48 Days on the Long Trail: A Learning Opportunity and Challenge for Farm and Wilderness Teens

Each year a group of ambitious teens ages 15-17 venture out with Farm and Wilderness Camp leaders to conquer their fears, challenge themselves mentally and physically, and have the experience of a lifetime.  These teens are called the Farm and Wilderness Questers and every year they spend 48 days hiking the entire length of Vermont’s Long Trail.  The Farm and Wilderness website  explains that this trip , “is geared toward success through learning and practicing extended-trip principles like route and menu planning, pacing, and appropriate packing.” The trip is led by two leaders with a great deal of experience in trip leading and group dynamics. Here at the Green Mountain Club, we are honored that the Long Trail can be an important part of these teens’  learning and development as they move forward in their lives.  Last year, the Questers created a short slideshow with interviews and commentary from the participants.  This video is a fantastic testament to the importance of outdoor learning in the lives of youth as well as to the beauty and wonder of Vermont’s Long Trail.