Calleva

Calleva Maryland camps are all of your old favorites: Cubs, Explorers, EXPX, Adventure Camp, Leaders In Training, and High Adventures. All are based out of our Riley’s Lock campus on the Potomac River. Transportation is provided at no additional cost, and buses pick up from locations throughout Maryland and D.C. plus one stop in Mclean, VA. Visit the “Maryland Camps” page for more info!

Calleva Maryland Summer Camps
Since 1993, Calleva has been providing outdoor adventures for families in the Washington DC area. Our summer camp programs run out of Riley’s Lock along the C&O Canal at the confluence of Seneca Creek and the Potomac River. Calleva has something for everyone — from day programs for your little ones, to week long high adventures for teens. Our camps are designed around a 5-day “building block style ” curriculum with age-appropriate adventures.

CUBS (4-5 years): Calleva introduces our youngest campers to loving and caring for the outdoors in a fun and nurturing environment. Expect singing, educational learning, caring for animals, and amazing stories.
EXPLORERS (6-8 years): With a focus on elementary skills and confidence building, campers experience some of the core Calleva adventure activities along with traditional summer camp experiences, like games, arts & crafts, and silly songs.

Since 1993, we have been running quality camps that take kids of all ages to some of the most beautiful wilderness areas in the DC area.

Calleva Kayak Camp ~ VA
Calleva is known throughout the country for our paddling school, which develops kayakers’ confidence and skills. Campers can expect to leave our kayaking camps with a better understanding and appreciation for moving water, while also having a great time playing in it!

Campers signing up for VA Kayaking should be comfortable in the water, be ready for a strenuous/physical week on the water, and ideally have some experience in a kayak, even if on flat water. Calleva also offers After School Kayaking in the spring and fall to build skills and confidence on the water.

SAMPLER (9-15 years): When you can’t decide on one adventure, why not do them all?! Calleva’s Sampler week is truly a “best of” package, great for campers who are exploring the options! Sampler is offered for limited weeks at the beginning & end of summer.

HIGH ADVENTURES (12-17 years): Many teens are ready to take their adventure to the next level with a week or more totally immersed in one activity. High Adventure trips allow your teen to embrace adventure, teamwork, and the great outdoors while mastering skills in Surfing, Kayaking, Climbing, Caving, Backpacking, and more!

LEADERSHIP SCHOOL (13-17 years): Life changing courses that integrate wilderness camping and leadership training for young people. Courses range from 5-7 days, emphasizing principles & tools for maintaining a focused, goal-oriented perspective which will help them navigate the increasing complexities of adolescence and young adulthood.

Transportation Note: Due to safety concerns related to congestion and traffic disruption at some of our bus stops, we are working to reduce our footprint. For several of our most trafficked neighborhoods, we have added additional stops and we are limiting capacity to a single bus at each location. If your preferred pick up point is showing FULL on the transportation matrix, please review the other stops near you and select an alternative route.

Thank you for your understanding and for working with us to get your children to and from camp safely.

Additional note: We do not have a wait list for bus routes. Occasionally, families change their plans and space on the bus opens up at the last minute. You can always check back with us regarding a switch when your camp week nears.

Calleva Virginia
Our camps are an amazing opportunity to get any kid enjoying the great outdoors! Our Instructors, Counselors, and Junior Counselors are lead by 2 Calleva’s best Directors; Duncan & Olivia. We keep our groups small, and make sure that there are plenty of Calleva staff to make the day special. All activities are based out of our Virginia campus located at the Madeira School in Great Falls, VA. This property offers 300+ acres of riverfront forest, 8 private real-rock climbing areas, smack dab in the middle of the BEST whitewater in the area, and our unequalled newly built and professionaly designed challenge course. Read below for more information on our camp offerings!

Explorers Camp in VIRGINIA
Explorers VA Camp focuses on some of the core Calleva activities while broadening the appeal with some more traditional camp experiences. Explorers experience a rotation of two or three adventures each day. Campers experience variety, a great balance of spontaneity and structure, and access to streams, trails, and the entire Madeira Campus for an amazing summer experience!

VA~SAMPLER (8-14 year olds): Each week, campers will participate in one day of rafting, rock climbing, stand up paddleboarding,a day of land adventures on the ropes course, and a day of water adventures on the Potomac River! It’s a perfect mix of land and water, and an amazing opportunity to get any kid enjoying the great outdoors!

Sail Camps ~ VA
Campers are taught how to harness the wind, plot a course, and lead a group of fellow boatmates. Our Hobies are perfect for beginning sailors all the way to the weathered captain. Skills are taught using fun games, engaging challenges, and exciting races.

*All Campers must bring non-perishable lunches from home.

Overnights: Depending on Camps there is either an optional overnight associated with our Virginia Sampler Camp, or an included overnight with our typical Adventure Camps. All overnights take place on or near Campus in Great Falls Va.

Rain Plan: We are aware that there are concerns regarding Rain & Storms at camp. For any programs that we can continue to do the activities with happy campers we will do so. If for any reason the rain or storm has us stop the activity, then all groups have an alternative plan and location under cover. For adverse weather (such as severe storms), all activities have nearby shelters or use Calleva bus as a temporary shelter.

Register Opens mid-January

We choose to be accredited by ACA Camps because accreditation is a parents best evidence of a camps commitment to health and safety. Learn more about the ACA

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