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| Mission Statement & Background |
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 Above all else, Longacre Expeditions is a place where teenagers can test themselves in unique ways supported by caring and qualified adults. It is also a place where teenagers can be themselves—without the pressures of old familiar patterns and people. And it is a place where they can learn to communicate their feelings to others openly and honestly. In carefully constructed situations, they gain respect from their peers, the adults around them, and most importantly from themselves. The growth and self confidence that develop are clearly evident upon their return home. They have come to know independence and choice; responsibility and satisfaction; risk and accomplishment.
In the summer of 1981 Longacre Expeditions gave 34 teenagers the best summer of their lives on the company's first Blue Ridge expedition. That first season the directors knew they wanted each kid on the trip to grow by successfully confronting a series of physical and interpersonal challenges. Since that time the company's mission has remained the same, while the programs have been fine-tuned into a place where individuals grow significantly when they encounter and successfully surmount physical and interpersonal challenges. |
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| Western U.S. Programs |
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 Pacific Coast & Inlands: This expedition offers an attractive combination of challenging activities and “front country” orientation. The kids push hard during the day but take advantage of the modest amenities in established campsites each evening. Activities include biking, rock climbing, skiing or snowboarding, sea kayaking, sailing, and whitewater rafting.
Western Challenge: Western Challenge takes kids from beginner status to a surprising level of competence with a sampling of the hottest technical sports that Longacre offers. The group gathers at Seattle-Tacoma Airport and immediately heads north to British Columbia for orientation and team building. With the magnificent Pacific Coast as the playground, activities are kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, climbing the rim of Mount St. Helens, surfing, sandboarding, skiing, and whitewater rafting.
Ultimate Oregon: This trip offers the confident camper a longer trip, awesome activities, and the opportunity to hone outdoor skills in a variety of climates. Teens hike in ponderosa pine forests, ride rapids through foothills populated by wild horses, climb rockface in a high desert environment, and ski a glacier at 8000 feet.
 Surf Oregon: Biking along the Oregon coast, surfing in the Pacific, sandboarding, summer snowboarding, and white water rafting: it doesn’t get any better than this. Unforgettable sights include great ocean views, majestic sea stacks, fabulous wildlife, and white sand beaches.
Water Ways: New for 2005, this program is designed to take advantage of the world-class adventure sports that bring legions of enthusiasts to central Oregon. The activities are exciting and provide teens with the chance to develop new skills and have tons of fun. The surroundings range from the Columbia River Gorge to the high desert to the giant forests at Mt. Hood. Activities include kayaking, skiing or snowboarding, whitewater rafting, and sailing.
Wind & Waves: Wind and Waves visits the central Oregon coast and the small beach towns of Newport and Florence. In this outdoor adventurer’s paradise teens take single and multi-day excursions in search of exciting new sports, great views, and stellar beaches. They will experience hiking, biking, sea kayaking, sandboarding, surfing, and wind surfing.
 Mountain Adventure: New for 2005, this program is designed for the confident camper who has limited time to experience Oregon's majesty. Taking teens through ponderosa forests, vast desert gorges and volcanic lakes, Mountain Adventure is a great initiation into adventure travel. They will experience biking, rock climbing, hiking, and whitewater rafting.
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| Eastern U.S. Programs |
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 New England/Canada: This "Longacre Classic" offers a wide variety of activities, challenges, and locales for the developing camper. The trip begins with initiatives and New Games. These activities are designed to diminish opening day jitters and help create a team. This ensures success right from the start. These lessons are carried into each new area visited. Activities include rock climbing, bicycling, sea kayaking and whitewater rafting.
 Downeast: The Downeast Expedition offers a constant flow of engaging activities, and the best scenery Maine has to offer. Initiatives and New Games break the ice, draw the group together, and prepare them for the excitement and adventure to come. Activities are rock climbing, hiking, biking, sea kayaking, rafting, swimming, and a seamanship course.
Adventure 28: This is a longer trip with even more fun and adventure. Included in this itinerary are six of Longacre's most popular adventure sports: rock climbing, hiking, biking, sea kayaking, sailing, and rafting.
Whales: See humpback, finback, and minke, and learn the difference on this adventure that includes rock climbing, sea kayaking, whitewater rafting, and of course, whale watching.
 Rock & Roll: This program is designed for kids who want a longer dose of two of the most popular technical sports—rock climbing and white water kayaking. These challenging adventures are the heart of this expedition for confident campers and include ropes course, whitewater rafting, rock climbing and kayaking.
Blue Ridge: The Blue Ridge Expedition has been a mainstay of Longacre's offerings since 1981. This "Longacre Classic" is designed not only for those who want a taste of challenging activities, but also those who enjoy just plain fun. Based out of Newport, PA, this adventure includes a low ropes course, hiking, kayaking instruction, whitewater rafting, biking, rock climbing, and a final day at Hersheypark.
Laurel Highlands: This program is designed for the camper who is looking for a fast-paced introduction to adventure travel. Activities are short, engaging, and geared for success. Campers participate in rock climbing, backpacking, kayaking, whitewater rafting and a final day at Hersheypark.
Pre-ex: Younger kids (11-12) who are excited about the Longacre opportunity get an introduction to adventure travel in this program. Fast-paced events keep them engaged and ready to come back for more. Activities include low ropes course, rock climbing, day hiking, kayaking, rafting, and biking. A final trip to Dourney Park, a local amusement park, rounds out this package. |
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| Tropical Programs |
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 The Islands of Hawaii: This program is designed for kids who want a tropical expedition and also want to spend a lot of time on—or under—the water. On Kauai, getting-to-know-you and team-building events demand cooperation and communication. Backpacking in Waimea Canyon, away from the comforts and distractions of civilization, continues to meld the group together. A day is spent snorkeling in preparation for scuba diving. The Hawaii adventure also includes surfing and sea kayaking. On the big island campers take part in an eco service project. A visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park rounds out this tropical adventure.
