About Us
Next Level Adventures is a family-run business dedicated to the improvement of our natural world.
We believe the most effective way of accomplishing this task is by instilling in people a sense of respect for our environment, coupled with an increase in their own self-respect, self confidence, and knowledge.
Our programs are custom designed to suit the specific needs of your group. Whether it is a corporate outing, adult team building, educational school group, youth trip, or purely a great adventure, we have the staff and expertise to give you a safe, enjoyable, and fulfilling experience.
The members of our staff have over 50 years of combined outdoor leadership experience.
Collectively our credentials are far reaching. On an instructor level (we are qualified to certify others in these disciplines), our leaders posses the following nationally recognized certifications:
Red Cross CPR (adult, child, infant)
First Aid/AED
Wilderness First Aid (WFA)
Project Wet
Project Wild
Project Learning Tree
Leave No Trace (LNT)
Orienteering
Survival & Cold Weather Survival
Search and Rescue
Land Navigation
ACA Canoe and Kayak (flat and white water)
BSA – Top Rope (rock climbing)
PADI Scuba Dive Master
Our passion for education is what drives us to achieve higher levels of excellence.
At Next Level Adventures it is mandatory that all aquatic leaders have current Lifeguard certifications and that all leaders have basic first aid and CPR training. Our staff also consists of a current Massachusetts certified teacher of 15 years, a former EWT school teacher of 5 years, and a former counselor/teacher’s aid at Brightside. We have two former professional soccer players, who are now high school coaches.
Leave-No-Trace Ethics
The foundation of our mission as educators is to help instill the simple concept of respecting the earth.
If nothing else, we all need to be the protectors of our dwindling wilderness. The idea of "Leave No Trace" was originally developed by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service in the 1960’s, and it is a clear and powerful guide that we intend to impart with as loud a voice as possible. Help us keep our parks, lakes, mountains, rivers and oceans clean. Every small effort makes a difference. Take only memories, leave only footprints.
A great way to support this vision is by joining us for our Clean-up Days throughout the year, which will be advertised on our Events page.
Dispose of Waste Properly
- Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter.
- Deposit solid human waste in cat holes dug 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp, and trails. Cover and disguise the cat hole when finished.
- Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
- To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.
Leave What You Find
- Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
- Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
- Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
- Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.
Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you'll visit.
- Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
- Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
- Visit in small groups when possible. Consider splitting larger groups into smaller groups.
- Repackage food to minimize waste.
- Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging.
Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light.
- Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
- Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
- Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes.
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.
- Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
- Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary.
In popular areas:
- Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.
- Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy.
- Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.
In pristine areas:
- Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails.
- Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.
Respect Wildlife
- Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
- Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
- Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
- Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
- Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
- Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
- Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.
- Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock.
- Take breaks and camp away from trails and other visitors.
- Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises