Teen Adventure

For parents and teens across Virginia looking for an impactful summer experience that goes beyond typical camp activities, Teen Adventure offers something truly unique and transformative. While not a conventional public campground where families typically pull up an RV or pitch a tent for a weekend, Teen Adventure is a highly specialized and enriching outdoor program for young people, providing an immersive wilderness experience right here in our own state. If your teen is seeking a challenge, a chance to connect deeply with nature, and an opportunity for personal growth alongside peers, this program is designed to deliver just that.

Teen Adventure is a distinguished program operated by the Quakers (specifically, bym.org), emphasizing principles of community, personal challenge, and appreciation for the natural world. Far from being a static "campground" in the traditional sense, this program utilizes a central base, known as Common Ground, in Lexington, Virginia, as its starting and ending point. However, the true essence of Teen Adventure lies in its dynamic, expedition-based format. Over three weeks, participants embark on incredible journeys through Virginia's wilderness, engaging in activities such as demanding hikes, exhilarating canoe trips on local rivers, and challenging rock-climbing excursions. It’s an opportunity for teens to truly disconnect from screens and reconnect with themselves and the natural environment.

The program's design ensures that participants spend "little time...at this place, Common Ground, but it's a wonderful space too. They start and end here but the rest is out in the wilds of Virginia." This highlights the commitment to an authentic wilderness experience, fostering resilience, teamwork, and self-discovery through direct engagement with the outdoors. For Virginia teens, this means exploring familiar landscapes in entirely new ways, building skills, and forging lasting friendships in a supportive, purpose-driven environment. It’s not just a summer activity; it's an adventure that builds character and creates memories that last a lifetime, often cited by alumni as the "Best camp ever."

Teen Adventure's home base, known as Common Ground, is located at 495 Snakefoot Ln, Lexington, VA 24450, USA. This strategic location in Lexington, Virginia, offers an excellent starting point for wilderness expeditions throughout the state. Lexington itself is a charming historic city in the Shenandoah Valley, known for its picturesque landscapes, vibrant arts scene, and as the home of Washington and Lee University and the Virginia Military Institute.

While the program begins and concludes at this base, the vast majority of the three-week experience unfolds "out in the wilds of Virginia." This means participants will explore various natural areas across the Commonwealth, from the majestic Appalachian Mountains to scenic rivers and rock-climbing sites. The precise locations for each expedition are carefully chosen to provide diverse challenges and breathtaking scenery, all while maintaining a strong emphasis on safety and environmental stewardship.

For Virginia residents, the Lexington base provides a relatively accessible drop-off and pick-up point, making logistics for parents straightforward. Its central location allows for efficient transport to various wilderness destinations across the state, ensuring that teens get a comprehensive taste of Virginia's diverse outdoor offerings. This blend of a supportive home base and extensive outdoor exploration makes the location ideal for a program of this nature.

Teen Adventure is not a typical "campground" offering overnight stays to the general public. Instead, it provides a comprehensive, structured youth program with specific services tailored to its participants:

• Three-Week Wilderness Expeditions: The core offering is a multi-week immersive experience focused on outdoor skills and personal growth.
• Guided Hiking Trips: Participants engage in extensive hiking excursions through various challenging and scenic terrains across Virginia's wilderness areas.
• Canoeing Adventures: Supervised canoeing trips on rivers, teaching paddling skills, water safety, and teamwork.
• Rock Climbing Instruction: Professional instruction in rock climbing, including safety techniques, gear usage, and climbing fundamentals.
• Base Camp Facilities (Common Ground): While brief, the program utilizes a base called Common Ground at its Lexington address for initial orientation, preparation, and final wrap-up. This space is described as a "wonderful space too."
• Experienced Staff & Leadership: The program is run by experienced leaders and outdoor educators, often rooted in the Quaker tradition, ensuring a supportive and safe environment for challenging activities.
• Logistics & Transportation: All necessary logistical arrangements for the expeditions, including transportation to and from trailheads, river access points, and climbing sites, are managed by the program.
• Group Equipment: Provision of essential group equipment for hiking, canoeing, and rock climbing (e.g., tents, cooking gear, climbing ropes, harnesses, PFDs).
• Focus on Personal Growth & Community: Beyond the physical activities, the program emphasizes teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and a deeper connection with nature and fellow participants, often informed by Quaker values.
• Safety Protocols: Comprehensive safety protocols are in place for all outdoor activities, including risk assessment, first aid certification for staff, and emergency preparedness.
• Food & Nutrition: Meals and nutrition are planned and provided for the duration of the wilderness expeditions, often involving group cooking and outdoor food preparation.

