-February 1; February 27-March 1 at Joe Dodge Lodge, White Mountains, NH
Spend the weekend snowshoeing, animal tracking, building a snow shelter, and drinking hot cocoa in the shadow of Mt. Washington, all while making new friends and getting winter tips and techniques from AMC experts.

December 12-14 at Highland Lodge, White Mountains, NH
Get in the holiday spirit at AMC's sixth annual Gingerbread Weekend. Festivities will kick off with a demonstration about baking and building a gingerbread house, followed by a friendly decorating competition among families with prizes for the top gingerbread house creations. A holiday party, holiday crafts, gingerbread cookie decorating, and guided walks and hikes with an AMC adventure guide will round out the weekend's activities.

January 16-19; February 14-16 at Medawisla Wilderness Camps, Moosehead Lake Region, ME
Take advantage of the long Martin Luther King Jr. and President’s Day weekends to snowshoe or cross-country ski with a naturalist in the Maine Woods. Listen for the calls of owls on a winter evening, and the next day look for tracks and signs of wildlife in the snow while hearing about seasonal adaptations of the area's snowshoe hare, moose, deer, and lynx. Gathered around a campfire the second night, stargaze under the crystal clear winter sky. Private cabins with wood stoves make toasty retreats following a day on the trails. Activities intended for families with kids ages 8 and older.

February School Vacation Weeks
February 16-20, Winter Fun for Families at Cardigan Lodge, Lakes Region, NH
Exclusively offered this week, guided outdoor adventures and indoor programs will introduce Cardigan Lodge, a quiet road’s-end destination long popular with families in summer, to a taste of winter. The lodge’s sledding hill is a favorite for thrill rides, and families can choose from a variety of daily activities that will include learning to snowshoe, easy to moderate snowshoe hikes in the lower valleys and near the summit of Mt. Cardigan, skating on the lodge’s pond, building different snow shelters, and competing in a three-legged snowshoe race. Nightly rates, including meals and lodging, start at $71 per person, plus taxes, for adult non-members ($46 for child non-members). Stay four nights, get the fifth free. A similar line-up of daily activities will be offered at AMC's Highland Lodge and Joe Dodge Lodge throughout this vacation week.

February 16-18, Lodge-to-Hut Winter Family Adventure, Joe Dodge Lodge, White Mountains, NH
Especially for families with kids ages 10 and older, this naturalist-led tour will provide a unique opportunity to explore less-traveled, snow-covered trails and stay overnight in the backcountry at AMC’s Carter Notch Hut, part of AMC’s hut system. Learn about winter ecology in the White Mountains while fine-tuning snowshoe techniques and following animal tracks. Package rates, including meals and two-nights lodging, start at $207, plus taxes, for adult non-members ($134 for child non-members).

February 22-27, Family Adventure Camp at Highland Lodge, White Mountains, NH
A new addition, AMC's winter family camp will provide a sampler of activities to take full advantage of the season’s best, including guided cross-country skiing, snow shelter building, dog-sled rides, ice skating, snowshoe tours, ice climber viewing tours, and sledding. Package rates, including meals and 5-nights lodging, start at $690 plus taxes, for non-members ($340 for child non-members). Cross-country ski pass also included.

Rates and reservations
Winter family weekend package rates vary by location and start at $155, plus taxes, per person for adult non-members ($145 for members) and $85 per child for non-members ($84 for members) ages 12 and under. Lodging and all meals are included (except lunches during Gingerbread Weekend). February school vacation package rates vary as indicated above.

All starting at package rates at Highland Lodge, Joe Dodge Lodge, and Cardigan Lodge include private bunkroom accommodations with shared bath for up to six people, use of snowshoes, and guided programs and instruction. Private rooms with private baths and family rooms are available for an additional charge. At Medawisla Wilderness Camps, rates include accommodations in private cabins, guided programs, and instruction. Guests must provide their own snowshoes or cross-country skis. For reservations, call (603) 466-2727.

Families can take advantage of the discounted member rate by purchasing the $75 annual family membership.

Source: www.outdoors.org

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