In other travel news, we are proud to be bringing back two of our favorite programs for the 2008 season—New England Traveling Theatre (formerly New England Traveling Minstrels) and Bridge California (formerly California Adventure).

New England Traveling Theatre, as many of you may know, is our flagship performing arts program, and before the 2007 season ran continuously for over 30 years. On Broadway that would make it quite a hit! This year it is back, revamped, and better than ever. The program will begin at Windsor Mountain, and then travel to Montreal, Quebec, for two weeks of total theatre immersion. While in Montreal, the group will learn the art of physical comedy (a style based in traditional Italian commedia dell’arte) from WM veteran and professional theatre artist Keight Gleason. With their new knowledge, the group will create an original play to perform at summer camps and village greens across New England. This wonderful program gives students interested in theatre a fantastic opportunity to learn a unique acting style from working professional artists, and to experience ‘life on the road’ as part of a real theatre troupe. In the spirit of the minstrels of Old Europe, our group will tour Quebec, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, spreading good will and friendship through the magic of theatre, music, and dance.

And now for something completely different: Bridge California! Based on service work and outdoor adventure, this program will begin with a short orientation at Henry Coe State Park south of San Francisco. Then, after getting to know one another, the group will get to work, volunteering for the Homeless Garden Project in Santa Cruz, and learning about the many complex issues faced by the migrant worker population in and around Watsonville, CA. Then it is off to the backcountry for two weeks of fun and adventure! First, the group will spend two days rock-climbing in the Bass Lake area with Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides (recently recognized by National Geographic as one of the “best outfitters on earth”). Next, the group will shoulder their packs and head into the Ansel Adams Wilderness for five days of hiking, backpacking, orienteering, and environmental education—a true backcountry experience. For those who are unfamiliar with the area, it is worth mentioning that the Ansel Adams Wilderness is breathtaking, majestic, awe-inspiring, and unforgettable. There are not enough superlatives in the English language to describe the Sierra Mountains in California: you just have to go see for yourself. Finally, the group will spend three days exploring Yosemite, two days whitewater rafting on the American River, and finish off with two nights in San Francisco!