Group Activities

The root of our program is the adventure activities that we offer. Experiential education is an important tenet and we believe that our adventure program offers the perfect forum for groups to grow together in a non-traditional learning environment. We can tailor each activity to meet your group’s specific goals: to develop leadership, to encourage communication, or to have a good time. Whether it’s group interaction or individual challenge you seek, our adventure program can meet your needs.

All of our activities are presented in a supportive, safe environment. Our programs and instructors abide by the “Challenge By Choice” philosophy. We provide individuals with the opportunity to attempt challenges in an atmosphere of support and caring. We believe that the attempt is more significant than the performance results in all our programs. The point is not to get to the top, but to challenge yourself to reach your goals, and then try a step further.

Following are descriptions of the activities that Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing has to offer. Each activity provides the opportunity for your group members to both cultivate working relationships with each other and to challenge themselves personally. We conduct most of the activities on our base camp property or in the surrounding National Forest or nearby Rivers. However, we are able to send facilitators for ground initiatives to your workplace or other meeting site.

Ground Initiatives

• The ground initiatives are usually a precursor to our low elements course.  Many of the initiatives are designed for large groups and help people learn names, find something out about a coworker they might not have know before, or just loosen up and get mentally prepared to interact and have fun.
• Ground initiatives are great for large groups also that may not be able to go on our elements course, due to their numbers.  Many of the benefits of the low ropes can be transferred into similar activities done on the ground or in one of our large activity fields.
• These activities are also useful for what us industry folks call “sequencing”.  Sequencing allows facilitators to ease into the teambuilding process by starting off with simple activities that are fun and require less focus and gradually get to the meat of the course where conflicts can arise and the goals are more challenging.
• Examples: The Amazing Rising Pole – A group initiative where members work together to lower a pole to the ground without it leaving their fingertips. Seems easy? Just wait and see. Traffic Jam – Half the group stands on one side, half on the other, they need to switch places. Seems straightforward, but rules apply. Groups ponder many ways of reaching the solution, but in the end there’s only one.

Low Ropes Challenge Course

• Our two low ropes challenge courses offer a combined total of over 30 challenging and unique elements on our 500 acre property.  We have some of the classic elements that you expect from a teambuilding experience as well as some that are exclusive to WAEL that were designed and created by our facilitation staff.  Both courses are designed to enhance group interaction and to push people to their limits where growth and positive change can occur.
• The elements encourage conflict in a constructive way to bring out issues amongst the group members, as well as highlights the areas where your team flourishes.
• Low elements encourage a sense of awareness of the individual responsibilities within a group setting while honing the groups ability to trouble shoot in different situations
• Examples: The Spider Web – The group must navigate their way through a giant spiders web without setting off any alarms. Facilitators tend to concoct creative scenarios for this one that apply to your group. Tarzan’s Folly – The group spots individual members as they walk along a cable holding onto ropes. This one encourages trust in the group as the walkers rely on the rest of the group to focus on spotting them. Groups are sometimes surprised at their member’s ability in this fun element.

Facilitated Corporate Workshops

These are a few of our more popular workshops. Any of these can be done in 2-4 hours and can be combined with the majority of our other activities.  All of our workshops and facilitation is custom designed to meet the goals of your organization.  After booking your trip we use a pre-arrival questionnaire to get the specifics of your group and then our facilitators use that information to create custom activity segments.

• Inspiring Shared Vision (4 hr Goal Setting Workshop)
• Change Leadership (4 hr workshop on the qualities of transformational leaders)
• Stumbling Blocks & Stepping Stones (2 hr Problem Solving Workshop)
• Situational Leadership (2 hrs)
• Group Process & Team Dynamics (4 hrs)
• Decision Making (2 hrs)

High Ropes Challenge Course

• Our high ropes challenge course consists of 4 elements: The Giant’s Ladder, The Pole Climb, The Cargo Net, and the Double Strand
• Each element presents individual challenges in a supportive group environment
• High ropes aid in developing levels of confidence, self-esteem, drive, and motivation
• Example: The Pole Climb – Two climbs are set up. Individuals tie into ropes and attempt to climb trees. Upon reaching the top, they check out the view, then jump out to ring a bell. Definitely an exhilarating event.