• Expedition-Based Learning: The primary highlight is that the program is not static. Participants spend "little time... at this place... but the rest is out in the wilds of Virginia," ensuring a genuine, immersive wilderness experience. This is a key differentiator from traditional camps.
• Diverse Outdoor Activities: The program offers a robust combination of "hiking, canoeing and rock climbing." This variety provides a comprehensive outdoor skill-building and adventurous experience.
• Quaker Program (bym.org): As a "wonderful program of the Quakers (bym.org)," it suggests an underlying ethos of community, peace, personal reflection, and environmental stewardship, which can be a significant draw for families seeking value-aligned programs.
• Transformative Experience: Described as the "Best camp ever" by a reviewer, indicating a deeply positive and memorable impact on participants. This suggests a program that fosters significant personal growth and skill development.
• Supportive Base (Common Ground): While most time is spent in the wilderness, the "Common Ground" base is acknowledged as a "wonderful space too," serving as a comfortable and well-equipped starting and ending point for the expeditions.
• Focus on Disconnection and Reconnection: Implicit in a wilderness program is the opportunity for teens to disconnect from digital distractions and reconnect with nature, themselves, and their peers in a meaningful way.
• Building Resilience and Self-Reliance: The challenges of multi-week expeditions naturally foster resilience, problem-solving skills, and a sense of self-reliance in a supervised environment.

As Teen Adventure is a specialized youth program rather than a commercial campground, it typically does not offer public "promotions or special offers" in the same way a rental-based business might. Enrollment in the program usually involves a fixed tuition fee for the multi-week experience.

However, as a Quaker-based program (bym.org), Teen Adventure and similar Quaker organizations often prioritize accessibility. This may include:

• Financial Aid or Scholarships: It is common for non-profit educational programs, particularly those with a mission-driven approach like Quaker organizations, to offer financial aid or scholarship opportunities to ensure the program is accessible to a broader range of participants regardless of their family's financial situation. This helps maintain diversity within the group.
• Early Bird Discounts: While not guaranteed, some programs occasionally offer small discounts for very early registration.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding program fees, financial assistance, and application deadlines, interested families should directly contact Teen Adventure using the provided contact information or visit the Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM) website (bym.org) which oversees the program. Inquiring about available financial aid or payment plans would be the best approach for Virginia families interested in the program.

For detailed information about program dates, application procedures, fees, and any financial aid opportunities for Teen Adventure, please use the following contact information:

• Phone: (540) 463-7234
• Mobile Phone: +1 540-463-7234
• Address: 495 Snakefoot Ln, Lexington, VA 24450, USA (Common Ground base)

It is highly recommended to reach out directly via phone to discuss the program in detail and clarify any questions regarding the application process or what to expect during the three-week wilderness expedition. Further information may also be available on the Baltimore Yearly Meeting (bym.org) website, as Teen Adventure is a program of this organization.

For Virginia families, Teen Adventure offers an unparalleled opportunity for their teens to engage with the natural beauty of our own state in a profound and meaningful way. Unlike simply visiting a local campground, this program provides an immersive, multi-week expedition that builds critical life skills and fosters personal growth right in our backyard. For teens who have perhaps explored local parks or taken day hikes, Teen Adventure escalates that experience into a true wilderness journey, pushing boundaries and building confidence.

The fact that the program is rooted in Quaker values, emphasizing community, reflection, and appreciation for nature, adds a layer of depth often missing from other summer activities. It’s an investment in a young person’s development, encouraging them to step outside their comfort zone, learn resilience, and develop leadership qualities while navigating Virginia's diverse landscapes. The "Best camp ever" testimonial speaks volumes about the positive and lasting impact this program has on its participants.

For Virginia parents, the convenience of the Lexington base for drop-off and pick-up, coupled with the knowledge that their teen is exploring the "wilds of Virginia" under experienced guidance, makes this an incredibly appealing option. It’s a chance for our youth to truly connect with the Commonwealth's natural heritage, building a deeper appreciation for their home state while acquiring invaluable life skills. Teen Adventure is not just a summer camp; it’s a transformative journey waiting to happen for Virginia's young adventurers.