Bonny Eagle Middle School Pathfinder Program

08/05/2026

Getting middle schoolers outside, unplugged, and connecting with nature is at the heart of what we do. 🍃

We are incredibly fortunate to have the Bonny Eagle Middle School Pathfinders Program that gives our students these opportunities, but after years of great adventures, a lot of our gear is starting to wear out. We are frequently asked by parents and community members how they can contribute, so we set up an Amazon Wishlist to make giving simple!

If you’ve been looking for a way to support our mission, purchasing an item off our list directly equips our students for their next journey. No contribution is too small!

➡️ Support our adventure here: https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/1G9OAJE7T92KO?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_ggr-subnav-share_7EPDER0933BDMSZABS4K_1
➡️ Read more about our journey: https://sites.google.com/bonnyeagle.org/pathfinders/home

Thank you for being such an important part of our trail crew! 🥾⛺

07/22/2026

Here is the update from our Summer Team, who started their team adventure today. I can't wait to welcome them off the river on Thursday! ~Director/Coach Simmons 😎

"After nearly 9 miles, a few showers, and a brief glimpse of sun, the kids have set up camp and are busy cooking dinner! Even as the rain continues to fall, everyone is in great spirits. Everything’s a bit damp, but despite the weather, they are laughing, playing games, and during the drizzly moments, casting a line to see what bites.

With showers forecasted on and off through the evening, we're wrapping up the night with a cookie snack before turning in. Current status: everyone is out enjoying the gentle drizzle before the heavier rain rolls in!

The best news? The forecast calls for clouds to break tomorrow, bringing sun and light breezes for the next two days.

The kids have been absolute rockstars today—making great time, keeping their spirits high, and truly embracing the adventure, rain and all."

05/22/2026

As I sit here by the campfire listening to the loons on the lake one last time while the team falls asleep, I find myself thinking about how far this crew of kids has come together. 🏕️🔥🦉

Many weeks ago, they met for the first time with no one knowing everyone's name—and yet, here they are. They've planned and cooked meals together, made great strides with their paddling, spent a lot of time fishing with each other, and, today, they conquered our hike for the week! 🥾🌲

The growth I've seen from each of them is incredible. Some students overcame their nerves about being away from home for five days. Others faced personal struggles that made this week more challenging for them. And all of them worked really hard to tackle their studies to be able to miss five days of school, especially so close to the end of the school year. They have done an incredible job, and I'm so proud of them. 🥹❤️

Tomorrow will be a busy day as we pack up camp and make our way home. But at least the pack boxes are lighter thanks to all the food they've eaten! 📦🍏

To the adults anxiously awaiting their students' return: I'll send along a message via ParentSquare tomorrow to keep you apprised of our pickup time, but I expect it to remain unchanged from Monday. Your student will also call you to confirm once we have a definite timeline. 📱

Thank you again for your support in making this unforgettable week happen! See you tomorrow! 👋🛶

05/21/2026

It's hard to believe that we're more than halfway through the Spring Pathfinders 2026 trip! 🌲🛶

We started today with a massive breakfast of pancakes and just about everything you could think of to go with them: sausage, bacon, real maple syrup (of course!), strawberry compote, and tons of fresh fruit. The kids ate a ton, which helped fuel them for our primary objective of the day: paddling to the end of the lake and back before lunch. 🥞🍓

Students swapped canoe partners and seats a couple of times while we were rafted up, and they soon became pretty comfortable with how to safely do so. They learned firsthand how important it is to listen to your stern so you don't zigzag all over the lake! We also saw several beaver lodges (although no beavers). It was another gorgeous day on the water! 🦫☀️

If you have a student on the team, you should ask them about their "tugboat-guided tour of the point." I dare say they won't forget it anytime soon! 🚢😂

The rest of the day was spent enjoying the playground, taking another lake bath, fishing, and... eating dinner. If these kids go home saying they were hungry during this trip, I'd be shocked! They are eating seconds, thirds... it's a lot! 💥

But since they've been doing the majority of the cooking, I urge you to use that in your favor when they get home and put them to work. They are quite good at it! 🍳🧑‍🍳

We got to enjoy a gorgeous sunset to cap off an incredible day. Now, I hope the kids sleep well with the cooler temps coming in tonight so we can get a hike in tomorrow for our last full day together! 🌅🏕️

05/20/2026

Our first full day of our adventure has officially come to a close, and the rest of the team is in their tents as I watch their lights go off one by one. 🏕️✨

After a delicious breakfast and cleanup, we headed out for our first paddle. The kids picked their partners and everyone did a great job together! Often, paddling can result in a bit of tension between partners, but only slight tweaks were needed and everyone had a blast. 🛶

We loved watching the loons disappear below the surface and pop back up so far away. It was also fun looking across the lake at our lunch spot from day one—it looked so far away! 🦅🌊
We said a quick hello to the game warden, who was about to take their boat out for the first time this season. No problems for us, since we all wear life jackets whenever we're on the water! 🦺👍

With storms brewing, we opted to stay at camp for the afternoon and enjoyed a late lunch, catching fish, napping, tossing the football around, and reading. The rains never came in earnest, so we eventually gave the team a chance to take a "Pathfinder bath" and jump in the lake! 🏊‍♂️ Despite the cold water, it felt great to cool down given the heat we had today.

