Why We Still Focus on Adventure-Based Outtripping at Summer Camp
For decades, Camp Tippy Canoe has been a part of our family. Nestled along the banks of North Lake, the camp sits on a historic waterway that once served as a resting point for travelers along the Maliseet Trail Portage Route. Today, it continues to serve as a place of pause and renewal especially for young people navigating the transitions of adolescence.
At Partners for Youth, we still believe in the power of adventure-based outtripping, not because it’s trendy or convenient, but because it works. Each summer, Camp Tippy Canoe welcomes hundreds of youth, most of them from our Sport 3 middle school program and our high school Leadership Program into a setting that invites connection, reflection, and growth.
Why Outtripping Still Matters
In our case, “outtripping” doesn’t necessarily mean trekking with heavy backpacks or navigating rapids. It simply means stepping outside the everyday and into nature. It means canoeing, tenting, waking up to birdsong, eating meals around a campfire, and spending time without the pressure of screens or expectations.
For many of the youth we serve, camp is their first time spending days unplugged and surrounded by water, forest, and open sky. That shift alone opens up space for honest conversation, for self-discovery, and for laughter that rings through the trees.
A Long-Term Approach to Youth Support
What makes our summer camp model unique is how it fits into a larger journey. Many of the campers who come to Camp Tippy Canoe first connect with us through Sport 3, our school-year program focused on physical activity, personal development, and community engagement in middle school. By the time they arrive at camp, they’ve already built a relationship with our team.
From there, youth have the opportunity to grow into our high school leadership program, continuing their journey with us through some of the most critical years of their lives. Camp becomes more than a summer experience; it becomes part of a consistent support system. A place they return to, year after year, where they are known, encouraged, and inspired.
The Setting Still Shapes the Story
North Lake isn’t just a backdrop, it’s part of the experience. The water, the woods, the fire, it all plays a role. It creates the kind of setting where youth can slow down, feel safe, and start to open up. Being surrounded by nature helps shift the pace, making it easier to reflect, connect, and simply be themselves.
Here, a young person who might struggle in the classroom can emerge as a natural leader. Someone hesitant to speak up at home might find their voice in a group circle. And those who feel alone may, for the first time, feel part of something bigger.
Why We Keep Going Back
Camp Tippy Canoe represents what we value most: consistency, connection, and care. In a world that can feel unsteady, we keep going back to outtripping because it gives young people what they need most, time, space, and support to grow into who they are becoming.