Climbing Wall and Rappelling Tower

• Our 50’ climbing tower offers many levels of personal and group challenge. At any given time there can be two climbers and one rappeller (or groups can choose to climb only). The wall is set up so that climbers can choose the level of challenge they want. Group members who are not climbing stand by for support and offer suggestions for routes to the climbers.
• Like high ropes, the climbing wall is confidence building. The wall helps individuals to cultivate trust in themselves and empowers the group to provide a supportive environment.

Rock Climbing

• This activity offers many of the challenges that our climbing wall presents, except that the rocks are real
• Individuals develop motivation and trust in themselves and in their group as they overcome the obstacles of climbing in a natural environment

Zip Line

• Famed as one of the world’s longest, our 900’ zip line has become arguably the most popular adventure activity that WAEL has to offer. Group members hike to the top of the mountain, get attached to the cable, then come flying 35-40 miles per hour down the hill
• Definitely an individual challenge that requires group support to overcome. A huge self-esteem builder, individuals never walk away without a grin on their faces.

Watch a video of our zip line:

Hiking

• Enjoy the beautiful scenery that the Blue Ridge Mountains have to offer. We offers several hiking opportunities. On our base camp property, groups often hike to “the bluff”, arguably the most beautiful spot on our base camp property. Stand on the shale-covered outcropping and enjoy the view of the mountains beyond and the creek and fields below. We also offer day trips to nearby Roaring Run in Jefferson National Forest. Groups can hike up to the beautiful falls at the top of the trail and then journey down to the natural waterslide for 35 feet of slip-sliding fun.
• Hiking offers the group the opportunity to bond together to achieve a particular destination as well as cultivate memories together of the fantastic sights and sounds of the wilderness environment

Caving

• Groups travel off the property to one of Virginia’s beautiful limestone caves. WAEL instructors issue caving suits, helmets, lamps, and gloves, then lead the way into the underground world. Groups learn about cave ecology and history as they navigate through miles of passageways, looking at cave formations and cave wildlife along the way
• This activity presents individual and group challenges. Group members rely on each other to safely travel through the cave as they pass messages to each other and point out obstacles
• Employees develop a sense of how to help each other with new, unfamiliar environments

Canoeing

• Choose to paddle down nearby Craig Creek or mount a full day’s journey down the James or New River. We provide canoes, paddles, lifejackets, and guides. We can also pack a lunch to have on the way
• Groups enjoy the scenery that canoeing has to offer. They also learn effective communication as they navigate their way downstream.
• This activity also encourages individuals to assume specific roles, whether they are navigating in the front of the boat or steering in the back

Kayaking

• All kayaking begins with a flat water kayak class on our pond. There group members learn paddling basics as well as “wet exits” (how to get out of your boat). If groups choose to go, after the flat water class they are eligible for a whitewater excursion on the James or New Rivers
• Kayaking presents multi-faceted individual challenge. Group members work on their ability to deal with frustration, maintain balance, and cope with confining situations

Mountain Biking

• Groups start off with an introductory class and a brief instructional loop on our base camp property before heading into the national forest for an extensive mountain biking experience. WAEL provides the bikes, helmets, water bottles, gloves, and experienced guides
• Mountain biking again provides groups with individual challenges better overcome with group support. Additionally, mountain biking offers a great way to see the beauty that the national forest has to offer and packs a great sense of satisfaction at the end of a good ride.

Trout Fishing

• We happen to be located only 10 minutes from the premier Trout fishing facility on the east coast.  The Big Pine Trout Farm currently has their rates set for $60/person/day, but their popularity has been rapidly increasing so rates are subject to change.  They can give you exclusive use to their streams and guarantee that you will catch a delicious fish.  Bring your fish back to camp and we will cook it for you, or have Jimbo at Big Pine Trout prepare you a meal.  Click here to email Big Pine Trout Farm.
• When you contact Big Pine Trout tell them we sent you, or we will even book it for you ourselves.  Email us to have Wilderness Adventure set up a full retreat with fishing included or mention it on your pricing request form to have it added to your proposal.