Wilderness Trail Running Camp

entering grades 9 – 12

Explore the wild and wonderful forests of West Virginia’s Seneca Creek Backcountry. Campers will take part in a realistic wilderness and back country trail running experience as we discover this wild land by running on (and off!) trails, exploring caves, enjoying cascading waterfalls, and base-camping in a central location to access all of it on foot.

Camp begins with a hike to our base camp location where we will set up our tents and settle in to our home for the week.

Each day we will present a new challenge for the group to tackle together as we balance running and recovery. These are backcountry trails, steep and technical, and they will teach us all as we push our limits, and learn how to safely and responsibly immerse ourselves in this special wild place.

We finish the week off with our own Color Run 5K around our campus trails.

This camp is focused on general early-season conditioning, with mileage/effort level adjustable for different participants. This camp is also appropriate for athletes in soccer, lacrosse, mountain biking, hiking, or other endurance-based activities. To have success on this program, campers should be able to comfortably complete a 4 mile road run.

Our running camp is made possible by a partnerships with the West Virginia Mountain Trail Runners, Genesis Running and Ultimate Direction. WVMTR helps provide expert running coaches, Genesis Running helps to provide camper scholarships and Ultimate Direction provides specialized hydration gear for each camper.

What I think is so valuable about what is offered here is it is not only trail running help, but the wilderness piece: orienteering, first aid, map reading, and leadership stuff. – 2018 camper

I liked backpacking camp but I love running camp so much more. Because I like being out in the woods and running is one of my favorite things and getting to do it out there with a bunch of other high schoolers is great! – 2018 camper

Campers will participate in stewardship projects earning an average of 8 hours of service hours per week-long session.

Coach Coming Soon!

Check back soon for more information about the running coach for 2022!

Stewardship Flashback

In 2021, campers from Running and Orienteering camp met up with the Forest Service on the Seneca Creek Trail.  They spent the day dismantling a defunct beaver dam that was flooding the trail and armoring a stream crossing to prevent erosion on this popular trail.

Ultimate Direction is the founding running hydration company in 1985. Ultimate Direction continues to reinvent the category with award-winning hydration vests, handhelds and belts along with wearable gear for running, skiing, climbing, obstacle course racing and fastpacking.

WVMTR is a state-wide trail running club in West Virginia who host quality trail races across the state including a Trilogy of trail races at the Spruce Knob Mountain Center each October.