River Adventure Program (For rising 6th-12th graders, ages 11-18)
Sunday 4:00pm through Friday 6:30pm
Week 1 = June 9-14
River Adventure Program (For rising 6th-12th graders, ages 11-18)
Join us and choose your adventure! Both Adventures include 4 days of paddling on 2 different rivers! Both options have trained and experienced River Canoe Instructors as well as Camp Bethel Staff.
Option 1 is recommended for those who are new to river adventures AND/OR those who do not want to camp along the river. This option includes dedicated instruction and practice time to ensure you can navigate the river as we progress in difficulty throughout the week. All nights will be spent in the AV at Camp Bethel.
Option 2 is recommended for the seasoned paddler that wants to take a leadership role, learn rescue skills, AND/OR those who want to get away from it all and camp riverside for 2 nights as we paddle down the river. This option includes cooking our own meals and setting up camp with tents or personal hammocks. We stay 3 nights at the AV at Camp Bethel and 2 nights on the river.
Option 1:
Stay each night in Camp Bethel’s Adventure Village and travel daily to paddle and play on the James/New River. When in Camp, you will participate in all camp activities and eat breakfast and dinner in the Ark dining hall.
Monday: Site based instruction day where you learn to work with your paddling partner to control your boat and work with the river. Games, swimming, and instruction insure that you will be the “boss of your boat”
Tuesday: Run a stretch of the James River from Buchanan to Alpine Farms, navigating several small ledges and wave fields.
Wednesday: Join the Option 2 Campers as they guide the group from Ripplemead to Bluff City on the New River. This is a classic and popular Class II day trip just west of Blacksburg.
Thursday: All River Adventure campers run the Balcony Falls Section of the James River. This is a popular Class III section of river that is a great opportunity to hone our river reading and running skills through the rock garden and the falls.
Friday: A day in camp for High Ropes, the pool fest, and cleaning up our river gear before heading home after dinner.
Option 2:
Sunday: Start with a night in the Adventure Village at camp after packing camping gear, food boats and personal gear in preparation for 3 days of canoe camping.
Monday: We leave right after breakfast for our put-in at McCoy Falls on the New River. Our camping and personal gear will be dropped off for us at our first night campsite. Lunch on the river, dinner at our campsite.
Tuesday: Breakfast at our campsite then practice trip leading skills and rescue skills as we paddle from Pembroke to Bluff City on the New River. Return to our campsite for dinner and another night on the river.
Wednesday: Break down camp and pack up after Breakfast. Join our Option 1 campers and become the Trip Leaders for the day as we run Pembroke to Bluff City on the New River. Return to Camp Bethel for Dinner. Sleep in the AV.
Thursday: All River Adventure campers run the Balcony Falls Section of the James River. This is a popular Class III section of river that is a great opportunity to hone our river reading and running skills through the rock garden and the falls. Dinner back at Camp. Sleep in the AV.
Friday: A day in camp for High Ropes, the pool fest, and cleaning up our river gear before heading home after dinner.
A specific letter and gear guide will follow your sign-up. Learn more about Why, How, and What we do during Summer Camps including a complete activities list. This is a great week of spiritual development, fun and adventure; exploring your extraordinary faith journey and learning TOGETHER. Be here for an awesome week!
Subsidized Fee (discounted cost) = $510; Supporters Fee (actual cost) = $560; Sustainers Fee (cost + $50 gift) = $610.
Join us and choose your adventure! Both Adventures include 4 days of paddling on 2 different rivers! Both options have trained and experienced River Canoe Instructors as well as Camp Bethel Staff.
Option 1 is recommended for those who are new to river adventures AND/OR those who do not want to camp along the river. This option includes dedicated instruction and practice time to ensure you can navigate the river as we progress in difficulty throughout the week. All nights will be spent in the AV at Camp Bethel.
Option 2 is recommended for the seasoned paddler that wants to take a leadership role, learn rescue skills, AND/OR those who want to get away from it all and camp riverside for 2 nights as we paddle down the river. This option includes cooking our own meals and setting up camp with tents or personal hammocks. We stay 3 nights at the AV at Camp Bethel and 2 nights on the river.
