New Hampshire: Appalachian Mountain Club Introduces Fall Family Weekend Series. 
This year’s themed family weekends at AMC’s New Hampshire lodges will feature fall festivities, leaf peeping hikes, and seasonal naturalist activities. Families have their choice of five different weekends and several locations in the White Mountains and Lakes Region.
The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) series of themed, all-inclusive family weekends will be conducted throughout September and October at AMC’s New Hampshire lodges. Similar to AMC’s summer family camps, every weekend will bring families together for a combination of guided nature walks, foliage hikes, and naturalist programs. Themes vary by weekend, with some featuring different seasonal festivities such as visiting an apple orchard, pumpkin and leaf crafts, and haunted evening hikes. Other weekends will offer outdoor adventure in the shadows of Mt. Washington, while another weekend pairs moose tours with naturalist walks for optimal wildlife watching opportunities.
A full weekend of activities, designed for families with kids ages five and older, starts on Friday evening and continues through Sunday mid-day. The weekend kicks off on Friday at dinner, with Saturday and Sunday devoted to guided outdoor exploration and special activities planned for that particular weekend.
Highlights from AMC’s fall family weekends, held at AMC’s Highland Lodge, Joe Dodge Lodge, and Cardigan Lodge include:
• September 12-14: Applefest Family Weekend at Cardigan Lodge: Ride with the kids in a horse-drawn wagon to nearby Cardigan Mountain Orchard, where an up-close look at apple farming will include a cider pressing demonstration and exploration of the orchard, followed by a hike to nearby Welton Falls.
• September 19-21 & September 26-28: Family Adventure Weekends at Joe Dodge Lodge: Fall foliage sweeping across Mt. Washington is the backdrop for this adventure-inspiring location at the base of the mountain, where naturalist-led walks and hikes in Pinkham Notch will reveal why the leaves are changing, and what makes the foliage color show so vibrant in Northern New England.
• October 3-5: Legends of the Forest Family Weekend at Highland Lodge: Moose-spotting tours, part of the weekend’s mix of naturalist outings and guest speakers on moose, deer, bear, beaver and other local forest animals, give families one of their chances to observe wildlife adaptations to fall. A geocaching challenge is also planned, with surprises awaiting families who successfully navigate to points along the course.
• October 17-19: Harvest Festival Family Weekend at Highland Lodge: Pumpkin and leaf crafts, apple fishing, and an evening haunted hike will leave the kids with fun memories of fall. Rounding out the weekend, easy to moderate leaf-peeping hikes will include an introductory GPS orienteering challenge to find hidden “caches” nearby the lodge.
All of the lodges are located in or near National Forests or State Parks, with doorstep access to many miles of hiking trails and diverse natural habitats for wildlife watching. The L.L. Bean gear room at Highland Lodge also provides guests with free use of outdoor clothing and equipment, such as hiking boots, backpacks, water bottles, and fleece jackets, allowing families to more easily plan and try new outdoor activities with the kids.
Rates and reservations: Fall family weekend rates vary by location and start at $142, plus taxes, per person for adult non-members ($134 for members). Child rates apply to ages 12 and under and start at $92 per child, plus taxes, for non-members ($78 for members). For reservations, call (603) 466-2727. The weekend includes: two nights accommodations in a private bunkroom with shared bath for up to six people; dinners and breakfasts (dinner includes fresh baked bread, soup, salad, entree, and dessert); and guided programs and instruction. Private rooms with private baths and family rooms are available for an additional charge. Families can take advantage of the discounted member rate by purchasing a $75 AMC annual family membership.
Starting August 15, visit AMC’s Fall Planning Guide at
www.outdoors.org/fallguide for more details about fall family weekends, scenic fall foliage deals and packages, and 50+ adventures or call (603)466-2727.
Thinking ahead to summer 2009. The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) has added new activities and age-specific options to its Family Adventure Camp summer program. Families can match their own outdoor abilities, interests, and ages of their kids with a choice of 13 dates and range of experiences at five different lodge locations in the White Mountains, NH; Lakes Region, NH; and the Moosehead Lake Region of Maine.
On a typical day at AMC’s Family Adventure Camp, families start by fueling up with breakfast, followed by a morning activity such as a nature walk, stream exploration, map and compass navigation, or a hiking or paddling trip. Free time in the middle of the day allows for a leisurely lunch and time to relax, or for independent exploration. In the afternoon, the group gears up for more naturalist programs or an outdoor excursion. A social hour before dinner offers additional downtime, and the evening program rounds out the day with an evening campfire and sing-along, night hike, or movies.
Rates and reservations: Family Adventure Camp starts at about $410, plus taxes, per person for adult non-members ($375 for members) and includes 5-nights’ accommodations, all meals (dinner includes fresh baked bread, soup, salad, entree, and dessert), guided programs and instruction, and equipment for paddling or climbing. Child rates apply to ages 12 and under and start at $285 per child, plus taxes, for non-members ($260 for members). For reservations, call (603) 466-2727. Families can take advantage of the discounted member rate by purchasing the $75 annual family membership. For full details, visit
www.outdoors.org/adventure_camps.
For additional details about AMC other family-friendly summer experiences, including teen volunteer trail vacations, Teen Wilderness Adventures, and special savings at AMC’s family-favorite Lonesome Lake Hut, visit AMC’s Summer Planning Guide at
www.outdoors.org/summerguide or call (603)466-2727.
Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is the oldest conservation and recreation organization in the nation. With 90,000 members in the Northeast and beyond, the nonprofit AMC promotes the protection, enjoyment, and wise use of the mountains, rivers and trails of the Appalachian region. The AMC supports natural resource conservation while encouraging responsible recreation, based on the philosophy that successful, long-term conservation depends upon first-hand enjoyment of the natural environment.
Content and images provided by Appalachian Mountain Club. Photo by Robert Kozlow. Copyright 2008.
