Appalachian Adventures

For over 15 years, Virginia Outside has been running summer camps, teaching youth about the great outdoors and creating lifelong memories for both campers and staff members.

This (6 night, 7 day) overnight camp checks all the boxes when it comes to adventure! Join us for an introduction to some of the thrilling recreational activities Virginia and the Blue Ridge Mountain Region has to offer. We will set up base camp at a campground and spend the week traveling to various activity locations in order to pack as much adventure into the week as possible. 

Each day, we will travel no more than 1-2 hours to participate in one of the many activities we have planned. (Order of activities is dependent on availability of outfitters) 

• 1 Full day of Kayaking and Fishing on the New River in Fries, VA. We will rent kayaks from New River Outdoor Adventures and set out on the river in search of smallmouth bass, sunfish and whatever else will bite! This is a very calm and flat section of river, little to no kayaking experience needed. 
• 1 Full day of Rock Climbing in the New River Gorge. The group will enjoy a day of Guided Rock Climbing by Adventures on the Gorge. (See Video). No prior climbing experience is needed.
• ½  Day of Wade Fishing in creeks/rivers near Basecamp 
• ½ Day will be spent resting and resetting basecamp mid week. Campers will have the opportunity to sleep, read, journal, clean up their space, call home, shower, etc.  
• 1 Full day of Hiking. The group will participate in a day hike on the Appalachian Trail in Grayson Highlands State Park, with a mission to summit Mount Rogers. The hike starting from Massie Gap is approximately 8 miles round trip. This is a pretty moderate trail suitable for all ages! As we hike, we will keep our eyes peeled for Wild Ponies and other fun wildlife. This hike offers 360 views of the Blue Ridge Mountains as we ascend to our summit. Super exciting, as this is the highest peak in VA! 
• 1 Full Day of Whitewater Rafting. We will travel back to the New River Gorge to go White Water Rafting on the Upper New River! Our trip will again be guided by Adventures on the Gorge. (See Video) The Upper New River is a calmer section of river, suitable for new paddlers.

This camp provides an opportunity for the youth to explore what a career in Outdoor Recreation could look like for them! They will get to observe our wonderful counselors and our paid guides doing what they love everyday as a job! Many outdoor enthusiasts will tell you how fulfilling it is to provide these experiences to the youth. From Guiding Outdoor Excursions to Becoming a Park Ranger, there are endless opportunities to do good in the outdoors!

Join us for a unforgetable week of big adventures, exciting experiences, and life long memories with new friends.

Lodging/Food: We will spend the week tent camping at a beautiful Campground in West Virginia. (Campground location will be provided upon registration) The campground will have amenities like running water, camp store, walking trails, and more!  Campers will either sleep alone in a tent or choose a buddy to share a tent with. Staff members will sleep in personal tents. All meals will be cooked and provided by Virginia Outside. Campers will be asked to help with food prep when needed and will be responsible for washing their personal dishes after each meal.

Transportation: Transportation to the campground is provided by VA Outside from Richmond. The group van and gear trailer will leave from Richmond, Virginia on Sunday Afternoon and return on Saturday Afternoon.
Families are also more than welcome to meet the group at the campground if Richmond is not a convenient meeting location.

Camp Info: This is a small group camp open to only 10 campers per week with 2-3 Counselors. 

Pick up/ Drop Off Location

Packing List