School trips and outdoor education
Day visits and overnight trips, with instructors who work with school groups all year. Outdoor programs for young people since 1990, 40 minutes from Roanoke.
The trip students remember
It's rarely a museum. It's the night in a cabin, the climb they didn't think they could do, the canoe that tipped over. Some schools make the trip part of their calendar: Woodberry Forest School sends students to us every fall, and the Steward School's visit is featured on our group retreats page.
Wilderness Adventure is accredited by the American Camp Association. Our staff are background checked and hold Wilderness First Aid and CPR certification, and our instructors work to industry standards for climbing, paddling and caving.
- Confidence: climbing a wall or crossing a high ropes element is a real achievement
- Teamwork: raft building and low ropes only work if the group listens
- A break from screens: cell service is very limited, which keeps everyone present
- Hands-on learning in creeks, caves, forests and ponds
Room for the whole class
Spaces for briefings, meals, small-group work and closing sessions.
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Main dining room
Seats up to 75 for meals or a full-group session.
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Break-out rooms
Three smaller rooms for 10 to 20 people each.
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Open-air pavilion
Roughly 100 people, covered, and the wet-weather backup.
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The gazebo
A quiet spot for 15, out by the pond.
Activities for school groups
Our instructors run every guided activity, so teachers can take part alongside their students.
- High and low ropes courses
- The 50-foot climbing wall and real rock climbing
- Caving
- Canoeing and kayaking on the pond and creek
- Mountain biking on our skill park and trails
- Team development games, raft building and adventure races
- Hiking on more than 10 miles of trails
Most adventure activities need participants to weigh between 50 and 250 pounds.
Learning on the property
A few ideas from the property and the area around it.
- Science: creek ecology in Craig Creek, the life of a pond, forest identification on the trails and the geology of the caves.
- History: the Old Homestead, an 1800s chestnut log cabin, and the 19th-century iron mines at nearby Fenwick Mines.
- Physical education: climbing, paddling, biking and hiking.
- Leadership and character: team challenges that ask students to plan, communicate and support each other.
- Writing: journals and reflections from a few days without screens.
Make it an overnight
A day visit fits in a few guided activities, lunch and a team challenge. An overnight trip adds the parts students remember most: sharing a lodge, eating together, an evening activity and a campfire.
Spring is our busiest season for school trips, and fall brings school and college programs. Popular spring dates fill up, so book early.
- The Main Lodge sleeps 56, with a stone fireplace and a long covered porch
- Sly Lodge sleeps 33, with a full kitchen and a patio with a grill
- The Sneaky Cabin sleeps 8 and the Old Homestead, an 1800s log cabin, sleeps 6
- The campground always has room for more tents, and glamping tents can be set up on request
An overnight trip
Two days that cover the highlights.
- Day one: arrive mid-morning, meet the instructors and split into activity groups. Lunch together, then an afternoon on the ropes course, the climbing wall or the water. Dinner, a team challenge and a campfire.
- Day two: breakfast, a morning adventure such as caving or a hike, then a closing session where each group shares what they learned. Lunch and the bus home.
Planning a school trip
What do students need to bring?
Your registration package includes a packing list. In short: water-resistant layers, comfortable closed-toe shoes and clothes that can get wet. All activity equipment is provided.
Can teachers join in?
Yes. Our instructors run the guided activities, so teachers can take part alongside their students.
Will our group have the property to ourselves?
Groups that book exclusive use will be on their own. Otherwise other groups may be on site, so ask your coordinator when you inquire.
Is the property accessible?
Sly Lodge, the bathhouse, the gazebo and the pavilion are wheelchair accessible. Tell us about any needs when you book so we can plan activities that include everyone.
Can you handle allergies and dietary needs?
Yes, with notice. Tell us about allergies and dietary restrictions at least two weeks before you arrive and we can guarantee alternatives at every meal.
Is there cell service and WiFi?
Cell reception is very limited and high-speed internet is not available. The lodges have limited WiFi. Let people know in advance how to reach the office in an emergency: 540-864-6792.
Who looks after us while we're there?
Every group of eight or more is assigned a host, and at least one staff member is on duty day and night.
Plan your school trip
Call the office or send an inquiry with your dates and numbers, and a coordinator will put together a pricing proposal. Once you approve it we send a reservation agreement to sign, then an invoice with a 30% non-refundable deposit. A payment plan is available.
Have questions about group retreats?
Tell us about your group, dates, and activities.
Prefer to call? 540-864-6792.