Itinerary

Day 1, Sunday

Challenge Course and Zip Line at Hemlock Overlook, Clifton, VA

After a 2:00 PM Drop Off, Campers will get to know each other and begin learning to work as a team while participating in a series of interactive initiative games and challenge course elements, including the Zip Line. Campers will then have an introduction to camp craft including Leave No Trace Principles, camp cooking, and campsite set-up, and camp out at our home base at Hemlock Overlook Park.

 

Day 2, Monday

Hiking at Old Rag Mountain, Shenandoah National Park, VA

 

What better way to begin our trip than to reach the summit of the most popular peak in the Shenandoah National Park? With a little help from the weather, the group will enjoy 360 degree panoramic views from the summit of this historic mountain.  

 

Day 3, Tuesday

Paddling on the Shenandoah River, Luray, VA

 

Depending on the group, the day may include canoeing, kayaking, or tubing on the Shenandoah River. After the sun and paddling has worn everybody out, campers will head to their campsite at Natural Chimneys Regional Park to catch the sunset and prepare for caving the next day.

 

Day 4, Wednesday

Caving at Glade Cave, Mt. Solon, VA

 

Campers will learn about cave ecology first hand as they explore the various tunnels and passageways of Glade Cave. The unique environment that caves present allow campers to experience total darkness and an immense amount of mud. This is a day for an old pair of shoes.

 

Day 5, Thursday

Spruce Knob and Seneca Rocks, Monongahela National Forest, WV

 

Today, our group will hike to the top of Seneca Rocks, one of the most prominent geologic features on the East Coast and cap the day off with a trip up the tallest peak in West Virginia, Spruce Knob, to catch a sunset that they will not forget. Seneca Shadows will be the campground for the night.

 

Day 6, Friday

Shopping and Backpack Prep, Franklin, WV

 

Today will be spent creating menus and going shopping for our backpacking trip that begins the following day. Campers will learn how to prepare for a multi-night backcountry trip including selecting a backcountry-friendly menu,  properly packing a backpack, and, most importantly, how to avoid blisters.

 

Day 7, Saturday

Backpacking in the Cranberry Wilderness, WV

 

The backpacking trip begins! The next three days and two nights are spent enjoying the natural beauty of the Cranberry Wilderness in Monongahela National Forest. The group will bring only what they can carry in their packs, and camp out each night in primitive campsites along the trail.

 

Day 8, Sunday

Backpacking in the Cranberry Wilderness, WV

 

The Cranberry Wilderness in Monongahela National Forest provides wilderness in every sense of the word. From massive stands of evergreens to a moss-covered forest floor, this trip has something for everyone. The first night’s campsite is right next to your own waterfall.

 

Day 9, Monday

Backpacking in the Cranberry Wilderness, WV

 

Hiking out of the Wilderness is generally a highlight of the trip. Campers are provided with a sense of accomplishment and are certainly rewarded with the cheesy goodness of a well-deserved pizza upon arrival at the New River Gorge.

 

Day 10, Tuesday

“Ducky” paddling on the Upper New River in West Virginia

 

Three days in the backcountry can wear anybody, but Ducky paddling helps to rejuvenate anybody. Paddling on the Upper New River allows campers to take in Class I - III rapids and relax in the long pools that are spaced between them.

 

Day 11, Wednesday

Rock Climbing and Rappelling at New River Gorge, WV

 

After spending a day on the water, it’s time to head to the canyon rim to climb the world-class sandstone that makes “the New” famous. With a variety of climbs and spectacular areas, the day will present a challenge for everybody.

 

Day 12, Thursday

White Water Rafting on the Lower New River, WV

 

The Lower New River represents the culmination of the trip. Miller’s Folly, the Keeneys, and Double Z will bring back memories for anybody who has been on this stretch of the New River. Hard hitting rapids are followed by stretches of calm water to cool off. If we are lucky, the guides might even let us swim a rapid or two. One last sunset, under the New River Bridge, caps off our trip.

 

Day 13, Friday

Travel Day and Awards Night at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park, Clifton, VA

 

After the long drive back to Hemlock, we will clean and repack our gear. After a pizza party, we will have an awards ceremony and eat s’mores over one last campfire.

 

Day 14, Saturday

Trip Conclusion at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park, Clifton, VA

 

After two weeks of adventures, the last day is usually filled with a much deserved late wake-up time and goodbyes to friends, new and old. The formal end to each trip is a cookout for campers and their families to attend.