Mountain Mama (and Caves & Rivers Too): a 5 Day Adventure in West Virginia!

Wilderness Kids students ventured to Triangle Rock for a swim, during part of a 5-day camping trip in West Virginia.

Wilderness Kids hit the road and ventured out into the mountains once again for our 5-day high adventure trip, the longest trip of the summer! This time, the group went out to Seneca Rocks, West Virginia, camping at the foot of the famous “fins” of quartzite cliffs dramatically jutting into the sky. Students hiked up to the cliffs and were rewarded with beautiful views of the entire valley.

In addition to the best aerial views of nature, students got the unique opportunity to see the amazing subterranean world of West Virginia, with its endless networks of limestone caves. At Sharps Cave, they were led by Wilderness Kids' knowledgeable caving guide, Tim Boone. Tim took them through a wide passage that led to big rooms and culminated in an underground sculpture garden! Students played with clay and made some of their own art for the next visitors to enjoy. Being underground and navigating through a cave can be scary at times, but everyone did an amazing job of pushing themselves out of their comfort zones and supporting each other.

9th grade student Shayan strikes a pose deep inside Sharps Cave; The team made their mark (part of a tradition in Sharps Cave) down below; Led by Tim B., students make their way through a man-made "sculpture garden" in Sharps Cave.

It would not have been a true West Virginia experience without lots of time on the water. After all, the state is home to the oldest rivers in the world! Students stopped to swim at several different spots on the north fork of the Potomac River, including another unique rock formation of tilted limestone that has been appropriately nicknamed “Triangle Rock” (see photos below). This was a favorite spot for the students, along with “Big Bend”, a place where the group got to float down the river on tubes and take in the beautiful scenery. It was a special experience for their sense of place, that they got to float down the same river that flows down through Alexandria.

Wilderness Kids instructor Matt helps kids prep tubes for a ride down the Potomac at Big Bend; Tubing!; The kids venture to, and then enjoy sometime in the shade of Triangle Rock, on the Potomac.

After a long stretch of adventures, students relaxed with some cold beverages and ice cream on the way back to Alexandria. They left West Virginia full of new memories, and excited for what’s to come on their next camping trip!