“Every camp placement organization I spoke with let me know that this was hands-down the favorite camp. The level of organization and professionalism was amazing. My child really grew on this trip."
- Diana Ravicchio
Rossmoor, CA
Enjoy breathtaking views and lush scenery as you backpack in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. Explore the underground world of a cave. Start a splash war on the river then soar above it on a zip line. It’s all here in the Blue Ridge! This trip lets you connect with the outdoors and explore a new part of the country.
Nothing is more satisfying than the amazing views of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the Shining Rock Wilderness Area at sunset. Explore the "land of waterfalls" and hike across beautiful mountain ridges and natural balds. This is a highlight of the trip because you make such close friends in your small group.
Choose your level of challenge when you climb the 250 million year old granite that’s literally in our own backyard! We will set up climbs for all abilities so you can enjoy the view from the top.
Coast along a wide path or pick up the pace as you pedal down a steeper single-track in world-renowned Dupont State Forest - where the movie Hunger Games was filmed! Enjoy a cool swim at Winter Green Falls along the trail.
Grab your headlamp and go deep underground to explore a new world beneath your feet. Climb, slither, and crawl through passages and tunnels. Experience complete darkness and silence (if you can stop laughing at your mud-covered friends!). Learn about the unique ecology of caves.
Explore the Great Smoky Mountains by boat! Pack everything you need in your canoe and head out for three days of paddling on pristine Fontana Lake. Enjoy the wildlife and scenery, and camp on a private peninsula!
Get soaked shooting the roaring rapids of the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River. Improve your skills while paddling for two days on this beautiful, exciting class II, III, and IV river.
Discover why Panthertown Valley is called "the Yosemite of the East." Hike over stunning North Carolina peaks and discover hidden waterfalls. You'll experience great sunrises, sunsets, and plenty of time to get to know your new friends.
On the Pigeon River, near the Great Smoky Mountains, you will enjoy intermediate class III-IV rapids for a fun, fast-paced whitewater experience.
Soar through the forest canopy across 12 zip lines and 4 sky bridges. You've been underground, in the water, and on top of the mountain, now travel high above the scenery for fantastic views and a new thrill. Your last zip line is a quarter-mile long and 120 feet high!
Call 888-954-5555 for more information about this trip and to check availability. Apply early to ensure the trip of your choice.
Flights:
Arrive in Charlotte, NC (CLT) between 8 AM and 1 PM on July 14.
Depart from Charlotte (CLT) between 6 AM and 1 PM on August 2.
Driving:
If you prefer to drive directly to Adventure Treks for the Blue Ridge Explorer trip, plan to meet at noon at the Adventure Treks Office, 1899 Berea Church Road in Hendersonville, NC on July 14 and pick up at Camp Pinnacle at noon on August 2.
July 14: Students arrive in Charlotte, NC (CLT) or Camp Pinnacle by 1pm.
July 15: Day hike to the top of Looking Glass Rock for incredible views of Pisgah National Forest
July 16-18: 3-day backpack in Panthertown Valley in Nantahala National Forest. Known as “Yosemite of the East,” you will hike through lush forests and see many amazing waterfalls. This is the perfect introduction to backpacking.
July 19: Mountain bike in Dupont State Forest. Coast along a wide path or pick up the pace on steeper downhill single-track. Pedal by huge and famous waterfalls.
July 20: Climb at Gilbert’s rock. We will set up ropes for all abilities so you can find just the right handholds and footholds, and enjoy the view from the top.
July 21-23: 3-Day Canoe trip on Fontana Lake in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Enjoy the wildlife and scenery as you camp on a private peninsula. Explore an historical Appalachian cabin and try to catch a mountain trout (don't forget your fishing pole)!
July 24: Logistics Day (shop for food, do laundry, and clean vans).
July 25-26: Overnight rafting trip in the Chattooga River. Get soaked shooting the rolling rapids for two days on this Wild and Scenic River.
July 27: Caving day trip. Climb, slither, and crawl through a maze of passages and tunnels. Experience complete darkness and silence while you learn about the unique ecology of caves.
July 28-30: 3-day backpack in Pisgah National Forest. Nothing is more satisfying than being above 6,000 ft with incredible views of mountain ranges extending over four states.
July 31: Zipline near the Pigeon River, just over the Tennessee border. Soar through the forest canopy across 12 zip lines and 4 sky bridges. Your last zip line is a quarter-mile long and 120 feet high!
August 1: Whitewater raft the Pigeon River. Enjoy five miles of intermediate class III and class IV rapids for a fun, fast-paced whitewater run.
August 2: Students depart Charlotte, NC or Camp Pinnacle by 1pm.
We reserve the right to alter the itinerary prior to and throughout the trip as we constantly improve the Adventure Treks experience. Itineraries may change due to: Severe weather, student ability, motivation and conditioning, high or low rivers, high or low snow pack, unpredictable natural disasters and acts of God, vehicle breakdowns, road closures, volcanic activity, forest fires, illness, ever changing permit regulations, any potential threat to safety; even a brilliant idea from an instructor or student. In the event of a schedule change, comparable activities will be substituted when possible and you will be notified by e-mail of significant changes.
Is this the best trip for me?
The Blue Ridge Explorer is a perfect trip for students who are currently in 7th-8th grade. With 24 students in the group, you will be challenged appropriately because we break up into small groups for each activity based on your interest and ability. Students spend time at our basecamp between activities, so this is a great trip for students who want the next step beyond summer camp.
Where is the basecamp located?
Our office address is:
1899 Berea Church Road
Hendersonville, NC 28739
Will I need cold-weather clothing on this trip?
Temperatures in the NC mountains are usually moderate, but we also want you to be prepared for cooler evenings and mornings around camp. A fleece, hat and gloves are recommended as part of your equipment list so you’ll be comfortable in any weather. For more information about packing, please check your equipment list at your Log In Page.
For more answers, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page or call us at 888-954-5555. We’re always happy to help you out!
Chris "Buckwheat" Shuler - Chris returns to Adventure Treks for his sixth season as a Trip Leader. In addition to being a certified snowboard and ski instructor he has worked with many outdoor educational organizations such as the Westwind Outdoor Science School, the Northwest Youth Corps and with Wingate in Utah. Christopher studied at the Wild Rockies Field Institute and earned his degree in Environmental Science from the University of Oregon. He is a certified Wilderness First Responder and is a talented musician. He has cycled from North Carolina to Arizona, around the Big Island of Hawaii and he taught middle school science at a bilingual school in Western Honduras.
Shelly Otis - Shelly is a first year instructor and is a graduate from Ithaca College. She has worked for the Ithaca College Immersion Semester Program for three years in Index, WA. She is a Wilderness First Responder, Leave No Trace Master Educator Instructor, Water Safety Instructor, Coastal Kayaking Instructor Level 2, Certified Outdoor Leader with the Wilderness Education Association. She has worked for Outward Bound In Leadville, CO, taking students on mountaineering and alpine backpacking courses.
Lindsey Mersereau –Lindsey, originally from the great state of Texas, will be joining Adventure Treks for her first year as an instructor. She is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College with a degree in Communication and the NOLS’ semester in Patagonia. She has been a sailing instructor in New York, a ski instructor in Colorado, a teacher in Connecticut, a trip leader in the Northwest, and a naturalist and ropes course instructor in California. She is a certified Wilderness First Responder.
Maddee Rubenson - Maddee is a native Oregonian, and she has also lived in Italy and Mexico. She is a graduate from Oregon State University with a degree in Earth Sciences. Maddee has worked as a guide on Mount St. Helens and has been a rock climbing instructor with OSU. She enjoys climbing, backpacking, and frolicking in the sunshine. She is a certified Wilderness First Responder, and will be rejoining us for her second year as an instructor.
Daniel Kreykes - Daniel will be joining us for his third season as an instructor. He is a graduate of Brevard College with a degree in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education. He has instructed whitewater kayaking and canoeing in Maryland, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and he has backpacked more than 800 miles of the Appalachian Trail. When he is not out kayaking on the local rivers, you can usually find him exploring the hidden trails and gorges of North Carolina with a fly rod and camera in hand. Daniel is a certified Wilderness First Responder, American Canoe Association Level 4 Kayak and Canoe Instructor, Leave No Trace Trainer, PADI Open Water Diver, and ACA Swiftwater Rescuer.
