Leadership Program

July 22nd – 28th, 2018
Our leadership program is perfect for high school campers looking to go above and beyond our traditional offerings.

Participants will further their technical outdoor skills as they plan and implement their own self-supported backpacking expedition. Together the group will choose between 3 expedition locations, the beautiful 24-mile North Fork Mountain Trail in Pendleton County, West Virginia, a 20 mile scenic wilderness trail in the George Washington National Forest, Virginia, and the last still to be determined. Along the way, the group will navigate through Hamilton Cave and practice belaying, rappelling, and climbing techniques locally in the North Fork Valley. The bulk of the week will be filled with backpacking, leadership and service opportunities, with ample time spent exploring the unique features of the trail, including rock outcroppings and eagle-eye views of the valleys below. The program will end at our Sweetwater Farm campus, reflecting on the week’s adventure and taking what we’ve learned and putting it into action.

Activities: Caving, backpacking, rock climbing, and rappelling.

Skills: Trip plan development including, coordinating a pack out, assessing and planning around risk (water, weather, & route considerations), expedition meal planning, and map reading (cave survey and topographic maps). Campers will also learn and practice how to belay on a top rope anchor system, rappelling and climbing techniques,  knot tying, and managing risk in varying terrains.

Participants will earn 30 hours of community service during this program.

Thanks to the funding and support of a private West Virginia family foundation a limited pool of scholarships are available to WV families in need.

Enrollment in this program is the first step to our 2019 Summer Camp Internship Program.  The Summer Camp Internship Program is for campers who are over 18 years old, and looking to further develop outdoor learning skills, particularly great for those wanting to work in education, or in the outdoor industry. For more information, contact Melinda Brooks at MBrooks@experience-learning.org.