I’m excited to share a little more detail about the Wilderness Progression program we started last summer in 2023. We just scratched the surface last summer, and after taking a lot of notes and getting feedback, we are ready to launch it more fully this year and are very excited.
Since Alleghany’s inception, we have enjoyed going on what we call Meal Hikes and Overnights – hikes to on-site campsites to enjoy a cookout, s’mores, or a night under the stars. While this used to be reserved for just those signed up for Wild World, and the counselors who chose to take their campers on one of these adventures, we’re ready to take this to the next level for ALL campers.
This program will be for Term Campers only. Mini Campers get a mini taste of this with a cookout night during their one-week session, including s’mores over the fire!
Wilderness Progression
What is Wilderness Progression? Camp Alleghany is situated in the lush mountains of West Virginia, and on our own property, we have several campsites in the beautiful forested areas of our 180 acres. While our camp is rustic already (we live in platform tents!), we love getting even more outdoorsy with hikes, meals over the campfire, and nights under the stars.
We wanted to introduce the concepts of fire building, cooking over the fire, hiking, leave no trace, and more, and start small and build up. We decided we would start small with our youngest campers who will have a short hike and s’mores over the campfire, and build up to longer, more intense campouts as the campers get older.
Our plan for each age group (subject to change) is as follows:
- Unit 1 (completed grades 1-3): short hike ending in s’mores over the campfire!
- Unit 2 (completed grade 4): short hike ending in lunch over the campfire!
- Unit 3 (completed grade 5): longer hike, lunch over the campfire, with swimming in the river (at a special swimming spot called Whale Rock!) afterward!
- Unit 4 (completed grade 6): longer hike, s’mores, and an overnight under the stars!
- 13s (completed grade 7): hike to a campsite, cook dinner over the campfire, s’mores, and an overnight under the stars!
- 14s (completed grade 8): longer hike to a further campsite, cook dinner over the campfire, s’mores, and an overnight under the stars, cook breakfast over the fire the next morning
- 15s (completed grade 9): hike to Twin Tulips at the top of the mountain, cook dinner over the campfire, s’mores, and an overnight under the stars, cook breakfast over the fire the next morning
Why Wilderness Progression?
The idea for this program has been in place for several years, for many different reasons.
First, we received a significant amount of parent feedback that they would like for their campers to experience as much of the great outdoors as possible, to enjoy wild, wonderful West Virginia, and to learn some more outdoor skills.
Additionally, our Leaders-in-Training (LITs), the oldest campers in camp, participate in a 3-day backpacking wilderness trip off-site during their 6-week program at Alleghany. We felt that introducing a wilderness progression program at Alleghany would help campers interested in being LITs to prepare for this backpacking trip during the summers leading up to their LIT summer.
On top of this, the skills learned on these types of adventures are very much in line with Alleghany’s mission and goals – campers learn resilience, determination, independence, new skills such as fire building and cooking, respect for nature and our grounds, and more.
And finally – it is FUN! These kinds of experiences create memories, bond campers and staff together, and are just plain fun.
Preparing for Wilderness Progression at Alleghany
What can you do to prepare your camper for this adventure?
First, share this information with her, so that she is not surprised when she arrives at camp and finds out she will have an evening under the stars cooking her dinner over the fire.
If she is hesitant about the experience, discuss what she may gain from it, what she will learn, and what positive outcomes may come out of it (bonding with peers being a big one!).
In terms of packing, all term campers should bring a sleeping bag with them. Optionally campers may choose to bring a sleeping pad to go under their sleeping bags. Warm pajamas will help if the night is chilly, which can happen in the West Virginia mountains. Hiking boots are not required, but sturdy shoes are always a plus. And other than these, her regular camp packing list items will cover everything else!
Logistics / Fine Print
For those who may have some lingering questions, I will address a few things here that may be of concern. If you have other questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask!
First, all of these adventures are heavily staffed with counselors. No campers will be unsupervised on these trips!
We monitor the weather, and if inclement weather is a possibility we will shift gears and either change the date, or shift a portion of the event to an indoor space with a fireplace.
All food allergies and dietary restrictions will be fully accommodated with our campout food.
Campers should be physically able to hike to their location, per our Essential Eligibility Requirements for camp, but if any camper has difficulty getting to the location due to an injury or anything else, we will provide transportation or assist the camper in any way needed.
All on-site campsites are within walking distance of our main campgrounds, and walkie-talkies are used for communication during these experiences. Medical staff are able to get to the campsites quickly via golf cart or camp vehicle.
Yes, there are animals in the woods! They are more afraid of us than we are of them, and they usually steer clear of us. We will dispose of trash appropriately to not attract animals, and we typically keep the campfire stoked throughout the night to deter animals from coming near. We have been enjoying meal hikes and overnights at Alleghany for over 100 years without any significant issues with animals.
Camp Alleghany follows all American Camp Association and West Virginia Health Department standards for safety and sanitation when cooking, whether indoors or outdoors.
Camp Alleghany’s Emergency Procedures plans cover emergencies at these locations, and are rehearsed with the staff during Staff Training.
Get Excited for Wilderness Progression!
We hope your camper is as excited as we are for her adventure – whether small or big – and we can’t wait to get started this summer. Let us know if you have any questions, and we’ll see you in a few months at camp!
