Private and Independent School attendance is at an all-time high. Students and parents are looking for an education that offers opportunities for unique experiences in learning. River & Trail Outfitters has been hosting these unique experiences in fun and educational adventures since 1972, providing top quality facilitation for rafting, kayaking, canoeing, tubing, hiking, team building, ziplining, and biking.
Our focus on safety and custom-built experiences to suit a particular group’s needs have been our guiding principles over the years. Our staff training program is extensive and includes learning hard skills such as boat handling, first aid & cpr as well as “soft skills training” for area natural and civil war history. Currently, we host over 50 schools, camps, and recreation centers, providing an authentic way for students to connect with the outdoors.
Convenient experiential education on the River and Trail.
Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, “I never teach my pupils, I only provide the conditions in which they can learn.” Nature provides the perfect grounds for personal exploration and learning. River & Trail Outfitters makes it easy to organize an outdoor education experience in this setting. A number of our summer staff are school teachers, giving us an inside look at how to tailor our trips to fit private school needs.
Our Outdoor Trips include:
- Trained/Certified staff
- All necessary equipment
- Trip planning services
- Assistance in aquiring grants for trips
- Bus or van transportation available
- Food/Picnic options available
5 Most Popular Outdoor Field Trips
with River & Trail
Many of our trips are half-day and day trips. Overnight and 3 day canoe camping trips are also an option. Contact our Group Planning Team for more information on these or other adventures.
1. River Quest Field School
This seven-mile canoe trip near beautiful and historic Harpers Ferry, West Virginia allows students to examine the health of the Shenandoah or Potomac rivers, major tributaries on the watershed system for the Chesapeake Bay. Applies to Science & Environmental Studies
*Groups may substitute the canoe trip with a hike
2. Whitewater Rafting at Harpers Ferry
Join us for Class I-III whitewater rafting on the final stretches of the Shenandoah River as it tumbles into the Potomac, carving a spectacular 6.5-mile watercourse through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Thomas Jefferson wrote the view from Jefferson Rock at Harpers Ferry was worth a voyage across the Atlantic. Certified guides share information on natural and civil war history. Applies to History and Natural Science
3. Kayak/Canoe Trips on the Shenandoah, Potomac, or Antietam Creek
Encourage confidence by allowing students to gain skills in paddling their own kayak or canoe. From mellow water to beginner whitewater, our certified guides will give students basic skills to navigate the area’s most scenic runs. The return of the bald eagle, along with great blue herons, egrets, turtles, and mallard ducks offer students an intimate experience with the area’s wildlife.
4. Survival Hike (Add a zip line option for only $20)
Challenge your students by teaching them wilderness survival on this informative and engaging hike. Students will learn various techniques for emergency scenarios such as manufacturing water, building a debris hut, and the elements of trip planning for a safe and successful outcome.
5. Biking the C&O Canal (12 yrs & up)
Bike one of the most scenic sections of the canal from Brunswick to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. This tree-lined trail offers flat, easy biking with expansive views of the Potomac River. Students can pedal 5.8 miles to Harpers Ferry, lock up their bikes, and walk across the pedestrian bridge to tour the renovated Civil War town along with lunch and ice cream!
Camping is available at the Brunswick Family Campground, managed by River & Trail Outfitters; and located directly on the Potomac River and C&O Canal. Conveniently kayaking, canoeing, and biking launch directly from this site. The special rate of $7/person is available for school groups.
“Adventurous experiences out-of-doors are perceived to kindle the enthusiasm of the young, to develop their concern for others, for their community and for the environment. Such experiences provide the means of self-discovery, self-expression and enjoyment which are at once both stimulating and fulfilling.”
Here’s What Teachers & Students have to say
about River & Trail’s Outdoor Field Trips
“The best part of being a teacher is seeing students learn while having fun. Environmental explorations strives to teach lessons that cultivate students into stewards of their world.” -M. Keffer
“Canoeing with your school is the coolest way to learn abut the enviroment and a nice way to end the class to review what you learned, You get to bond with your canoe buddy and it’s a lot of fun.” -Student
“Great trips, good times and a lot of learning. The scenery is wonderful and the wildlife is fantastic. I hope it’s here for generations to come.” -Teacher L. Mcbranaghan
“OMG awesomesauce! I really loved the trip and I would love to do it again! My favorite part was all of it =).” -Student
There’s so much more where that came from….