 Virgin Islands: This is a distinctly non-touristy adventure in a tropical paradise. Adventurers spend five spectacular days sea kayaking and camping on beaches. Teens have the chance to volunteer on the islands and hike the Reef Bay Trail. At the British Virgin Islands kids sail crystal clear waters and spend five days scuba diving. The final day includes a wreck dive to the Rhone, one of the premiere wreck dives in the Caribbean.
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| International Programs |
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England, Scotland, and Wales: Designed for the confident traveler, this trip combines a mix of cultural and outdoor activities in the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands, the Lake District of England, Snowdonia in Wales, and of course, London. Castles and ruins, a diversity of magnificent scenery, and the excitement of London enchant and reward teens throughout this adventure. Go sea kayaking and hiking in the Scottish Highlands. Canoe in Southern England's Lake District, and go rock climbing in Snowdonia National Park. |
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| Digital Photography Programs |
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Photography Ireland: Capture the mountains, the sea, the people, the essence of the Emerald Isle with an adventurous twist. Teens have the chance to paddle Dragon boats, huge canoe-like craft that accommodate 12 to 15 paddlers and sea kayak Ireland's inland waterways. They will go rock climbing and hill walking, and horseback riding. To wrap it all up, they dorm at the University of Limerick and work on their portfolios in the photo lab for two intense days. They leave with a photographic record of an unforgettable journey.
 Photography Maine: This is an opportunity for kids to combine their interest in the outdoors with technical photography and come away having expanded upon both. Kids hike Mt. Battie, visit Acadia National Park where they bike 19th century carriage trails. They will have the chance to photograph whales, puffins, and porpoises while sea kayaking and camping for three days on uninhabited islands. The adventure culminates with a trip to the computer lab at Bowdoin College where they learn how to crop, lighten, and make editing changes.
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| Leadership Development |
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 Those who are accepted into Leadership Training are part of a very select group. The goals of the program are:
- To foster leadership. Although the training is in the wilderness, the lessons can apply anywhere. Topics range from team building to expedition planning to group dynamics.
- To heighten safety awareness. Among the many safety-related activities, students participate in a Wilderness First Aid course, which focuses on wilderness safety and emergency care.
- To significantly advance training in a number of skill areas. These are backpacking, snow mountaineering, rock climbing, kayaking, and environmental ethics.
 The group begins with a backpacking trip at 10,000 feet. Skills learned include backcountry cooking and travel and mountaineering. In a mountain school atmosphere they learn procedures for the safe management of a rock climbing site while getting in a lot of climbing as well. Longacre's kayaking instruction is based at one of the finest white water centers in the Southern Rockies. During four days of instruction, teens gain a significant level of competence and take on Class II and III rapids.
Each person who joins us for Leadership Training is expected to give a presentation about something that they are knowledgeable about. In addition, after performing the responsibilities of Leader of the Day, each individual is critiqued by his or her tripmates. Each participant is given a verbal and written critique by the leaders of their performance during the trip.
For many, Longacre Expeditions Leadership Training is both the culmination of many Longacre summers and a giant step toward continuing with Longacre as a staffer. Leadership Training is many things: an opportunity to significantly advance training in five wilderness skills, a philosophical inquiry into the nature of leadership, and the challenge of putting much of the training and philosophy into practice during a final, student planned and led backpacking trip. |
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| Longacre Team |
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Director Matthew Schuler, a native of the Boston area, spent summers on Penobscot Bay, graduated from the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, and is happy to call Castine, Maine, his home away from home. He oversees the New England programs and travels to other course areas during the summer as well. A graduate of Penn State University, he received his degree in Business Administration. While away from his desk, Matthew enjoys parenting his two kids, Chris and Julia, and their sidekicks, Jack and Willy, two yellow labs, running, bicycling, weight training, cutting fire wood, and cruising the Penobscot Bay aboard his 36 foot wooden lobster-style boat, OWL.
Director Meredith Schuler has been a key player in the ongoing development of Longacre Expeditions since its inception. With a keen eye for detail, she works year-round planning and enriching the quality of the programs in addition to overseeing all staff recruitment. A graduate of Hood College, she holds a B.A. in Psychology and has over ten years experience as a teacher. She started leading expeditions in the Northeast and Canada after graduating from the North Carolina Outward Bound School. She enjoys hiking in Maine, gardening, and listening to music with Chris and Julia. She and Matthew and their children live adjacent to Base Camp in Newport, PA.
Roger Smith has devoted his professional life to the growth of young people; as a teacher, as the founding director of a participatory science museum, and as a camp director for 25 summers. He derives his greatest pride from his family. He and his wife, Susan are the parents of Matthew, a Conn College graduate who lives and works in Brooklyn, and Alexandra, a junior studio art major at Skidmore College. Roger and Susan’s brief life as “empty nesters” ended in January 2004 when Courtney and Douglas Jensen joined their household. When not parenting or planning the “next cool thing” to do at Longacre, Roger enjoys trail walking with Susan and their German Shepherd Chloe, kayaking, and fine woodworking. During the summer Roger cultivates a leadership style that could be described as “managing by paddling around.” Roger holds B.A. and Master’s degrees from Colgate University. |
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