High School Summer Camp - Experience Learning

Rivers & Rocks

entering grades 9 – 12

Nothing is virtual about this camp, it is a real-world adventure in all its stunning and gritty glory, far from wi-fi and cell signals, and a prime opportunity to evaluate outlooks and priorities for the high-school aged camper.

The terrain will be rugged, the adventure will be real, and more likely than not, it’ll be a little wet! In 2023, we are going to do a little bit of everything. We will backpack through a wild place, explore the Cheat by ducky with our friends at BOA, venture underground into a cave, and partner with the US Forest Service on a trail-based service project earning service hours for our work on the trails.

We will end the expedition at Seneca Rocks. Here, we’ll learn to belay, climb, and rappel in a supportive environment while making time to discuss comfort zones and personal goal setting. In this way, we can use this experience as a tool for successfully facing personal challenges and fears.

This camp will work to more deeply develop campers’ basic adventure and wilderness survival skills as well as fostering relationships with each other, and awareness of group dynamics. Our mindfulness and reflection exercises will help each camper identify their strengths, weaknesses, and preferences and the supportive environment will help them develop confidence in the value and importance of their unique offerings.

Stewardship Flashback

In 2022, the Rivers and Rocks program saw firsthand the kind of effort it takes to maintain remote wilderness areas as they headed deep into the Otter Creek. They spent several days working alongside the USFS using two person crosscut saws and loppers as they worked hard to fight back the thick stands of mountain laurel and rhododendron that have taken over large swaths of the trail.

Dates & Rates

June 25 – June 30, 2023
$1,075/$925/$800

More information on tiered pricing can be found here.

Drop off and Pick Up

Drop Off: Sunday, June 25, 1pm
Location: Spruce Knob Mountain Center
Address: 18 Woodlands Way, Circleville, WV

Pick Up: Friday, June 30, 3pm
Location: Seneca Rocks Discovery Center
Address: Hwy 28/33, Seneca Rocks, WV

Mountain Stewards at Experience Learning is a fantastic week-long summer camp for kids who like the outdoors (or who WILL like the outdoors after this wonderful experience!) Stewardship of our natural resources, self-reliance, leadership, and fellowship, are all integral to this program. My daughter LOVES this camp, and that makes me a happy dad. Experience Learning also has great programs for learners of all ages. I recently completed an excellent Wilderness First Aid course at their wonderful Spruce Knob Mountain Center. Check it out! – Mark Wenzler
In this program I was able to be my own leader, which has allowed me to see the ways in which I can improve myself and the ways in which I am strong. – Summer Camper, Leadership Camp
I love the freedom at this camp. It doesn’t feel like a structured camp with strict rules. We are free to have fun and learn in our own ways while still effectively accomplishing the goals of the program. – camper
Through living and working alongside all the different people that come to this camp I was able to experience many different and new ideas, perspectives, and skills that shaped me as a person. – 2019 Summer Camper
I learned about who I am as a person and that if I look within myself I can find some of the strength and courage that I’ve felt was missing from me. – Summer Camper, Leadership Camp
That was the best experience of high school and allowed me to flourish in my further experiences in high school. Absolutely transformed my idea of my own physical, social, and mental capabilities and made me feel much more confident!!!! I couldn’t recommend it more. ~Former Summer Camper
The staff were terrific helping us coordinate what camp would fit us best. So patient and understanding. My daughter had a wonderful week and learned so much and made memories and friends. Great experience! – Kristin Potts
We are free to have fun and learn in our own ways while still effectively accomplishing the goals of the program. – 2019 Summer Camper