Our Logistical Geniuses at Work!


Our CT Youth Excellence Crew on the Bigelow Trip!

Our 8-Day Signature Destination Trip to the Bigelow Mountains of Maine
requires a LOT of preparation!















On this Expedition, the crew spends Day One on the road, backpacks for three days, then transitions to canoeing for three days. They spend the eighth day on the road home. As you can imagine, this requires a LOT of gear. It also involves a lot of food and thoughtful planning about when they need what and how they will get it! Liza, our Program Director, and Aimee, our Lead Instructor, spent weeks working all of this out. From plotting on maps to writing up an itinerary to creating a menu and determining grocery lists, they are our logistical geniuses!

Aimee and Liza!

Their next move was to head up to our Gear Room on the 5th floor and begin packing all the gear. Outside Perspectives provides EVERYTHING the kids could need. This includes backpacks, clothing, rain gear, water bottles, mess kits, headlamps and bug nets, hats, socks, tents, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, toothbrushes, and boots if needed!


medical supplies, boots, sleeping bags, tents, clothing, water bottles

Liza and Aimee are incredibly thoughtful about how they pack gear. They load the canoe trailer with our canoes, PFDs, and safety equipment. Liza debriefs the instructors and Logistics Team on the itinerary, maps, and emergency plans before they head out. She and the Logistics team are there to issue the gear to the crew on Saturday morning and to send them off on their adventure! 

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Since this is a Signature Destination Expedition and it takes the crew hours away to Maine for their adventure, Outside Perspectives has a Logistics team on location. Aimee and Liz, another Lead Instructor, provided logistical support to our two instructors and crew in the field. They camp nearby, stay in close communication with our instructors, provide food drops when necessary, gear swaps, and join the crew in the field if extra support is needed. They also communicate with Liza, who is back in CT, and our Course Director for this trip!


Aimee and Liz on location logisticians!

Our Youth Excellence Project Crew of boys aged 15-17 hiked 3,805' to Horns Pond, 4145' to the top of West Peak, and 4088' to the top of Avery Peak! They covered close to 11 miles and a TON of elevation! Aimee and Liz hiked 2.5 miles in to carry gear and support the crew, who was tired, wet, and finishing up the last of some tough miles! Our Logistics folks are also known as our professional morale boosters!



The next day, Liz and Aimee met the crew to de-issue the backpacking gear and issue all the canoe gear needed for the canoe portion of the trip. The crew was rested, in good spirits, and ready to paddle!


Our Logistics Team is often behind the scenes making the magic happen. We wanted to bring them into the spotlight this week and give them all the credit they deserve! An immersive backcountry expedition like this takes months of planning and preparation. It requires immense foresight, microscopic attention to detail, and clear and consistent communication with the whole team. Then there is the physical labor of putting it together so our crews and instructors stay safe, happy, and well cared for!

Liza, our Program Director, is our magical logistics fairy, and we are so grateful for her incredible ability to make our expedition ideas a reality! We also want to thank our Outside Perspectives instructors, who support logistics when needed! Your behind-the-scenes work does not go unseen. 

(The crew will be returning from Maine on Saturday. Follow along on social media or subscribe to our newsletter to hear all about the trip!)
















Location: Outside Perspectives

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