FARMINGTON – Emma Carlson entered the classroom at the W.G. Mallett School to the sound of applause.
Carlson, who graduated MBHS in 2003 and Colby College in 2008, had completed the 740-mile trek along the Northern Forest Canoe Trail just days earlier, arriving in Fort Kent with friend Emily Rooney of Vermont. The pair launched their canoe at Old Forge Pond in upstate New York, spending 40 days paddling the waterways of Vermont, Quebec, New Hampshire and Maine.
All the while, Carlson was exchanging postcards and letters with mother Sarah Carlson’s Mallett School class. The students got to meet her in person Monday.
“Could anyone show me the map?” Carlson asked, referring to the map students used to track Carlson and Rooney’s progress.
Every hand shot up. Students wanted to know about the lakes and rivers, about Carlson’s canoe “Snowflake,” about her mascots – including a plastic turtle found frozen in New York’s Fork Lake, where the pair had to hack through with an ice axe – and about animals: minks nesting beneath docks and Bald Eagles seizing fish and three-legged moose.
Carlson got a chance to show off her canoe, describe the food she ate and had the students guess what folding tools were used for. She told students about Lake Champagne in Vermont, about running with a canoe down two miles of back-country road to reach the Canadian border before it closed.
Afterward, Carlson called the entire experience “fulfilling,” saying she was excited to share the experience with others.
“We were paddling on the edge between wilderness and society, constantly transitioning in and out, from roads to rivers,” she said. “I learned just as much from the natural world as I did from myself and the people we met along the way. It was truly a unique way to experience this part of the country.”
Carlson is heading next to Wiscasset, to lead a five-week Outdoor Leadership program in the United States and Canada for the Chewonki Foundation. From there, she’ll go back to St. Lawrence University in the fall, where she serves as the assistant director of the Adirondack Semester.
“After 40 days,” she said, “I can’t wait to get back in a canoe.”
We hear stories about pampered youth, youngsters with no sense of adventure, unwilling to leave their computer screens or video games. Emma and her friend show that intrepid youth is alive and well.
This is super! How wonderful to connect with elementary school kids while adventuring, Emma! They’ll always remember this.
What a fantastic example to the students what hard work and a goal can accomplish. AND she is a local girl! Great job, Ms Carlson.
This was a great project—my granddaughter talked about it all the time! Thank you so much, Emma and Sarah, for providing such a unique and exciting learning experience.
What a great project. These are the type of role models we need in our society. The kids seemed super excited about it as well.
I am impressed! What an inspiration to kids! I would not be surprised if a group of these kids take on the same or similar challenge when they are older…..These kids glued to screen time, just need a little motivation and encouragement….parents and adults who come along side them and offer them something else!!!!
Congrats on an awesome job!
Kenne-bec-bec, coec, coec!
Very Very Cool, Great Adventure Emma and Sarah!!!
Super jealous! I LOVE being in a canoe. It’s where I feel at home on the water. This looks like a wonderful experience and I only wish I could join in. Darn those responsibilities!