Option 1:
Stay each night in Camp Bethel’s Adventure Village and travel daily to paddle and play on the James/New River. When in Camp, you will participate in all camp activities and eat breakfast and dinner in the Ark dining hall.
Monday: Site based instruction day where you learn to work with your paddling partner to control your boat and work with the river. Games, swimming, and instruction insure that you will be the “boss of your boat”
Tuesday: Run a stretch of the James River from Buchanan to Alpine Farms, navigating several small ledges and wave fields.
Wednesday: Join the Option 2 Campers as they guide the group from Ripplemead to Bluff City on the New River. This is a classic and popular Class II day trip just west of Blacksburg.
Thursday: All River Adventure campers run the Balcony Falls Section of the James River. This is a popular Class III section of river that is a great opportunity to hone our river reading and running skills through the rock garden and the falls.
Friday: A day in camp for High Ropes, the pool fest, and cleaning up our river gear before heading home after dinner.
Option 2:
Sunday: Start with a night in the Adventure Village at camp after packing camping gear, food boats and personal gear in preparation for 3 days of canoe camping.
Monday: We leave right after breakfast for our put-in at McCoy Falls on the New River. Our camping and personal gear will be dropped off for us at our first night campsite. Lunch on the river, dinner at our campsite.
Tuesday: Breakfast at our campsite then practice trip leading skills and rescue skills as we paddle from Pembroke to Bluff City on the New River. Return to our campsite for dinner and another night on the river.
Wednesday: Break down camp and pack up after Breakfast. Join our Option 1 campers and become the Trip Leaders for the day as we run Pembroke to Bluff City on the New River. Return to Camp Bethel for Dinner. Sleep in the AV.
Thursday: All River Adventure campers run the Balcony Falls Section of the James River. This is a popular Class III section of river that is a great opportunity to hone our river reading and running skills through the rock garden and the falls. Dinner back at Camp. Sleep in the AV.
Friday: A day in camp for High Ropes, the pool fest, and cleaning up our river gear before heading home after dinner.
A specific letter and gear guide will follow your sign-up. Learn more about Why, How, and What we do during Summer Camps including a complete activities list. This is a great week of spiritual development, fun and adventure; exploring your extraordinary faith journey and learning TOGETHER. Be here for an awesome week!
Subsidized Fee (discounted cost) = $510; Supporters Fee (actual cost) = $560; Sustainers Fee (cost + $50 gift) = $610.
Register in 3 steps!
1. Below, choose your Fee Option Payment, the Dates of your camp, write your camper's name & your phone # before you click the secure "Register Now" PayPal button using a credit card or a PayPal account. Any balance due will be billed to you separately in April or May. $50 of your payment is your "hold-your-spot" deposit. Cancellation policy, financial assistance and Good-as-Gold information can be found in the "Camps" tab of our website.
2. Submit Data: After successfully paying, PayPal will direct your browser to our secure online 2024 Registration Form. Allow at least 15 minutes to thoroughly complete and submit the form.
3. Get your Confirmation Packet in March/April/May: We'll send you an email with links to your Confirmation Packet which includes your gear list, a required Health Form (to be completed and returned to Camp Bethel), your Balance Due (if any), and important information about your program.
1. Below, choose your Fee Option Payment, the Dates of your camp, write your camper's name & your phone # before you click the secure "Register Now" PayPal button using a credit card or a PayPal account. Any balance due will be billed to you separately in April or May. $50 of your payment is your "hold-your-spot" deposit. Cancellation policy, financial assistance and Good-as-Gold information can be found in the "Camps" tab of our website.
2. Submit Data: After successfully paying, PayPal will direct your browser to our secure online 2024 Registration Form. Allow at least 15 minutes to thoroughly complete and submit the form.
3. Get your Confirmation Packet in March/April/May: We'll send you an email with links to your Confirmation Packet which includes your gear list, a required Health Form (to be completed and returned to Camp Bethel), your Balance Due (if any), and important information about your program.
