AAVE Trip BLOG » England-Ireland-Wales
July 16, 2008
EIW #1 2008
Posted by AAVE Leader in : England-Ireland-Wales , add a comment
Greetings back home from Wales!
After a fun ferry ride from Dublin to Holyhead the group began its adventure in Snowdonia. Our first activity was gorge walking where everyone took a major dunk in the water.
The next day the weather was a little poor but everyone’s spirits were high as we had some town time in Bangor and after panning for gold we explored the copper mines of Bedgellert. The next day was to be our biggest challenge yet as we climbed to the top of Mt. Snowdon, the tallest peak of Wales. Everyone made it to the summit and enjoyed lunch and picture taking time. After our adventurous climb downhill, that included Sound of Music trac and hill sliding, we all enjoyed some ice cream at the local town.
Yesterday was our adventure in rock climbing. After spending the morning indoors perfecting our technique we headed our into the sun to try our new skills on a rock face.
Last night everyone enjoyed the very American tradition of smores over a camp fire.
Did we mention there are sheep everywhere???
We are now heading to South Wales and are very much looking forward to surfing the next few days and spending some time in London.
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
We are loving the AAVE life!
July 7, 2008
EIW1 - Greetings from Ireland!
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After a rough start due to plane issues, we arrived in beautiful Ireland. Our first 3 days we spent at a horseback riding center where we camped in the scenic Irish countryside up the Tipperary region. We rode our horses on rustic trails through the Galtee mountains and on the last night the farm owners cooked us an authentic Irish BBQ.
Early Thursday morning we headed off to Ballghmore castle for a medieval stay.
The next day we loaded up the van and left for the cliffs of Moher on our way to the Connemara region. After a day of travel and leasure we started our next bunch of adventures. First with an intense game of laser tag in a wooded arena and after enjoying lunch at the center we explored the cute streets of Clifden. Today we rode our bikes through the beautiful Connemara region!
Soon we will journey to Dublin for more Irish fun! Thank you for sharing your amazing teenagers with us!!!
Katie, Molly, Erin, Annie and Laurie and the rest of the EIW team.
July 3, 2008
Hello CD1 Campers!!
Posted by AAVE Leader in : Colorado Discovery, England-Ireland-Wales , add a comment
Hello!
This is Katie, Taylor, and Tara. We are your Colorado Discovery trip leaders. We are so excited to start this trip, it’s going to be the best summer EVER! We’ve got the van all packed up, yummy treats in the back seat, and we’re ready to start our adventures. Hope you are all getting excited as well and we can’t wait to see your smiling faces at the airport.
Taylor:
I’m back for my 3rd summer at AAVE! The good people, sweet adventures and loads of fun memories keep me coming back year after year! I’ve also lead the mighty Bold West trips, and 8 day Kayaking and two Boot, Saddle, Paddle trips last year. I’m a high energy endurance runner and completed the Bear 100 mile race last September. I’m currently going to the University of Utah working on a Philosophy degree. I have wilderness first aid certifications, CPR, and lifeguard training too keep us safe and on our feet. I look forward to the summer see ya all tomorrow!!!
Katie:
Hello everyone! I’m Katie and I’m from Birmingham, MI. This is my first year at AAVE and I’m super excited to hang out with such an awesome group of kids and go on some great adventures! I go to Michigan State University where I study Psychology and play lacrosse. Hooray for summer!
Tara:
Greetings great and wonderful adventurers! 
This is also my first summer at AAVE and I am looking forward to experiencing many new journeys with you! I have found myself in this wonderful profession after starting a graduate program in Recreation Studies at Ohio University. I love whitewater, and have spent many summers raft guiding, traveling and exploring the Earth! See you soon!
See ya Soon! Life is Good! Our first adventure is a 4th of July party, some great hikes in the rockies and then off to battle some mighty river rapids. See ya at the Airport!!!
Taylor, Katie, Tara
July 2, 2008
EIW1
Posted by AAVE Leader in : England-Ireland-Wales , add a comment
Top o’ the mornin’ to you all!!!
