Calleva

Adventure is not in the guidebooks and beauty is not on the maps

Matt Markoff

Farmnado

“We are not in Kansas anymore” at least that is what I told my mid-western wife when I brought her to Maryland!

Normally it is not hard to get motivated to go into work on Friday mornings because we all go skiing every afternoon with the Calleva Snow Club, but last Friday was a bit different.

At 7:45, a tornado touched down on the Calleva Farm landing in the woods behind our amazing kitchen that brings you the Dirty Dinners and then cutting across fields to our Indoor Riding Arena where our CHAPS (calleva horse adventure programs) calls home.

For 15 minutes, this 95+MPH winds took down 100+ trees, numerous horse sheds, lighthouse, bleachers, windmill, the Enchanted Forest and whatever happened to be in in the path of a decapitated or uprooted tree! Several of these structures were built by students that came to the farm for a senior project or as part of our agricultural programs learning about sustainable construction.

Fortunately none of our staff, horses, cattle, or other farm animals were hurt when the tornado hit. Our mechanic Steve was in the woods and was able to get under his truck, all the animals laid down in the open fields, and staff stayed in their buildings while the trees fell.

The thoughts of cleaning, rebuilding and figuring out options for where there once was many trees feels quite overwhelming but somehow pales in comparison to the tremendous outpour of support and love. From camper families, community leaders, local clubs, churches, alumni, childhood friends, it is just a great reminder that we are so lucky to have such a supportive and caring community.

We are planning for 3 community days next week. Our plan is to do a MASSIVE CLEAN-UP on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 2-6pm. Calleva Staff will be leading teams on a multitude of projects from tree branch removal, dismantling of sheds, reclaiming and recycling resources, fixing fields, and picking up debris from woods and fields.

We hope to see you all and look forward to working alongside our friends. Please bring good work boots, work gloves, and proper safety gear. We are asking all volunteers to sign waivers and will be serving food from our kitchen. Volunteers will be directed upon arriving at the farm.

Calleva Farm
19120 Martinsburg Road
Dickerson MD 20842

Thank You!
Matt Markoff

Not my First Choice! The Struggle of Signing Up for Camp and the Transformative Power of New Experiences.

I am reminded daily that “life isn’t fair”. I sure enough used this growing up with my siblings, and dang if my kids don’t use it against me! Whether it’s sporting, activities, or hand me down clothes and equipment, my children have to suffer through my ideas on saving a buck, or making my life easier.

The Struggle of Signing Up for Camp

However I am more then aware that when it comes to signing up for camp, I have no excuse. I have access to registration before it opens. And I even have the office reminding me to get my kids in camps; yet still I delay. Still I drag my feet before getting them into their preferred camps.

What is it? Maybe it is all the years, of answering the phones and telling camper’s parents that “the activity doesn’t matter, it is the experience of camp that is so rewarding” or maybe I want to force my kids into activities they might not choose first, or maybe my wife is correct and I am a horrible procrastinator… or I am conflicted with choice and prefer my choice being made for me!?! I don’t know.

Transformative Power of New Experiences

What I do know is that the camp experience is magical. That so many children show up nervous and unsure, and camp opens new experiences that offer tremendous growth.

What I have always thought is extremely special about our Activity Camp is that a camper can come here not knowing how to “kayak” or maybe not even have camped outside, and by the end of the week they have a new skill. They have applied it, and they have camped out in that environment. It is such an incredible way to build self confidence.

Say Yes! Try Everything!

Nowadays my kids do a sport and it seems to no longer be seasonal. I want sports to be one season so they can try new things and do something else. Maybe they will never be the best at any one particular sport, but what is important to me is that they have a very wide foundation. Try everything.

When you’re older you can decide on what part of your foundation you may want to build up ~ maybe multiple different areas. Through Calleva, my one son wants to ski and sail. Sadly this year he wrestles and hasn’t hit the slopes much, and I can guarantee that with full sailing camps… he won’t be sailing either.

So when I sign him up, I am hoping he finds another activity that he will become interested in. I don’t even need him to become the next great “kayaker”. Maybe just build some water skills so that if he ever wants to pursue… he is ready.

Camp is a great time to try new things and Calleva staff are amazing about inspiring and making whatever the activity is FUN. Heck, I have even heard from my children that the bus ride was the best part of their overnight!?!?

I look forward to seeing which camps I can squeeze my children in, and regardless of what it is ~ I know that they will have a wonderful experience.

~ Matt Markoff  – Calleva Director

GearBags for DirtBags

“Oh NO, my kids have an overnight tomorrow, where is our camping gear!?!”

Whatever the season, I know I am not alone. Every week I see campers showing up with gear that still have the tags on it, and I feel for those parents like me that have procrastinated and will pay the price!

