Channel your inner pirate and join us for an epic weekend of swashbuckling shenanigans! If you've never been sea kayak camping before, this is the trip for you!

Itinerary

We will be driving up to Winslow Memorial Park Campground near Freeport, Maine on Friday evening, where we will camp the first night. This will be front-country camping with showers, bathrooms, and grills. On Saturday, we'll paddle 5 miles out to Crow Island, where we'll camp Saturday night. This is a backcountry campground - if you've never camped in the backcountry before, this will be a great learning opportunity! It is also a first-come first-serve campground, but there are plenty of campsites on the adjacent islands if other groups are already there. We'll paddle back to land on Sunday morning and drive home.

Cost

Trip costs will include gas ($15-25, potentially more if rental cars are needed), food (we will buy food for everyone and share the costs, $20-$30), campsite reservations ($10-20) and any gear rentals ($30 for kayaks, plus any other gear rentals you need from the following list). We will try to keep costs to a minimum, and assistance is available for any undergrads! You are also welcome to opt out of group meal planning if you prefer to bring your own food.

Gear List

For Camping

• Tent
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad
• Headlamp
• Toiletries
• Swim suit
• Towel
• Insect repellent

For Paddling

• Water bottle/bladder, at least 2 liters
• Dry bags for camping gear
• Snacks
• Wetsuit (weather dependent)
• Non-cotton clothing for both warm and cold weather
• Sunscreen
• Hat

Gear Rentals

Don’t have all the camping/paddling gear? No problem! MITOC offers rentals for many essentials like tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, wetsuits, and headlamps. MIT affiliates receive discounted rates. You can find more information on available items and rental procedures on the MITOC Gear Rental page.

Logistics

Mandatory Pre-Trip Meeting: Wednesday, July 15 7:00pm (Zoom) - We will cover gear, logistics, and answer questions about the trip!

Departure: Meet at the MIT boathouse (N52, 265 Massachusetts Ave) at 5:15pm on Friday, July 17

Transportation: We need 2-3 cars with roof racks and crossbars for kayak transportation. Please update your car status if you're able to drive others, including if you'd be willing to rent a car!