More to Know - Cherokee & The Great Smoky Mountains 2024
We'll leave out of Greenville
We will plan to leave from the Walmart parking lot in Travelers Rest. You'll get more specific information in the spring packet. For planning purposes, we will plan to meet at 10 AM in order to give us plenty of time to squeeze in a full first day of activities.
We will plan to leave from the Walmart parking lot in Travelers Rest. You'll get more specific information in the spring packet. For planning purposes, we will plan to meet at 10 AM in order to give us plenty of time to squeeze in a full first day of activities.
Lodging
Our program is amazing, our leadership is mature and amazing, and our lodging...well....we don't stay in five-star resorts. We choose lodging that fits us and this summer is no exception. Since we've just added this trip, we haven't yet chosen our hotel/motel. We do like places that serve a continental breakfast and that have a swimming pool.
Our program is amazing, our leadership is mature and amazing, and our lodging...well....we don't stay in five-star resorts. We choose lodging that fits us and this summer is no exception. Since we've just added this trip, we haven't yet chosen our hotel/motel. We do like places that serve a continental breakfast and that have a swimming pool.
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Food
Eating is an important part of our days. Our "food service" is unlike any other camp. Breakfast is provided by the motel/hotel. Lunches are usually from fast-food restaurants near where we might happen to be. Occasionally a lunch might be a regular sit-down restaurant style meal. Dinners will be eaten in local restaurants. As expected, it will be the big meal of the day. Boys will get to choose from the menu. You are not going to find that in any residential camp in the world that we know of. Actually, you'll get to choose your food items for all three meals. Picky eaters need not worry...you'll find plenty to eat. Of course all meals and many snacks are included in the trip fee. |
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How a Day Might Unfold
Like all MindStretch Travel Adventures programs, there are no two days that are the same - ever! Our days will be full. There's a lot to do during this short trip. We'll tell you each evening what time to have breakfast finished by and what time we'll be meeting to start the day's adventures. We'll let you know what you'll need to bring each day...but it's pretty much the same: daypack, water bottle that's filled, rain gear (if it looks like that's a possibility), proper shoes for the activities, and a fleece or jacket. Temperature at the higher elevations in the Smokies can be twenty degrees or more cooler than at home. We will certainly schedule some "chill" time where we can just relax. Our motels will have a pool. Boys will be given some very limited free time to explore the downtown area of Cherokee and possibly Bryson City. There will be strict guidelines as to travel distance (two or three blocks) and time to report back in with the leaders. Parents can elect not to give their son this option in which case that boy or boys will have an adult with them as they explore. |
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Some Logistical Notes
All the details will come your way as we get closer to the trip. But here's some more info that might be useful to know now. Luggage You will receive a "What to Bring' list in early spring. Your son will need one main piece of soft-sided luggage (think duffle or rolling piece). It does not need to be large. In fact, the smaller the better. We're only going for five days and it's not absolutely necessarily that your son have a fresh set of clothes for each day. However, we do recommend clean underwear and socks for each day. In addition to the main piece of luggage, he'll need a daypack (book bag) that should be packed and ready to go each day. We will not be doing laundry on this trip, though motels usually have a small coin-operated laundry if there's a clothes emergency. Electronics
We have a "MTA Modified Electronics Scheme." Your son is welcome to bring his phone and other electronics with the following stipulations in place. They are to be used in the motel rooms and that's about it. If they insist the phone is their camera, they may bring it on activities for the purpose of taking photos. However, the phones will be "surrendered" to a leader during meal times, driving times, and activity times when we have a guided tour. Quick photo snapping will be fine, but if it's obvious there's more going on than taking photos...that will end and the phones will stay in a leader's room for the duration of the trip. It makes a huge difference when boys put away their electronics. They tend to focus on talking and interacting with each other...and that's an important life skill. And they actually see the beautiful scenery we're experiencing. 
Leaders on our 2018 adventure to Virginia showing their mastery of modern-day technology!
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Leadership
At this time, leaders on the trip include Mark Levin (founder of the program) and Don Silleman. Both are experienced MindStretch Travel Adventures staffers. And as you can tell from the photos, these leaders are not college students. We've been around the block...and more than once. If we add any additional staff, they will be listed here as pages get updated.You should check back from time to time. On some trips, we might have a couple of experienced and mature students who help out as "Senior Counselors." 
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