About Us

Nick, Alex & Matt Markoff dreamed up Calleva back in 1992, and the last 30 years have taken our team to a wide world of adventure that’s way beyond their original vision!

Originally founded as a small summer camp, Calleva is now nationally known as an innovative force in outdoor adventure & education.

Stay up to date on all things Calleva with our Newsletter

Our Mission

For nearly three decades, Calleva has built a reputation for excellence.

Our mission is to get all people outdoors, providing safe, educational, and challenging experiences that promote personal growth, group cooperation, and leadership skills.

Our Team

The growth of our community has been fueled by the passion and skills brought over the years as Calleva has attracted the best of the best to support our mission. Olympic kayakers, top tier wilderness professionals, seasoned educators, high energy camp leaders, committed conservationists, and creative trades people and artists – all have contributed to our organization’s success.

That said, remembering where we’ve been is important for understanding who we are and where we are going.

Our Work

We are mindful that our collective success is built upon the passion of our founders, who love introducing people to the outdoors and teaching them to achieve their very best in every activity. We embrace this ethic in everything we do!

Calleva’s unique brand of outdoor adventure is expressed through summer camp, a full service kayaking school, outdoor educational experiences, community building, and small-scale sustainable farming.

Calleva’s dynamic & mobile programming introduces participants to the best parks, trails, rivers, and rocks in our region, providing challenging outdoor experiences that expand comfort zones and foster teamwork.

Step into our office – we’d love to adventure with you!

Our Partners

At Calleva, we’re honored to join forces with a diverse group of partners who share our commitment to outdoor education as a way to empower leaders, build teamwork, deepen community connections, and inspire environmental stewardship. In short, our partnerships are an extension of Calleva’s nonprofit mission.

Each of our partners has brought unique perspective and organizational strengths to the table. Together, we’ve uncovered new pathways that make the natural world more accessible for people with diverse abilities, comfort levels, and interests.  

meet our partners…

Alice Ferguson Foundation

Calleva supports the Foundation's conservation efforts by providing volunteers and resources for annual cleanups in the C&O Canal National Historic Park.

Boy Scouts of America

Calleva has supported outdoor adventure activities, campout experiences, and Eagle Scout projects.

City Kids Wilderness Project

Calleva provides outdoor adventure experiences (like rock climbing) that empower City Kids students to challenge their comfort zones and achieve personal goals.

Diversify Whitewater

Calleva has partnered with DW to facilitate weekend paddlesports events that emphasize representation, mentorship, and awareness within the paddling community.

Fairfax County NAACP

Calleva & the NAACP's Fairfax Chapter created a joint project: Connecting the Community with Nature. The grant-funded program taught Leave No Trace principles to students as they explored the creeks & forests that feed the Potomac River.

Girl Scouts

Calleva works with Girl Scout leaders to create experiences aligned with scouting values that enable girls to discover their strengths and tackle challenges while advocating for issues important to them.

Horizons of MoCo

Every summer, Calleva works with the Horizons team to create day camp experiences that introduce students to empowering outdoor activities like rock climbing, rafting, and farming.

Soul Trak Outdoors

Calleva has partnered with Soul Trak to expand access to kayaking in our community. We are inspired by Soul Trak's commitment to bridge the gap in outdoor representation by uplifting leaders of diverse backgrounds and creating inclusive outdoor spaces more reflective of the nation’s diversity.

Team River Runner

Calleva has supported TRR's mission by providing equipment, instruction, and other support for local programs.

Wilderness Kids Alexandria 

Calleva offers kayaking experiences in support of the Wilderness Kids mission, which emphasizes equity, gratitude, and mental health.

Wilderness Leadership & Learning 

Calleva has provided a challenge course experience as a kick-off to the WILL-Lead program.