Day camp near Roanoke: a week of adventure, home every night

Not every camper is ready for a week away from home, and not every family wants one. Day Camp at Wilderness Adventure gives ages 8 to 13 a full week of outdoor adventure in the Blue Ridge, with drop-off at 9am and their own bed every night. Here's how the week works, what campers do, and how to tell if it's the right fit.

How it works

• Who: ages 8 to 13.
• When: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, with the same group all week.
• Where: drop-off and pickup at Base Camp, 11176 Peaceful Valley Road, New Castle, about 40 minutes from Roanoke.
• Food: lunch, a midmorning snack and an afternoon snack are included every day.
• Gear: boats, paddles, helmets, harnesses and ropes are all provided, and climbing, paddling and caving are led by certified instructors.

The 2027 weeks, tuition and discounts are on the Day Camp page and the summer camps page.

A sample week

Each day has a morning activity, lunch together, and an afternoon back outside. Weather and water levels can change the order, but a typical week looks like this:

• Monday, arrival and ropes: icebreakers, a safety orientation and low ropes challenges, then the climbing wall and high ropes elements in the afternoon.
• Tuesday, climb and canoe: outdoor rock climbing at a nearby crag such as Lignite, then paddling Craig Creek and learning strokes, steering and swimming.
• Wednesday, bushcraft: survival skills, fire and shelter building and pond class, then nature identification, animal tracking and the Outer Space hike.
• Thursday, water day: a guided caving trip with headlamps and a bit of geology, then tubing down Craig Creek.
• Friday, the finale: the WA Olympics, with field games and team challenges, then the Giant Swing and a closing circle with skits, awards and a final campfire.

Is it right for your child?

Day Camp is a good fit for local families, and for campers who want to try camp before spending a week away from home. A few signs it might suit your child:

• They're curious, but unsure about sleeping away. They get the whole adventure in the daytime, then come home to talk about it at dinner.
• They're on the younger side. Day Camp starts at age 8, and it can be a first step before an overnight program.
• You live close enough to drive, or the Salem shuttle works for you (more on that below).
• They like being with the same group. Staying together Monday to Friday gives campers time to learn names, make friends and build on each day's activities.

If you're weighing up a first camp more generally, our guide to whether your child is ready for overnight camp walks through each step, from Day Camp up to our teen programs.

The shuttle from Salem

For families coming from the Roanoke Valley, there's an optional shuttle from the Salem Park and Ride. It leaves Salem at 8am and gets back at 6pm, and costs $50 a week on top of tuition. Email camp@wilderness-adventure.com to set it up.

Trying an overnight halfway through

Campers who are enjoying Day Camp can switch to the overnight Homestead Adventure partway through the week. Homestead runs on the same dates, for an extra charge. Call the camp office on 540-864-6792 to arrange it. It's a gentle way to try a night away, with friends they've already made and staff they already know.

What to send with them

• Clothes that can get wet and muddy. Some of the best days involve water, mud or both.
• Closed-toe shoes that are already broken in.
• A towel and a change of clothes.
• Sunscreen and a water bottle.
• No phones or valuables. Leave them at home.

The full list is in the Day Camp packing list (PDF), and our guide to what to pack for adventure camp has more tips. Tell us about allergies and dietary needs on the health form.

More than one week

Each week runs as its own session, so campers can book two or more across the summer, and plenty do. The multi-session discount comes off automatically at checkout. Details of every discount are on the summer camps page.

What they learn along the way

The activities are the fun part, but every camp here is built around the same ideas. Campers pick up Outdoor Living Skills, like looking after their gear and staying warm and dry. Every group follows the seven Leave No Trace principles. And our four guiding principles, Respect, Positive Attitude, Work Ethic and Communication, shape how campers and staff treat each other.

Before you enroll

Enrollment happens on UltraCamp, our registration site, where new families create an account first. A non-refundable deposit holds the spot, and the rest can go on an interest-free payment plan. If you'd like to see the place first, we're open year-round for tours, and bringing your camper along usually settles more nerves than any brochure. More answers on meals, refunds and arrival day are in our summer camp FAQs.