What do you mean by “a different kind of summer camp”?
No counselors: We have instructors. Our instructors are college graduates who run our educational programming during the school year. They are highly trained experts in outdoor education, adventure, and beyond-the-classroom learning.
The Real Thing: We eschew contrived experiences in favor of authentic adventures and kid-guided, instructor-enriched explorations.
Small Groups: No camp program has more than 14 participants, with a max instructor ratio of 1:7. We only run two programs each week so your child is one of 28 rather than one of hundreds of campers.
Service Learning: After we learn how to take care of ourselves, we look a little further and spend time thinking about and working on taking care of the world around us.
Bring a Coat: Located at 4000′ elevation, Spruce Knob enjoys some of the coolest weather in the region. Our programs offer a respite from the summer heat and humidity.
Pricing Notes
We require a $150.00 nonrefundable deposit at the time of registration for all participants.
What is Tiered Pricing?
Our pricing structure is based on the length of session and adventure components included in each program. We are offering a three-tiered pricing structure this year.
Tier 1 pricing covers the true cost of the camp you are signing up for-including full salaries, facility upkeep, and gear and insurance costs. When you choose to pay our Tier 1 price, you are taking an active role in supporting the full cost of your child’s summer camp.
Tier 2 pricing includes a small subsidy for families, in or out of the state of West Virginia, who may not be able to swing the fully-loaded price.
Tier 3 corresponds to our ‘in-state tuition” level and is only available to West Virginia residents.
We believe it is vital for everyone, regardless of means, to have access to wild places, high-quality experiential education, and meaningful stewardship opportunities. We do not discriminate based on any factor, including your ability to pay at one level or another.
What is included in this price?
Experience Learning will provide campers with all necessary technical gear while on course including, expedition size internal frame backpacks, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tents, stoves, water filters, helmets & other activity specific gear, all program food from dinner on the day of arrival to breakfast on the day of departure, and guided instruction (each group will contain 8 – 14 campers, and 2 Experience Learning instructors).
Need-based Scholarships
A limited amount of need based scholarships are available to West Virginia families to help further reduce the cost. Applications are considered on a first come first served basis. You will be notified within sixty days after submitting application to confirm scholarship amount.
Suggested Income Guidelines for Camper Scholarships
Household of 2 – up to $33,400
Household of 3 – up to $37,600
Household of 4 – up to $41,750
Household of 5 – up to $45,100
Household of 6 – up to $48,450
Household of 7 – up to $51,800
Apply for a Need-based Scholarship Here
Refund Policy
We require a $150.00 non-refundable deposit at the time of registration. If a participant cancels 2 weeks before the program start date we will retain the $150.00 deposit and the remaining program tuition will be refunded. If you apply for a scholarship and don’t receive one you may be eligible for a partial refund.
Late Payments
Payment is due in full 2 weeks out from the program start date. If payment is not received by then the spot on the program week will be forfeited to a camper on the waiting list. No refunds will be issued 2 weeks out from the program start date.
Removal of Camper from Program
If a camper chooses to leave or is removed from the course for behavioral, motivational (including homesickness), and/or medical reasons Experience Learning will not offer a refund.
In Case of Course Cancellation
We require a minimum of eight participants and reserve the right to cancel the program if we do not meet the minimum. In the event that we need to cancel a program session, we will notify families within thirty days of the start of the program and they will receive a full refund.