McCORMICK Pre-trip​ ​ Packet

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Getting Ready For Your Trip

Payment - - - - X Now that you are enrolled in the program, please make the initial ​ $150 deposit in the next two days. ​

An additional $150 is due on ​ May 1st.

The remainder of your fee is due two weeks before the trip.

Medical Concerns - - - - X

Please complete your health form two ​ weeks before your trip. This form ​ requires a physician’s signature, so don’t wait too long!

The form, along with your health insurance card and immunization record can be scanned and uploaded to your account on our website. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask.

You can find the health form on our website, attached to this email and by clicking here. ​

If your participant has dietary restrictions or other health concerns, please let us know ASAP (even if you don’t have your health form done yet) so we can prepare accordingly. ​ ​

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The Former Crystalaire Headquarters, Moose Hall. She served us well.

Drop-off and Pick-up - - - - X Our New Headquarters is located at 24 Bass Lake Rd, Traverse City, MI 49685. All non-manitou ​ ​ trips start and end there. Here are the times:

Drop-off: 10:30 am on the first day of the trip

Pick-up: 5:00 pm on the last day of the trip.

If you need special accommodations, let us know!

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Packing List

Quantity Item Comments ✓

2 Water Bottle You should have ~2 liters of capacity.

1 Hiking Boots Break them in to avoid blisters!

5 Socks Thick wool socks are best.

1 Backpack Sizing: 2-5 days: 50L+, 6-12 days: 60L+, 12+ days: 70L+. We have 70L ​ backpacks available for rent!

1 Daypack For short day hikes without all your gear.

1 Compass

1 Camp Whatever will keep your feet comfy after a long hike. Shoes/Sandals

3-4 Synthetic T-shirt Please avoid cotton.

1 Synthetic mid-layer I.e. a synthetic fleece or wool flannel. Please avoid cotton.

1 Warm Jacket I.E. a “puffy”- It seems like overkill, but it can get pretty chilly at night.

1 Rain Jacket Rain pants are optional.

1 Pants Please avoid cotton.

1 Shorts Please avoid cotton.

1 Swimsuit we do not recommend a towel towel. Small cloths or quickdry camp towels are the way to go.

1 Sleeping bag Synthetic is bulkier but cheaper and better when wet. Down is lighter but useless when wet. We have sleeping bags available for rent ​ 1 Sleeping pad We’re strong proponents of a good ol’ fashioned foam pad. We have ​ sleeping pads available for rent

1 Bowl Snap-top tupperware works great!

1 Spoon optional Extra snacks We will provide plenty of food! This is purely optional.

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1 Hat

1 Sunglasses

lots! Sunscreen

1 Hand sanitizer

Double! Personal medication Please bring medications in its original container. This is required by law. ​ ​ ​ ​ Please have double the amount necessary for the trip in case one first-aid kit is lost.

1 Epipens We keep one in each first aid kit, but if your participant normally carries one please bring it!

Hygiene kit Toothbrush, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, etc.

1 headlamp/flashlight Some extra batteries aren’t a bad idea.

Optional Fun stuff! A frisbee, cards, a journal, etc.

A Few Other Notes ● We will provide tents, food, cooking supplies, first aid kits, and fire building equipment. If you think of something not on this list feel free to ask us about it! ​

● We said it several times on this list, but please avoid cotton! When it gets wet, cotton makes you cold really fast ​ ​ which can be a big problem if the weather turns wet or cool. Synthetic materials (i.e. athletic clothes, polypro, etc.) are the way to go.

● A note on quantity: Since you’ll be carrying everything with you, it’s not worth it to bring a change of clothes for every day. We typically recommend 1-2 shirts for hiking and one to wear in camp. One pair of shorts and one pair of pants are plenty. We’ll let you make your own decision on underwear.

● If for any reason you’re struggling to find any equipment, get in touch! We can probably help you out. ​ ​

● Please do not bring weapons, fireworks, drugs, alcohol, or other illegal or potentially disruptive items on your trip. It is in your best interest to bring less, not more, on trips. If you have questions about whether or not an item is appropriate, just ask!

● Please read our Electronics Policy before considering any electronic devices. ​ ​

● If you have any questions feel free to email [email protected] or call (414) 588-9921. ​ ​

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About the McCormick

- - - - X The McCormick Wilderness is a 27-square-mile tract within the in the Upper Peninsula. This piece of land was previously owned as a summer getaway for Chicago’s aristocratic McCormick Family (hence the name). It was donated to the US Forest Service in 1967. Some artifacts of the Family’s homestead remain, but the land is largely untouched. There aren’t even trails through most of it, which means participants will be bushwhacking their way through.

This is one of our most demanding trips. The hiking is hard, so participants should be prepared. There are benefits to all that hard work: you’ll hardly ever see another person and the area is teeming with wildlife. Reintroduction programs make it especially likely to see moose and pine marten. There are also beautiful waterfalls on the and tons of old growth northern hardwood trees. It’s one of the most beautiful areas in !

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“ The voyage of discovery lies not in finding new landscapes, but in having new eyes. - Marcel Proust ”

About Crystalaire - - - - X Crystalaire Adventures has been operating in Northern Michigan since 1920. Our trips are designed to instill leadership, collaboration, risk management skills, and a thoughtful land ethic. Our trips are also inclusive and very fun.

We have a different approach than most trips programs: We give participants full agency over their experience, meaning they choose where to go, when to stop and everything in between. These real-life decisions create opportunities for participants to learn and hone their leadership skills.

In addition to our slate of summer programs we offer custom trips for families, groups, schools and organizations, as well as off season programming in the Ann Arbor area. See Crsytalaireadventures.com for more details.

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Our Staff Charlie Burnett, Director - - - - X Charlie Burnett is the Director of Crystalaire of Adventures. He is a graduate of the University of -Madison, where he studied Economics with a focus on the environment.

He worked as a staff member for Camp Lookout from 2011 to 2015. In 2015, he was the Risk Management Chair on Hoofer Council, the governing board of UW-Madison’s largest student organization. He also worked as the Logistics and Risk Management intern for Outdoor UW.

When he’s not leading a trip, Charlie can usually be found watching basketball, riding his bike or drinking coffee.

Our Guides - - - - X This is what we look for in our guides:

● Fun people who are 21 or older and have experience working with kids- preferably in the outdoors. ● People who are just as excited to learn from the participants as they are to teach. ● People who have skills or interests that will broaden participants’ horizons. ● People who have, or are willing to get, a WIlderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder certification.

If that sounds like anyone you know- please encourage them to apply! More information can be found at Crystalaireadventures.com