Weekend Winterlude 2017

Winter is a beautiful time of year in northern Michigan with many opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy it. Please join us for the annual First Adventures Winter Weekend from January 27-29 in Roscommon, MI. Roscommon is located in an area of the state with a history of consistently very good snow conditions. Cross Country Skiing, Snow Shoeing and Ice Fishing are very conveniently located very close to our base lodge and some of the state’s best Downhill Ski Resorts are located within about a 1½ hour drive.

We’ll drive up on Friday (and meet for dinner at a local restaurant for those able to get up there by that time), play in the snow or on the ice on Saturday (and optionally on Sunday), then drive home Sunday afternoon.

The cost for food and lodging will be approximately $130 per person which includes two nights, hearty breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday and a delicious dinner on Saturday. Lunch is on your own as we are typically enjoying our activities around that time. For Cross Country Skiers and Snow Shoers,  the nearby XC Ski HQ has a rustic lodge with food service and warm fireplace. They also have reasonable ski and snow shoe rental rates and offer XC ski lessons for beginners.

Adults and high school aged children with parents or authorized guardians are welcome. The lodge we will stay in has sleeping rooms with two single beds per room.

Bring your friends!

2016 Cross Country Ski Weekend

Join us for the annual First Adventures Cross Country Ski Weekend on the weekend of January 29-31 in Roscommon, MI. We’ll drive up on Friday, stay in affordable lodging, ski on Saturday (and optionally on Sunday), then drive home Sunday afternoon. Located in an area of the state with a history of very good snow conditions, we anticipate many miles of groomed trails at the Cross Country Ski Headquarters and on state land.

The cost for the weekend will be approximately $130 per person. It includes two nights of lodging at the MacMullan Conference Center next to North Higgins Lake State Park, hearty breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday and a delicious dinner on Saturday. The cost can be adjusted accordingly if you are able to just come up for one night or would like fewer or more meals. Lunch is on your own as we are typically enjoying skiing around that time (the XC Ski HQ has a nice lodge with food service and warm fireplace). The XC Ski HQ has very reasonable ski rental rates and offers lessons for beginners.

Adults and high school aged children with parents or authorized guardians are welcome.

Let us know if you would like to go. Bring your friends!

Play in the Snow! Cross Country Ski Weekend

Participate in the joys and wonder of winter by joining us during this year’s annual Cross Country Ski Weekend, January 30 – February 1 in Roscommon, MI.

As we have done in past years, we’ll drive up on Friday, stay in affordable lodging (approximately $45 per night per person plus meals), ski on Saturday and optionally on Sunday, then drive home Sunday afternoon.

Roscommon has proven to be a very good location as the snow conditions have been reliably very good to excellent and the snow covered forests are fabulous to ski through.

Let us know if you want to join us. Bring your friends!

Tour Washington DC

You’ll want to join us from October 11-14 when we travel by motorcoach (video and restroom equipped) to Washington DC and spend two full days with a guide touring many of the significant sights in our nation’s capital. Some of the places we expect to visit include Capital Hill, Embassy Row, the Smithsonian, the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial and more. Temperatures should be quite comfortable in mid-October for getting off the bus and exploring these remarkable, meaningful and inspiring sites.

Diamond tours will provide the tour. During our research we’ve heard very good reviews about the quality of their tours, the hotels and the food. You are encouraged to make your reservation early; not only because there are only 50 seats on the bus, but also so we can submit a request for the White House and Capital building tours before the limited number of available spots are taken.

The cost for the trip is $369 and includes transportation, 3 nights lodging, 3 breakfasts, 3 dinners, and gratuities. Your family and friends are invited to come along, too. We want to see you on the bus!

Backpack the High Country Pathway

When you see a trail in the woods do you look at it with appraising eyes? Do you wonder what is around the next bend; over the next hill, on the other side of the thick stand of pine? Experience an overnight backpack trip in the forests of Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula as First ADVENTURES hikes the High Country Pathway.

