5% off Summer Camp for new campers with code EARLYBIRD27
Campers resting on a rock overlook above the New River Gorge
An introduction to the great outdoors

Classic Adventure

Climb real rock, paddle a river, explore a cave, and learn to cook dinner over a fire. Classic Adventure is for campers who want to try it all, with new friends and counselors there to help along the way.

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Ages
9–17
Camp type
Overnight
2027 tuition
One week $1,799
Two weeks (Expedition) $3,199
2027 sessions

Ages 9–12
June 20 – June 26; July 4 – July 10; July 11 – July 17; July 25 – July 31

Ages 13–17
June 20 – June 26; July 11 – July 17; July 18 – July 31 (2 weeks)

Reserve a spot with a $200 non-refundable deposit. The rest can go on an interest-free payment plan when you register.

Early bird, returner, sibling, multi-session and referral discounts are on the summer camps page.

Activities

What campers do

  • Rock climbing on real Blue Ridge crags
  • Canoeing and kayaking on creek and river
  • Caving
  • High and low ropes courses
  • Cooking over a fire and camp skills
  • Small groups with trained counselors
A group of campers in life jackets lined up with their kayaks at the river
How we teach

Skills and values at every camp

Outdoor Living Skills (OLS)

Campers learn to set up camp, cook, stay warm and dry, find their way and look after their gear, so they can enjoy the outdoors safely on their own.

Leave No Trace (LNT)

Every group follows the seven Leave No Trace principles: plan ahead, stay on durable ground, pack out trash, leave what you find, keep fires small, respect wildlife and be considerate of others.

RAWC: our four guiding principles

Respect, Positive Attitude, Work Ethic and Communication. These four principles guide how campers and staff treat each other and work together at Wilderness Adventure.

Students wearing life jackets paddling canoes along a tree-lined river
Classic Adventure

A little of everything.

Campers paddle a river, climb real rock and explore a cave, with counselors teaching each skill along the way.

See 2027 sessions
Who it's for

Is Classic Adventure right for your camper?

Not sure which adventure to choose? Start here. Classic Adventure brings together climbing, paddling, caving, and ropes courses for ages 9–17. Campers don't need outdoor experience to join; learning together is part of the fun.

Younger and older campers join separate age groups. There's time to try new skills, get comfortable with the group, and take on challenges at an appropriate level. Choose a one-week session or the two-week Expedition for ages 13–17.

Helmeted campers supporting a climber on a rock face
A typical day

A day at Classic Adventure

After breakfast, the group gets ready for the day's activity. That might mean heading to a climbing site, getting boats onto the water, exploring a cave, or trying the ropes courses. Instructors help campers learn the skills and get comfortable with the equipment.

Back at camp, everyone pitches in. There are meals to cook, gear to organize, and stories to swap before settling into tents. Those everyday moments are as much a part of camp as the big adventures.

The two-week Expedition gives older campers more time in the backcountry, with a mid-trip food resupply and more shared responsibility along the way.

Sample week

What a week looks like

An example week based on past trips. Classic Adventure is one week; Classic Expedition is two. Call us for this year’s itinerary.

  1. Day 1

    Arrival and welcome

    Campers arrive, meet their counselors and pick up their gear at Base Camp. After a stop at the camp store for trail snacks, the group backpacks out to its first campsite. The evening covers setting up camp, cooking dinner on backpacking stoves, group expectations, local wildlife and Leave No Trace.

  2. Day 2

    Wheels, water and teamwork

    Older campers may hit the mountain bike trails while others head to the pond for kayaking. Midday brings team-building challenges and group games. In the afternoon, campers shoulder their packs and hike to a new campsite.

  3. Day 3

    Climbing and caving

    Campers take on the climbing wall, learning movement, balance and rappelling, then head underground on a guided caving trip. Later the group travels to a new area, backpacks to camp and cooks dinner together.

  4. Day 4

    Waterfalls and rock

    The morning starts with a hike to waterfalls and natural waterslides. In the afternoon, campers climb and rappel at an off-site climbing area, then backpack to a new campsite.

  5. Day 5

    Overnight in the National Forest

    Campers head into the Jefferson National Forest to put their new skills to work on an overnight camping trip, with dinner cooked over the fire, s’mores and stories.

  6. Day 6

    Celebrate the week

    Campers take on the low ropes course, then the whole camp comes together for the WA Olympics. The day ends with a big spaghetti dinner and a closing campfire with skits.

  7. Day 7

    Wrap-up and pickup

    Campers repeat a favorite activity, look back on the week and say their goodbyes.

Summer camp

Photos from camp

A counselor and campers smiling from their canoes on a lake trip A camper swinging out over the river on a rope swing Helmeted campers making their way through a narrow cave passage Campers climbing a tall rock face with instructors belaying below Campers in coveralls and helmets gathered on rocks inside a large cave Campers cheering in front of a waterfall while a friend floats on a tube Campers pitching tents together in the meadow at Base Camp Teen campers laughing as they tip a canoe in the river Campers helping each other over a tall wooden wall on the challenge course Campers standing on a rocky overlook looking out over the valley Campers in helmets and coveralls squeezed into a cave passage Campers with backpacks and sleeping pads lined up before heading out on a trip A camper in an orange helmet starting up the log ladder on the ropes course Campers and a counselor wading in a shady creek beside their canoes A camper making their way across the swinging bridge on the ropes course Two campers climbing the wooden wall as counselors belay

Activities vary by program and session.

Compare the camps ↗
What's included

What tuition includes

  • All camping and activity equipment, including boats, bikes, helmets and harnesses
  • Backpack, sleeping bag and liner, sleeping pad, tent and cooking gear on loan
  • All meals, snacks and water for the session
  • Trained counselors and certified activity instructors
  • Transport to every off-site climbing, paddling and caving location
  • Sunday arrival lunch and use of Base Camp facilities
Common questions

Classic Adventure FAQs

Does my camper need any climbing or paddling experience?

No. Classic Adventure is built for campers with no experience at all. Instructors teach each activity from the ground up, and every group contains campers trying it for the first time.

What is the difference between the one-week and two-week sessions?

The one-week session runs Sunday to Saturday from Base Camp, with trips to climbing, paddling and caving sites and a night or two camping away from Base Camp. The two-week Expedition, for ages 13 to 17, travels further into the backcountry, resupplies food mid-trip, and asks more of campers in terms of pack weight and shared responsibility.

How are campers grouped?

By age. The 9 to 12 sessions and the 13 to 17 sessions run separately, and within a session groups stay small so counselors can adjust activities to the group.

Where do campers sleep?

In two- or three-person tents, either at the group campsite on our property or at a backcountry site on the longer trips. Tents, sleeping bags and pads are all provided.

More on packing, meals, mail, refunds and arrival day in our summer camp FAQs.

Other programs

A few more ways to spend the summer.

2027 enrollment is open

Save your camper a spot.

Enrollment for 2027 is open. New campers get 5% off with code EARLYBIRD27 until January 31, 2027. A $200 non-refundable deposit holds the spot, and the rest can go on an interest-free payment plan.

Enroll now See all camps
Get in touch

Have questions about summer camp?

Ask about programs, dates, or choosing a camp.

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Prefer to call? 540-864-6792.