Unity students canoeing
Frequently Asked Questions About Clothing, Equipment, Food & Sanitation
What type of clothing do I to bring?

For the most enjoyable Nova experience, it is essential that you take a look at the packing list and follow our guidelines.  July and August in Maine are typically dry and warm, however, weather patterns in the mountains and along the coast are unpredictable and can be unseasonably cold and wet.  There is a wide range of temperatures in Maine during the summer and we want you to be prepared for anything!  We will teach you how to layer your clothing, combining different garments to achieve optimum insulation (warmth) and protection from wind and rain. 

Base Top  Base Bottom  Base Layer
Also known as long underwear. This layer keeps the moisture from you.  Yes, your body produces moisture in the form of water vapor when you are exercising.  You need to pay attention to the fibers so that this moisture is “wicked away” from your skin.  Cotton holds on to moisture making it unsuitable for wilderness travel.  Look for synthetic or silk fibers in your base layers.
Ins Top  Ins Bottom  Insulating Layer
These layers tend to be bulky (wool, fleece, down) which helps them to trap the heat that your body produces by just being alive.  Again cotton must be avoided because once it is wet it will loose its insulating capacity.
Outer Top  Outer Bottom  Outer Layer (Wind/Rain Layer)
This is the layer that is closest to the outside world.  It helps to keep the wet out and break the wind.  Both wet and wind elements tend to accelerate how fast your body loses heat.  Good wind/rain layers will allow moisture produced by your body to escape while maintaining a barrier to wind and rain entering from the outside world.



Can I bring my favorite cotton t-shirt?

Cotton is not an insulating layer.  Cotton loses its ability to insulate when it becomes wet (e.g. perspiration, rain) and takes a long time to dry.  For this reason, other than a T-shirt or two, cotton is not advised for Nova trips.  The best alternative is to wear polypropylene long underwear for insulating and a nylon layer (wind jacket and wind pants) for an outer layer.    


Can I borrow clothing & equipment?

Unity College maintains an equipment supply room for students.  In addition to group gear such as tents & stoves, we can provide students with limited quantities of:

  • Rain gear
  • Long underwear
  • Sleeping bags
  • Sleeping pads
  • Backpacks
  • Dry bags (waterproof duffle bag for water-based trips)

Please request the gear you will need from the equipment room when you send in your trip request form.


Where can I purchase my own clothing & equipment?

Outdoor clothing and equipment can be very expensive.  Thrift stores and army surplus outfitters often have reasonable prices.  There are a number of discount outfitters including:

Please call us at (207) 948-3131 ext. 293 if you have any questions or problems obtaining gear or clothing.  The Nova staff are experts at finding reasonable deals on quality clothing and equipment.


What type of group gear does Unity provide? 

  • All items listed below are provided by Nova and shared among all expedition members:
  • Food
  • Cooking supplies
  • Stoves
  • Iodine for water purification
  • Fuel
  • Trowels and toilet paper

 
  • Map and Compasses
  • Equipment repair kits
  • Tents and shelter
  • First aid kits

I know we will be staying in the residence halls on Sunday night.  What do I need to bring?

You will be spending the first 24 hours on campus before heading to your Nova course area, so bring a complete change of clothes (cotton is fine when not in the wilderness), a shower towel, and toiletries.  You may also wish to bring a set of twin sheets and a pillow as linens are not provided.


What kind of food can I expect?

We provide all food during Nova trips. Please make sure to note dietary preferences/requirements on the registration form.  You will be preparing the food that you eat in small cooking groups of 3-4 people. Your leaders will teach you cooking and stove operation techniques.  Typical menu items include:

  • Dinners:  pasta, quesadillas, beans and rice, calzones
  • Lunches:  cheese & crackers, trail mix, hummus & tortillas, pb&j
  • Breakfasts:  oatmeal, hash browns, granola

We can accommodate any dietary preferences/requirements (I.e. vegetarian, vegan, food allergies) if you let us know ahead of time.  Please note that the diet you will be consuming while in the wilderness may be different from what you are accustomed to at home.  Due to storage limitations and relatively high cost, meat will not be central to most meals.  Some options may include canned tuna, canned chicken or summer sausage.

How will we take care of hygiene in the outdoors? 

Most of the trips described involve rustic camping with an emphasis on Leave No Trace principles.  This means that there is no running water for showers or cleaning dishes.  There will be no flushing toilets.  For purposes of drinking, washing dishes, and caring for personal hygiene water will be boiled, filtered or chemically treated from all sources.  These methods will be covered in detail by your leaders.  We will pack out all of our garbage and make a conscious effort to minimize our impact on the land and waterways we travel. 

If you have any questions please call Nicole Caruso at
207-948-3131-x293 or email ncaruso@unity.edu