Switch Trips

Our switch trips are a combination of 3 days of hiking throughout the native northeast either on New Hampshire’s Monadnock Sunapee Greenway, Vermont’s Long Trail, and the Appalachian Trail, and 3 days of traveling on canoes and setting up campsites along the water’s edge for overnight stays. Midway through, FOPpers will “switch” to continue along their route. FOPpers will carry gear and supplies and set up at different campsites each day. Switch trips are as difficult as a 4-6 hour backpacking trip and FOPpers are required to complete a swim test after arriving on campus.

Previous switch trips have included canoeing on Squam Lake and Lake Francis Lake with hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Check out a sample itinerary!

Sample Itinerary for a Canoe Day:

7:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Wake up at one of your campsites after spending the night under a cozy tarp. Brush your teeth, get changed, and get ready for a day of canoeing!
Eat a delicious breakfast of oatmeal or cereal. Enjoy a warm cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate.
Pack up camp- take down the tarps, pack your backpacks with group gear, and fill up water bottles at a nearby stream.

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Set off on your canoes! On your first day of the canoe portion, you will be taught canoe strokes by your leaders. You’ll take it slow at first as you cruise along the lake.
Stop on the shore every so often for snack, specifically GORP (a bag of pretzels, dried fruit, m&m’s and other goodies), and water breaks.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Stop on the shore for a lunch break!
Find a good spot under the shade of a tree or on a beautiful lookout to eat lunch.
Lunch might be a peanut/sunbutter and jelly pita, hummus and cheese on pita, or adult lunchables.
Play games like contact or big booty or stretch out before hitting the trail again.

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Get back to paddling! Canoe for a few more hours before stopping for the night.

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Arrive at camp! Set up tarps, take group gear out of packs, and fill up water bottles.

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Starting cooking dinner! Dinner might be a FOP classic such as gado gado or backcountry samosas.
CHOW (you’ll learn what this means soon) and enjoy a long dinner with your trip.

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Sump and clean up dinner. “Sumping” is how we clean out our bowls and cookware in a way that follows Leave No Trace principles.
Brush your teeth and put sleeping bags and pads under the tarp.

8:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Do a processing activity inside or under the stars with your trip. “Processing” activities are facilitated conversations designed to get you thinking about the transition to college, your identity, and help your group bond.

9:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Bed time! Rest up before a day of hiking or canoeing tomorrow.

Sample Itinerary for a Hiking Day: