Summer 2026
Peak Experiences
Summer Programs for Wilderness Kids Students
Summer gives us extra time
to really immerse ourselves in the natural world.
Let's do this!
In 2026, Wilderness Kids is excited to offer the following four types of program:
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Summer Day Outings: 1-Day programs that pack plenty of adventure on their own! Outings will be centered around one activity, such as whitewater rafting or going to the beach. Open to all registered students.
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Week-long Day Camps: A series of five 1-Day outings for students looking for a different nearby adventure for every day of the week!
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2-3 Day Adventures: For students interested in spending the night away from home and under the stars, we offer these short camping experiences.
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4-6 Day Experiences: A more immersive experience, for students looking for adventure a bit further afield.
Click on any of the links above to go straight to that topic, or just scroll down to see them all.
We are delighted to offer a variety of accessible adventures from 2 to 3 days in length in Summer 2026. Each adventure features at least one outdoor activity, such as hiking, surfing, or swimming. Students are given a chance to try many new things. On all trips, students sleep in tents in modern campgrounds. These trips are open to all registered students who have participated in a Wilderness Kids Program before.
2-3 Day Adventures
JuLY 28 to 30
Mountains and Rivers:
Middle School Shenandoah Trip
Our trip to Shenandoah National Park returns, this time carefully designed for middle school students! We will hike to refreshing swimming holes and enjoy the serenity of tall waterfalls. We will take in scenic vistas as we explore the ridgelines of the Appalachian Mountains, and will spend plenty of time hanging out at camp in the open meadows. This trip is for rising 6th-8th grade students. We will sleep in tents in a “front-country” campsite (with bathroom facilities and near other campers).
June 16 to 18
Beaches, surfing, and horses:
High School Coastal Adventure
Wilderness Kids will head to the ocean for all sorts of coastal fun! We will go surfing in Ocean City, see the wild horses on Assateague Island, and have fun in the sun at the beach! This is a trip for rising 9th-12th grade students. We will sleep in tents on Assateague Island in a “front-country” campsite (with bathroom facilities and near other campers).
july 13 to 14
Fort Valley Adventure:
Middle School 1-night Trip
This introductory camping trip prioritizes having fun and feeling safe out in nature! A great option for a first time camping or the first time away from home, we will make camp in the valley of Massanutten Mountain, where Passage Creek provides many great swimming holes. This region is also home to breathtaking clifftop views and many old historical sites. This trip is for rising 6th-8th grade students. We will sleep in tents in a “front-country” campsite (with bathroom facilities and near other campers).
July 16 to 17
Patapsco Waterfalls:
Middle School 1-night Trip
This introductory camping trip involves lots of splashing in rivers, and plenty of fun games with friends at camp. Together we will explore Maryland’s Patapsco Valley State Park, hiking to Cascade Falls. We will learn how to work as a team in setting up tents, making group meals, building a cozy campfire, and much more!
4-6 Day Experiences
We are delighted to offer several of these experiences in Summer 2026. These trips will engage high school students in a variety of activities, and the longer duration will allow for community building among students, as well as opportunities for individual reflection, leadership, and independence for students. On all trips, students sleep in tents in modern campgrounds. This trip is open to all registered students who have completed at least one camping trip with Wilderness Kids before, or who have prior approval from Wilderness Kids Staff.
August 3 To 8
Endless Adventure in the Mountain State:
High School Seneca Rocks Trip
Our Seneca Rocks Trip returns as our longest trip for our most seasoned high school students! We will stand atop the highest point in West Virginia, make natural clay sculptures while exploring wild caves, float down a river in tubes, hunt for new swimming holes, and bike down the scenic Greenbrier River Trail. This is a trip for rising 9th-12th grade students. We will sleep in tents at a “front-country” campsite (with bathroom facilities and near other campers).
July 20 To 24
Whitewater Thrillseekers:
High School Ohiopyle Trip
Wilderness Kids will explore western Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands, where countless rivers cut lush canyons into the Allegheny Plateau. Activities include hiking, biking, swimming, and of course, professionally-guided whitewater rafting on the Lower Youghiogheny River. This is a trip for rising 9th-12th grade students. We will sleep in tents in a “front-country” campsite (with bathroom facilities and near other campers).
june 29 To july 2
Canoeing Through Canyons:
Boys Trip
Wilderness Kids' annual Boys Trip will utilize the most luxurious mode of outdoor slow travel: canoeing down a river! We will start with a day camping at the historic Paw Paw tunnel, a cool refuge on hot summer days. The next day, we’ll put in and head down the river for two days of canoeing, framed by the famous cliffs of the Paw Paw bends! This trip is geared towards rising 8th-12th grade boys. We will sleep in tents in a “front-country” campsite (with bathroom facilities and near other campers).
August 17 To 20
Good company and quality time in the mountains:
Girls Trip
For our yearly all-girls trip, Wilderness Kids will set off to explore Grayson Highlands State Park. Nestled in the high mountains of southwestern Virginia, it is home to beautiful swimming holes, wild ponies, a rare inland rainforest ecosystem, and nearby Mount Rogers, the tallest mountain in Virginia! Students will get to explore all that the area has to offer, as well as spend plenty of time relaxing at camp together. This trip is for rising 8th-12th grade girls. We will sleep in tents in a “front-country” campsite (with bathroom facilities and near other campers).
Week-long day camps
After introducing our day camp last summer, we are excited to offer TWO different day camps this year! Each day camp consists of five straight days of one-day outings, Monday through Friday. These trips will serve as a great way for young students to explore all the natural beauty in and around Alexandria, while returning home for dinner each day. Students will sign up for the entire week, and will be picked up and dropped off at the same location each day. Activities and locations will vary each day, but they will all be fueled by an abundance of delicious and nutritious snacks and lunches provided by Wilderness Kids. This trip is open to all registered students entering grades 7th-10th.
July 6 to 10
Discovering Nature Nearby:
One-Week Multi-Sport Day Camp
Our day camp will take students kayaking, swimming, rock climbing, biking, and to the beach, where we might even find prehistoric shark teeth! This is our favorite week for fitting many different summer adventures all into one program, all while staying close to home. Our multi-sport day camp balances high adventure with ample opportunities to cool off from the summer heat, providing a week full of fun and new friendships!
JuNe 22 to 26
Splashing and Exploring:
Water and Swimming Day Camp
Kick off your summer of outdoor adventures with our water-focused day camp! Students will explore lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and beaches, connecting to the magical and restorative powers of water in nature. From tubing up on the Shenandoah River to playing beach games at Sandy Point State Park, we will explore all different levels of our watershed and the recreational activities they offer. This is a great chance to become more comfortable in the water, to cool off on long days with friends, and to have fun!
FAQs
(Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: What is the cost to attend?
A: All Wilderness Kids programs are completely free of charge. We provide all transportation, food and drink, and camping gear. Students bring appropriate clothes for the trip and a positive attitude, ready to try new things and contribute to a team.
Q: Where will students sleep on the program?
A: Students will sleep in single-gender tents. Adult Trip Leaders will sleep in tents separate from but nearby the students. Wilderness Kids provides tents, sleeping bags and sleeping pads to go under each sleeping bag.
Q: What do students do during the trips?
A: Every trip includes camping. Beyond that, each trip has particular activities that it emphasizes, such as rock-climbing, river paddling, backpacking, rafting, or lake-exploring. Our longer trips may incorporate more than one of these focused activities. When not doing these activities, Trip Leaders may guide students through other games and activities. Students also help to prepare each meal and help with clean up. Students set up and break down camp. Students also enjoy supervised downtime each day.
Q: What is the Student:Adult ratio?
A: Overnight trips will have not more than a 4:1 student:adult ratio. For example, 12 students and 3 adults. Most trips will have no more than 12 students and may have as few as 6 to 8.
Q: What does my student need to bring with them?
A: We will provide a packing list to each student. The most important items on the list are a good pair of walking shoes (not just Crocs) and layers of clothing so that the student can adjust easily to changing temperatures. All clothes that come on the trip should be clothes that can get dirty - please do not bring your best clothing.
Q: What about cell phones?
A: We view our time on these adventures as a time to get away from screens and get into nature. Therefore, we require students to leave their phones at home. We have found that, while students are initially upset by this, they adjust quite quickly and become more engaged in the experience at hand. Trip Leaders do have cell phones that they use to take photos, to coordinate activities with partner organizations, or to use in the event of emergency circumstances.
Q: Can I contact my student?
A: These adventures and excursions offer an opportunity for your child to have some experience of independence, so we ask that you do not contact your child other than in the event of emergency. Very often, a camper can be doing just fine on a trip and a call from home can suddenly cause home-sickness that was not there before. Thank you for understanding.
Q: Where do students go to the bathroom?
A: When we are in front-country campgrounds (most of the time), students will have access to modern toilet facilities. When we are backpacking or hiking, we will be in "primitive" sites and students will find an appropriate place in the woods, out of site of others, to go to the bathroom. Trip Leaders will provide guidance about how to do this.
Q: I have more questions. What can I do?
A: Please don't hesitate to text us at 571-629-1182 to ask questions or set up a phone call. (Para español, por favor mande un email a Jerry@WildernessKidsAlexandria.org para preguntar sobre cualquiera cosa or para arreglar una llamada.)