The trip will be from Thursday evening, June 20 until Sunday, June 23. We’ll leave Royal Oak on Thursday for a campground in the Pigeon River State Forest where we’ll stay the nights before and after the hike and enjoy (very) rustic campsites.

On Friday, we will hike south on the Pathway all day carrying all that we need for the night camping in the forest that evening. We’ll camp in the forest that night without a formal campsite – a true backpack trek.
Saturday morning after breakfast we turn around and return to the base campsite for dinner that evening. After breakfast on Sunday morning there will be time for a short devotional service and a short hike (for those so inclined) before we leave for home around 11:00 am.

An organizational meeting will be held in April to gauge interest and provide further details.

Annual Cross Country Ski Weekend February 1-3

We found a great way to relieve those winter doldrums that set in around February. We get outside to play in the snow and rejoice in the beauty of the season! Join us for our Cross Country Ski Weekend in Roscommon, MI on the weekend of February 1-3.

Roscommon has a history of good snow condition so we anticipate many miles of groomed trails at the Cross Country Ski Headquarters (which also has a comfortable lodge with food and a warm fireplace) and on state land. We’ll drive up on Friday, stay in affordable lodging, ski on Saturday and optionally on Sunday, then drive home Sunday afternoon.

This event is open to families and adults.

Another Biking Season Begins!

Road Biking season has arrived! Riders of moderate ability are invited to join us as we embark on trips to various locations in the Metro Detroit area. We’ll adjust the distance of the ride according to the abilities of the group, but riders should be comfortable with biking about 20 miles at an average pace of 13-15 mph. We are planning on riding on the following six Saturdays: June 2, 16 & 30; July 21; and August 4 & 18. Rides begin at 9:00 am from the church parking lot, weather permitting. Be sure to check the “Updates” page of this website (firstadventures.wordpress.com) for up to date changes of venue or ride cancellations. Email firstadventures at rofum dot org to request more information.

11 ADULTS SIGHTED IN A TREE IN PINCKNEY

On a cool day in late April a group of 12, hosted by First ADVENTURES, journeyed to Pinckney State Park to enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of the forest from the vantage point of the birds in a grand white pine (well, actually, one of us went to enjoy it from the ground and provide moral support). Most of us climbed about two thirds of the height of the tree to an estimated 60′ above the ground. A couple of brave souls continued on to nearly the top. Most of our descents were accomplished by means of rappelling or climbing, but later in the day we experienced a James Bond-like exit from the tree as we zip lined down toward another tree. We shot across at varying degrees of speed and hilarity.

All of those polled at the end said they had a great time and are very anxious to take part in another outdoor climbing experience. You should give it a try, too!

Spring Tree Climb

The ultimate tree hugging experience awaits those of you with the desire to get a bird’s eye view of the surrounding forest. The canopy of the forest is where the action is, so join First ADVENTURES as we travel 60 miles west to the Pinckney State Recreation Area on Saturday, April 21st. We will depart the First United Methodist Church of Royal Oak parking lot at 9:00 a.m. and return at about 5:00 p.m. Bring your lunch to enjoy under a magnificent white pine in one of the nicest forest area within an easy drive of Royal Oak.

We will enjoy tree climbing, rappelling, rope ascension, and zip lining. If you do not have any experience, we will teach you before we head into the forest or on the spot at Pinckney.

If you have friends who would like to learn about climbing, bring them along as well. We have extra harnesses and other gear to share, so you do not need your own equipment.

Contact First ADVENTURES (firstadventures at rofum dot org) to sign up and for further information. A liability release form and medical release form must be completed prior to departure.

Oak Apple Run Training Time

It’s time again to prepare for those long distance running events that will be here before you know it. Our training group will get you going!

We’ll meet at First United Methodist Church of Royal Oak in Fellowship Hall (at the lower level) each Sunday at about 10:15 in the morning, immediately following the 9:15 church service, beginning March 4, 2012. If you would like to attend church first, the 9:15 service conveniently has a very casual dress code so you can wear your running attire during worship!

Adult runners of all abilities are encouraged to join us. We’ll explore the streets of Royal Oak and have fun, too!

Bring a friend!