Meet the Director
Umbagog Whitewater Kayak
Whitewater Thrills in Wild Lands
Umbagog is a unique trip for aspiring paddlers to learn whitewater kayaking and outdoor skills in some of Maine’s most scenic regions. For the majority of the trip, we stay at a base camp in Sunday Cove on Lake Umbagog and travel a short distance to the Rapid River each day for whitewater paddling. Lake Umbagog and the Rapid River are located in western Maine, on the New Hampshire border, and are surrounded by a vast area of scenic, wild, lands. Depending on water levels, our groups may paddle on the West Branch of the Penobscot River for parts of the trip, home to some impressive rapids, based out of our Big Eddy Campground. Between Sunday Cove and Big Eddy, participants will learn much about the natural world around them, sharing their common outdoor space with loons, bald eagles, ospreys, and moose.
Umbagog Whitewater Kayak
Program Type: Kayaking
Ages: 14, 15, 16
Grades: 9-11
Length: 3 Weeks
Dates:
Session 1: June 26 – July 18
Session 2: July 22 – August 13
Session 2: July 22 – August 13
Tuition: $5,700
Waves & Water for Every Skill Level
Umbagog is well suited to campers with little or no previous experience in backcountry living and whitewater kayaking but have a strong desire to learn the basics of paddling, rapid scouting, and river running. Throughout the three weeks, there is a progression of instruction, beginning with skills learned in flat water on the lake and eventually moving up to paddling the Class III whitewater of the Rapid River and the West Branch. The Rapid River is also home to Smooth Ledge, one of New England’s best kayak surfing spots. We spend plenty of time here, as participants acquire the skills of surfing and freestyle playboating.
Relax into the North Woods Lifestyle
This base-camping model sets Umbagog Whitewater apart from Chewonki’s other Leadership Expeditions一instead of packing up camp each day the group will settle in and set up a more established camp at Sunday Cove on Lake Umbagog and at Big Eddy on the West Branch of the Penobscot. Each evening we return to base camp where participants learn and practice outdoor living skills such as cooking, woodcutting, fire building, and Leave No Trace ethics. Everyone will gain the knowledge that is important to living responsibly and comfortably in nature. There is time for reading, writing, swimming, and relaxing in this beautiful setting.
The essence of whitewater kayaking lies in the experience of living simply and embracing new challenges, allowing for self-discovery and personal growth. This is an amazing opportunity for participants to live in a remote natural area, feel a part of it, and grow within it.
...he had such a great time there and he's definitely going back for more years to come. There is a well-designed balance between fun, knowledge, experience and collaboration. Truly awesome!
"...the farm, the fresh milk, the incredible sea kayaking trip, and the fact Chewonki makes its own bread! He also bought my mother a centennial hat and said how lucky he is to be able to go to Chewonki when he presented it to her."
"Thank you so much for the AMAZING experience you provided to Augusto. He is so happy to have been part of this journey!"
"Chewonki has become so integral to his development and providing an environment and structure that has made him the much more self-confident young man that he is today. "
"This year, he was 100% thrilled to be at camp. He asked us to sign him up immediately for next year!"
"What an extraordinary opportunity for our son. I’ve rated everything ‘excellent’ in spite of not having direct knowledge because he just came back having had such an incredible overall experience that I figure the food, safety, people, location, facilities etc were all part of that!"
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Deposit Information:
A fully completed registration form, director approval, and a deposit is required to hold a program space. Deposits are non-refundable.
- $950 per child – Full Session and Leadership Expeditions
- $600 per child – Puffin Program
- $100 per child for families applying for financial aid
Important:
We reserve the right to cancel, delay, substitute, or revise any program itinerary due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If we are forced to cancel camp programming due to COVID-19, families will be given a full refund, including their deposit.