West
Virginia Adventure
Ages 14-17
Additional Information
Ohiopyle State Park
Located primarily in Fayette County, Ohiopyle State Park
encompasses about 19,052 acres of rugged natural beauty and
serves as the gateway to the Laurel Mountains. The focal point
of the area is the more than 14 miles of the Youghiogheny
[yaw-ki-GAY-nee] River Gorge that passes through the heart of
the park. The "Yough" [yawk] provides some of the
best whitewater boating in the Eastern U. S. as well as
spectacular scenery. We will stay at Kentuck Campground
which has 226 campsites and includes washhouses with hot water
and flush toilets. Youth group camping is equipped with
picnic tables, grills, fire rings and shower house.
White Water Rafting on the Lower Yaugh River
The Lower Youghiogheny is one of the most impressive
attractions in Ohiopyle State Park, where the river and the
mountains meet. Class III rapids will challenge the
veteran river-runner, yet not intimidate the novice
rafter. We will captain our own rafts while the
ever-present guides will paddle along separately coaching and
assisting us throughout the 7.5 mile trip which includes 22
challenging river rapids. The excitement of the river rapids
and the beauty of the Yough Gorge will make a great start to
our trip. This is a guide escorted trip.
Ace Adventures
Ace Whitewater Resort is the premier adventure resort in West
Virginia. Ace is located on 1,400-acres located in the
New River Gorge National River. ACE Adventure Center is an
adventure vacation destination featuring the finest Whitewater
in West Virginia. With adventure class rafting, on the New
River plus the area's best camping. Ace offers guided
outdoor adventure experiences on their property for groups
just like ours. We will enjoy hiking in natural beauty
or the sunsets from our mountaintop tent in our spacious
camping area. Ace's Mountain Top Campground features large
campsites, stunning sunsets, and radiant dawns. Most sites
have a curfew to be considerate to those with younger children
or folks with earlier trip times. Most sites are within easy
walking distance of shower and restroom facilities.
White Water Rafting on the Lower New River
Paddle America's oldest river canyon, that has been designated
a National Treasure administered by the National Park Service
(NPS). Over 20 legendary big water rapids await on the Lower
New. Summer's refreshing, roller-coaster waves will offer a
fun and exhilarating trip! Ace uses their own light,
agile 14-foot rafts to maximize the big water on the Lower
New. With only 6 or 7 paddlers in each raft, our guide will
give us lots of personal attention, plus an action-packed
ride!
Zip-Line Middle Earth Tree Canopy Tour
Join the local wildlife on a trip through the tree-tops!
Your journey begins at the cliff's edge. Once you step
off, there's no turning back. Soar through the tree
canopy more than 50 feet above the forest floor and get a
different view of the New River Canyon. Ride a series of
zip-lines linked by tree platforms and cliff-tops while
enjoying spectacular views within nature's aviary. Your
adventure culminates with an exhilarating rappel back to
earth.
High Ropes Course
Challenge: Yourself, your friends, your management
team, your special group. That is what ACE's Team Building
Challenge Course is all about. Their initiative-based elements
will assist us in meeting the challenges that can occur
throughout life's daily journey. The problem-solving tasks
that our group will embark on will metaphorically translate to
the day-to-day problems that can occur in any group setting.
Roadblocks to group dynamics, such as interpersonal
communication and trust, will be confronted and overcome, and
coping strategies for these hindrances will be explored. The
high ropes course is designed to be a microcosmic model of
real life.
New River Gorge National Park
A rugged, white water river, flowing northward through deep
canyons, the New River is among the oldest rivers on the
continent. The national park encompasses over 70,000
acres of land along the New River, is rich in cultural
and natural history, and offers an abundance of
scenic and recreational opportunities. New River Gorge
National River provides a variety of different trails
throughout the park. Peaceful forest trails, superb overlooks,
and historic scenery are all found here. An interpretive park
naturalist will lead us on a guided hike of the Hawk's Nest
area.
White Water Rafting on the Upper New River
Beginner-friendly rapids make this the perfect trip for
laid-back adventure in the great outdoors. We will raft
through a magnificent 1,400-foot canyon and enjoy some of the
East's most spectacular scenery. The Upper New River is unique
in its geology. It was formed over 300 million years ago,
making it the world's 2nd oldest river. This section of river
offers mild thrills. Learn about local history, play games,
and enjoy a great riverside lunch. Skilled professionals will
guide the trip. ACE’s 16-foot rafts are roomy and
stable, perfect for the mild rapids of the Upper New.
Your professional Guide navigates easy rapids, separated by
flat pools of warm summertime water, that are perfect for
splashing, swimming, playing games or just sitting back and
enjoying the scenery. A riverside lunch makes the day
complete.
Sunset Horseback Riding
Top off your day with Mother Nature and New River Trail
Rides. We will ride to a private overlook with
breathtaking views of the historic town of Thermond on the
banks of the New River. This popular trip will run only
weather permitting. On clear evenings the sunset can be
breathtakingly spectacular as you witness the sun and moon
playing hide and seek on our return trip to the campground.
Mud Obstacle Course
Challenge yourself on ACE's off-road, mud-inspired obstacle
course. OPur group will be divided into teams. Each team will
be timed through several stages: swamp crossing, rope
climbing, tug-of-war, mud and more mud. If you're
thinking about not partaking because of your fitness level -
don't worry! Even the strongest competitors find this slippery
course puts everyone on the same footing. Slip and slide
through mud, crossing logs and swinging from ropes to bring
your team to victory!
Plum Orchard Day Hike
The Plum Orchard hike leaves from an area near the campground
at Ace. It offers scenic views of the New River Gorge
region. With all of the high adventure experiences that
we are participating in, it will be refreshing to keep our
feet on the ground and get an up close look at West Virginia
from the trail.
Caving at Lost World Caverns
Lost World Caverns are home to some of the most spectacular
cave formations in the region. The cave includes
stalagmites, stalactites, flowstone, curtains, rimstone,
domepits, natural waterfalls, a subterranean stream, and
spectacular formations such as the Snowy Chandelier, one of
the nation's largest compound stalactites of pure white
calcite. In addition to the larger caves, our group will
get a guided tour of some of the smaller "wild"
caves which groups rarely visit. Exploring Lost World
requires good walking shoes, long pants, clothing that you
don't mind getting wet and dirty, a sweatshirt or jacket, and
a change of clothes for the end. The cave remains at a
constant 52 degrees F year-round. The main cave is about
1,000 feet long and 300 feet long and reaches depths of 235
feet below the surface.
Hershey Chocolate Museum
After driving halfway home we will make camp in Hershey,
Pennsylvania. Here we will set up camp at a campground
and head off for a tour of the Hershey Factory and Chocolate
World. We will follow the process of making chocolate
from its origins from cocoa beans grown in the tropical rain
forest to becoming a chocolate bar. We will learn how
chocolate is made and packaged. At the end of the tour
there will be a little taste testing.
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