Julia Schleifman - Julia is a graduate from James Madison University with a degree in Psychology. She has been an instructor with at risk youth in North Carolina and Oregon. She has been a tutor, been on a Psychology Advisor Board, and led girl empowerment programs for teenage girls. When not spending time working, she can be found riding horses, or backpacking in wilderness areas. Julia is a Wilderness First Responder, PADI diver and first year instructor!
*Instructors may change prior to your trip – we’ll let you know if this happens.
Review:
Reviewed by: Katherine Cook
Date: November 2010
Rating: 5 out of 5
This camp was amazing! I met awesome friends that i still talk to and the range of activities just blew me away. The food was great and the counselors were so much fun! This was a summer i will never forget!
Reviewed by: Lilly Baker
Date: November 2010
Rating: 5 out of 5
During my trip I had the best time of my life. I made alot of new friends and they all felt like family. My instructurs were amazing. They helped everyone through out the trip. I Love Adventure Treks!!!!!
Reviewed by: Romy Seidenman
Date: August 3, 2010
Rating: 5 out of 5
This trip was the best thing that ever happened to me! I got to meet amazing people, and make life long friends. Although some times things get rough the instructors and students help you get through everything with their positive attitudes! I LOVE ADVENTURE TREKS!!!!
Reviewed by: Ali Hamlin
Date: April 23, 2010
Rating: 5 out of 5
This was my first wilderness trip like this, and it was amazing! I had the summer of my life here. Everyone was so great and the adventures were incredible. I loved how everyone was really a part of one big community, and the food was great! I loved this trip. Anyone thinking about it should really go. =)
Reviewed by: Kathryn Waller
Date: March 25, 2010
Rating: 5 out of 5
This was my first trip and I thought it was awesome! You're constantly doing somthing new, you never get boerd. You get to see amazing scenery and make great friends. I loved this trip and highly recommend it.
Reviewed by: Tyree Cowell
Date: February 22, 2010
Rating: 5 out of 5
this was my first adventure treks trip. it was a great starter-up and it made me want to come back for more. Everyday is a new challenge and everyone was so nice. we had amazing views that i will never forget and amazing feelings that i will never forget either. Nothing beats climbing a huge mountain and getting to see the view from the top, or kayaking for hours to get to a beautiful beach and spend the night on the shore. and getting to do it all with great friends was definately the icing on the cake
Reviewed by:
Allie Krichmar
Date: February 11, 2010
Rating: 5 out of 5
Blue Ridge Adventure was the best start to my future life at A.T! I met so many new people and became best friends with all of them. The white water rafting on this trip is amazing and the scenery when you are backpacking if unreal! This was my very first and best Adventure Treks trip ever!
Adventure Treks is a program for teenagers, so we don’t allow any inappropriate language or content in our reviews. We do screen reviews for spam and legitimacy, and we will post all appropriate comments in full.
Your review has been sent.
Thanks for interest in Adventure Treks!
Our administrative staff welcomes the opportunity to answer any questions and help you choose the best summer experience for your child.
1. Fill out our online application or apply by phone by calling 888-954-5555 Monday-Friday 9 am to 5 pm EST. Submit an $800 deposit to hold your place on the adventure of your choice.
2. We intentionally limit the size of our program, so enrollment is limited. Please send in your application early to ensure a place on the trip of your choice.
3. Our acceptance process ensures a great peer group for your child. We require an essay and 2 references from each new student, and we may also arrange a brief phone interview to get to know your child better.
All deposits are refundable prior to March 1st, less a $200 processing fee, for cancellation for any reason. For cancellations after March 1st, tuition is non-refundable. We recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance for your protection. If a participant withdraws voluntarily or is sent home as a consequence of unacceptable behavior, no refund of any kind will be granted. It is the parents’ responsibility to cover any additional travel expenses.
Click map to enlarge
| Duration: | 20 days |
| Dates: | July 14 - August 2 |
| '11-'12 Grades: | 7-8 |
| Activities: |
Whitewater Rafting |
| States: |
North Carolina |
| Airport: | Charlotte, NC (CLT) |
| Price: | $3595 |
|
|
|
Blue Ridge Explorer Photo Gallery:
Your recommendation has been sent.
Thanks for referring your friend!