It is so great here in Ireland. Oh! How the campers love the accent and we theirs!!!
Everyone arrived safe and well!
We have just spent a few wonderful days exploring Dublin and trying fries with vinegar - mmmm, yumm! Not sure how much the campers liked it but the fries were a big hit! The double decker buses have brought alot of laughs and some great photos that I’m sure you’ll see.
We’re all excited to do some surfing and learn new tricks and skills to conquer the Celtic and Irish Seas!!!
Check back with us soon and we’ll have more stories to share.
February 1, 2008
Teen Adventure Camp in the United Kingdom
Posted by AAVE Parent in : England-Ireland-Wales, General , add a comment
“Jeremy had an outstanding time on the trip and came back very happy and with a feeling of great success. Thanks for all you and your team did to make this happen.”
-David Lyons, parent, WI 2006
“‘Exceeded expectations’ is such an understatement. We were so impressed with how the leaders organized the group and allowed the kids to do things themselves (and sometimes fail and then laugh about it), with the leadership opportunities (i.e.- “leader of the day”), and with the wonderful team-building devices. This stuff, plus the music, the kids, the great leaders and the places, made Wild Isles really a trip of a lifetime for Becky. Thank you!”
-Karen Cure, parent, WI 2006
the BEST trip EVER!!!
Posted by AAVE Camper in : England-Ireland-Wales, General , add a comment
Wild Isles was, without a doubt, the BEST trip EVER!!! The people, the sites, the incredibly superb tasting food cooked by none other than yours truly (actually, out of our little cooking crew, it was Cody that was the professional chef- totally embarrassing to be outdid by a dude!! Any ways, I can’t express just how close I got to the people on the trip- it was actually kind of surreal in that you think it’s only for three short weeks, but it ends up seeming like a lifetime. EVERYONE got a long and there was absolutely no drama–gasp!! lol (Laugh out Loud). That was actually surprising because all of our personalities were so different, yet everyone just seemed to click instantly. The experiences and memories I have taken from the trip are incredible. I can still see myself trying to climb Mount Snowdon with a cramp from giggling so much. THAT was an experience not to forget!! Wow… great times, great times. I can totally vouch for AAVE in being the best and safest program available for teen international travel.
Alexandra Kitterman, Wild Isles Camper, 2006
January 28, 2008
Ireland, Wales, England Teen Summer Camp!
Posted by AAVE Camper in : England-Ireland-Wales, General , 1 comment so far
“I’ve been on 3 AAVE trips and have loved every one of them but Wild Isles was by far the best. The leaders and campers were all really fun and cool and we all had a blast exploring the U.K. The whole atmosphere of the trip was awesome and everyone had a really good time. The sites and activities were all loads of fun and there was never a dull day! Out of all the trips I have been on I recommend this one the most.”
- Jacob Wallis, camper
August 2, 2007
Adventure Camp in the U.K.!
Posted by AAVE Leader in : England-Ireland-Wales, General , 1 comment so far
Our adventure in the British Isles.
Wild Isles has been the wildest and most crazy trip yet! The kids are dirty, the leaders are just about the same, and there are smiles all around.
Our ventures began in the quaint village of Tipperary. Our AAVE group pioneered up rivers on horse back, cantered fearlessly across the Irish countryside and got to know each other as they learned the ways of wild camping.
It was then, on to the Connemara, where the beauty of the isolated coastline was not lost on the campers. We played on the beach, conquered the 50 mile bike ride with seamless ease and even enjoyed a day of sunshine as we kayaked on Ireland’s only fjord. All were helped along by many hot chocolates and we finished off with a bonfire on the beach when the leaders of the group learned what a “smore” was. All were sad to leave,
Dublin and a couple of nights in a bed was most welcome along with some retail therapy, sight-seeing and off course a traditional Irish meal. Being surrounded by Italian and French world cup supporters made for quite an atmosphere! Now we will explore the stunning Welsh scenery. Snowdon is already but a memory and after a day of successful climbing in the sun we eagerly await the new adventures of Swansea, just around the corner! (After another ice cream off course!)
Cheers,
The Wild Isles 2007 Team