After a dinner of burritos (so good!), the team indulged in some epic s'mores—just ask the kids about the variety of chocolates they had to choose from!—and they even roasted some Starbursts. 🍫🔥

After doing dishes by lantern light, the kids were ready for bed to rest up for another day of paddling tomorrow. Fingers crossed for slightly lower temps and less risk of storms so we can explore more of the lake! 🤞☀️ I can't believe tomorrow is halfway through the week already. It always goes by so fast!

05/19/2026

Here is Monday night's update from this year's Spring Bonny Eagle Middle School Pathfinder Program team!

What an incredible first day of the Spring Pathfinders trip! 🌲🛶
Despite rain showers on the way to camp, the weather has been perfect since we arrived (knock on wood). The students made quick work of unloading our brand-new canoe trailer, and we were able to paddle the majority of the heavy gear to our home for the week.
After setting up tents, the team had some downtime to recharge or toss the football around before the first cooking team got to work on dinner. As the sun set, many of the kids commented on how beautiful our spot is—and they are totally right. We are so lucky to be spending this week together, building memories to last a lifetime! ✨
Looking at the weather, I bet we'll spend tomorrow on the water, but we'll see how things look in the morning. ☀️ Thank you to the families back home for supporting your kids and making this week happen!

03/03/2026

Do you have a student at Bonny Eagle Middle School who wants to join the Bonny Eagle Middle School Pathfinder Program?

The final opportunities to partake in the fun this school year all begin this month! Whether your student is interested in Archery or our grade-level teams, we have something starting soon:

🏹 Archery: Open to 6th–8th grade and held after school.
🌲 6th Grade Pathfinders: Team building, hiking, and fun with an overnight on campus!
⛺️ 7th & 8th Grade Team: Hiking and canoeing with a week spent at a Maine State Park!

Practices for all groups begin in March, so don’t miss out! Want to learn more or add your student’s name to our list?

Check out our website for all the details:

Welcome to Pathfinders

02/06/2026

How do four days go by so quickly when we are outdoors and away from the busyness of our day-to-day? When we shift gears into a slower, more physically demanding routine, it could easily feel much longer—and not necessarily in a positive way. I think that is part of the magic of a Pathfinders trip; it isn’t the "grind" that stands out, but the exchanges, the challenges, and the triumphs. It is so easy to miss in the moment, but so clear when you look back.

Throughout the week, these kids have risen to every challenge of winter camp. Each day, before the sun had even begun to rise, they were making their way to the campfire. Despite the cold, they huddled together for warmth and community.

All week, they’ve carried gear, hauled firewood, and lugged water. But they’ve also smiled, joked, and bonded. There is always a moment during this trip when the group just "is"—when individual friend groups take a back seat and a true team dynamic emerges. I can honestly say this has been one of the kindest groups I’ve had the privilege to lead.

Much of today was spent balancing work with camaraderie. With the goal of an early departure tomorrow, most of the gear has been pulled from the Adirondacks and stowed away. The process of "Leaving No Trace" has begun. I am confident that while we will leave behind only boot prints, the kids will be traveling home with memories and experiences they will carry with them long after the car ride ends.

Thank you for entrusting us with your students. They are remarkable. Soon they’ll be home, and though they will be tired and ready for a hot shower and a soft bed, they will be full of stories. I hope you have as much fun listening to their "crazy camp tales" as we had making them.

02/05/2026

Faster than anyone ever expects or wants, students and staff find themselves more than halfway through the 2026 Winter Bonny Eagle Middle School Pathfinder Program trip.

It was another cool morning that dawned into a beautiful day. Today’s adventures—following a hearty breakfast in the lodge—included some "forced family fun," as several of the kids affectionately called it.

Once the clutter and chaos of breakfast was cleared, the team set about preparing snacks and packs for a hike around the pond to explore the landscape. While following trails and bushwhacking through others, the team was greeted by a flyover from a local rescue helicopter out on maneuvers. After carefully descending the ridge, the annual Bog Hockey game got underway! Play was competitive, and every student played well and had a blast.

Once everyone was back at camp, we enjoyed a light lunch of sandwiches and chips before an afternoon round of sledding. Later, everyone loved coming back to the lodge for a hearty stir-fry and teriyaki dinner.

After evening journaling—musing over how the kids will eventually describe their camp experience—everyone made their way through the dark to the campfires for S'mores and Oreos before heading off to sleep.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of cleaning and organizing, balanced with stretching every camp minute left before our inevitable return home on Friday.

02/04/2026

And just like that, Day Two is in the books! How are we already preparing for Day Three? There is something about "camp life" that makes time just zoom by.

The kids embraced everything the MYFGA site has to offer, starting with hot pancakes in the warmth of the lodge. With an overnight low of 7 degrees, who could blame them? After some games, reading, and journaling, we set our sights on the pond and the trout within. Armed with a new auger, traps, and a bucket of bait, the team descended upon the ice. Following a lesson led by Addy and James, the traps were set—and fish were caught!

Those who chose to keep their catch helped dispatch and clean their fish. Some were ready to bread and fry them immediately, while others opted to freeze their catch to share at home.

In the afternoon, several folks enjoyed cross-country skiing on the pond while others dug out a snow tunnel or continued fishing. After a hearty pasta dinner, nearly the entire group headed out to the ice for a game of "Manhunt" by moonlight. Those who stayed back were busy prepping the fires in the upper camp for everyone’s return. A special shout-out to James, who started the fire using only a fire striker!

Tomorrow promises more team building and adventure, including a snowshoe hike and the famed return of Bog Hockey—a winter Bonny Eagle Middle School Pathfinder Program tradition!

(Post edited to add the photos that made their way through the sparse internet coverage and back to Bonny Eagle Middle School.)