5% off Summer Camp for new campers with code EARLYBIRD27
Campers paddling kayaks on a wide mountain river
For campers who love the water

Go With The Flow

Two weeks of river days and nights under the stars. Learn to paddle a kayak and canoe, make camp with your crew, and finish the trip with guided rafting in the New River Gorge.

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Enrollment happens on UltraCamp, our registration site. New families create an account there first.

Ages
13–17
Camp type
Specialty trip
2027 tuition
Two weeks $3,399
2027 sessions

Two weeks
June 20 – July 3 (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

  • Kayak and canoe expedition across two states
  • Paddleboarding
  • Camping on the riverbank each night
  • Progressive whitewater skills
  • A climbing day mid-trip
  • Guided New River Gorge rafting finish
Campers in helmets paddling a raft through whitewater with a guide
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.

Campers in life jackets paddling canoes along a wooded river
Go With The Flow

A summer on the water.

Paddling skills, river days and a crew to share them with. For campers who would rather be in a boat.

See 2027 sessions
Who it's for

Is Go With The Flow right for your camper?

If your camper would happily spend every day on the water, take a look at this trip. Go With The Flow is a two-week paddling expedition for ages 13–17 through Virginia and West Virginia.

Campers learn kayaking and canoeing skills, travel with their group, and camp along the river. No paddling experience is required, but campers should be ready for two weeks outdoors and for sharing everyday jobs like loading boats and making meals.

A line of campers in kayaks raising their paddles on the river
A typical day

A day at Go With The Flow

River days start with the skills campers need for the water ahead: paddle strokes, reading the current, eddy turns, and rescue practice. The group travels together, then lands to set up camp and cook dinner.

A climbing day adds a change of pace during the trip. The final adventure is a guided rafting trip in the New River Gorge with a professional outfitter and Wilderness Adventure counselors along.

Sample week

What a week looks like

An example of the first week, based on past trips. Go With The Flow is a two-week program. Call us for this year’s itinerary.

  1. Day 1

    Launch the trip

    Campers pick up gear, meet their paddling group and instructors, and cover river safety and packing before backpacking to the first campsite.

  2. Day 2

    Paddling basics

    Instruction on calm water: strokes, boat control and communication. In the afternoon, a longer paddle as a group, then fire building and knot tying in the evening.

  3. Day 3

    Reading the river

    A scenic stretch of river where campers learn to read current, spot hazards, ferry and make eddy turns, then camp riverside.

  4. Day 4

    Whitewater skills and safety

    Campers start running Class I–II rapids and take a swiftwater safety clinic covering rescue and safety positioning.

  5. Day 5

    Climbing day

    A day off the water climbing sandstone cliffs in West Virginia.

  6. Day 6

    Paddle farther

    A longer travel day on flatwater and moving current, with campers handling navigation, pacing and camp setup.

  7. Day 7

    Big water

    One of the most exciting river sections of the trip so far, then a celebration dinner and campfire before week two.

Summer camp

Photos from camp

An instructor teaching a camper beside a kayak in the river Helmeted campers paddling brightly colored kayaks on the water Two smiling campers wearing helmets and life jackets in kayaks Campers on paddleboards beside a waterfall pouring into a green lake Campers paddling a line of kayaks down a sunny river Two campers paddling a canoe through a rocky rapid View from a canoe paddling toward cliffs on a wide river A large group of campers in life jackets posing by the kayak racks Campers in helmets and life jackets floating in the river Campers in life jackets gathered on the lawn by the boathouse Two smiling campers in helmets sitting in their kayaks on the pond A smiling camper in a cap and life jacket paddling a canoe Campers jumping off a sandstone ledge into the river

Activities vary by program and session.

Compare the camps →
What's included

What tuition includes

  • Kayaks, canoes, paddles, helmets and PFDs for the full expedition
  • All camping equipment, dry bags, food and water treatment
  • Guided New River Gorge rafting trip with a professional outfitter
  • A climbing day with certified instructors mid-trip
  • Mid-trip food resupply and all travel between rivers
Common questions

Go With The Flow FAQs

Does my camper need whitewater experience?

No. Skills are taught from flatwater up, and the trip is sequenced so campers build to moving water rather than starting on it.

Do campers need to be strong swimmers?

Campers must be comfortable in the water. Everyone wears a PFD at all times on the water, and swim and rescue practice is part of the first days.

Where do campers sleep?

In tents on the riverbank, moving camp as the expedition moves. All camping equipment is provided.

What happens on the rafting day?

The group runs the New River Gorge with a licensed commercial outfitter and their guides, with our counselors along. It is the last big day of the expedition.

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

Enrollment happens on UltraCamp, our registration site. New families create an account there first.

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.