Oh the joys of raising kids…. Two weeks ago ski season started and the mad scurry to find gloves, make sure the helmets fit, and looking and calling friends with kids that may or may not have outgrown skis or any other gear. Regardless of what I could piecemeal together, a trip to REI, Sun & Ski, & LL Bean and hundreds of dollars later… we were finally ready to ski! Here I am entrenched in multiple outdoor activities for my kids and I still seem to wait until the last minute to get their gear together; and then sometimes they just end up taking mine!!!

We have a solution, and it is quite simple. This year, Calleva is selling an overnight GearBag to make your life easier. This is something I discovered on a recent road trip down the West Coast. Each one of my kids gets their own duffle and everything they want or need must fit into it, and now we use it for every trip. I am done buying them a new headlamp every season…. “Go look in your overnight duffle”.

My goal for my children is simple. I want them to be little “dirtbags”, and I say this with much affection. Outside getting dirty, exploring, and spending more time looking out instead of looking down at a screen. Fortunately I am lucky they love camping out, and I have found that good comfortable gear makes their experience that much better.

Contents include:

Sleeping Bag: Marmot Nanowave 45.  We wanted to go with a lightweight bag that allowed them to cover up when it is hot to protect from bugs, but also the option of doubling as a liner bag for colder camping trips with the family.

Sleeping Pad: Alps Foldable Foam Mat. I am done buying my children inflatable pads. They are young, they can sleep virtually anywhere and I tend to find they are too lazy to blow up the inflatables anyways. Plus I don’t have to worry about any punctures.

Eating Utensils: GSI Cascadian Table Set. Wont break, and easy to clean. Even better is that the plate has a lip for those saucy meals. For your kids sake and ours, make sure that name is written big and visible on the underside.

Head Lamp: Black Diamond Wiz. Simple, effective, and lightweight. These headlamps are long lasting, plus the head strap is once again a great place to write your name on it! These run on average 120 hours with just 2 AAA batteries and what I love is that they automatically power off after 2hours to avoid accidental battery drain.

Calleva Nalgene Water Bottle and a Bandana:   Of course we have to get some Calleva branded gear in this bag, and what better than a wide mouth water bottle that is easy to filter water into and collect water for the boiling. They are almost indestructible and one can never have enough.

Custom Calleva Duffle Bag: Everything is nicely packed inside a duffle with room for your personal clothes and toiletries. This duffle doubles as a comfortable and roomy single overnight backpack with removable shoulder straps. Double fabric construction for durability and oversized rain flap over the zipper to help keep water out.

As soon as you get your gear bag and are packing for the overnight, make sure your campers name is written on EVERYTHING. Also checkout our Camp Needs lists so that you know what personal gear to throw into your overnight duffle ~ and we will your kids psyched for an adventure!

Having your children unplug and spend a week with Calleva building skills and implementing those skills on an adventurous overnight is what all children need. Thank you for entrusting us to provide them this experience, and then I encourage all of you to find out our overnight locations and take them back out on your own.

Happy Adventuring

~ Matt Markoff 

Learn More About Our Gear Bag

The Countdown Begins…

On January 17th Calleva will be opening registration for our 25th season… I can’t believe we are that old! That’s why I am including some photos of the early years: Open House, Staff Meetings, and early council shenanigans.  It seems like only yesterday we were stuffing envelopes in our parents basement; relabeling incorrect information, and calling everyone we knew to get the word out about “Calleva”.  These last 25 years serving campers and creating unique adventures has really set the course for us. Camp is were our hearts are. It is this enthusiasm that we carry into our School Programs, our Farm to Table Dinners, our Kayaking Classes, and yes even our Haunted Forest. It is that Camp spirit that has been so contagious all of these years, and has filled our camps.

With all the pressures of making sure the correct information is up, there is also a great sense of excitement for new programs. Each season we ask our staff what we should bring back, what new things to try, and where they want to go. Everything is put on a google doc, and the bidding begins… What will work? What would diversify programming? What would make our Camps more awesomer?

So, we have sought new permits for new locations for our Adventure Camp, started new camps, and tweaked the ones that have made us who we are.  I am especially excited about our new location in Virginia ~ which I am going to let Duncan tell you more about shortly (yes, the Duncan that developed Duncan’s Adventures). I am also excited about our All Girls Surf Camp happening week 4 and All Girls Kayaking week 1… I absolutely love our female leadership, they are so empowering.

So together lets cross our fingers that the site doesn’t crash, the information is clear, that we are able to answer all the questions that you have. More importantly let’s hope that you find all your outdoor needs for your children.  We are going to take your children to the best environments to get them psyched about the outdoors. Come unplug with us, learn something new, and thrive!  We have the greatest leadership team that I have ever worked with. Our programs are known for not only being fun, but extremely educational.

Our staff is passionate about ensuring that they create these magical experiences that we call CAMP.

So get ready,

Summer is coming,

Adventure awaits!

***look for your stickers coming in the mail!

Enjoying the Eclipse

On Monday, August 21st, camp will go on as usual, and each group may have the ability to view the solar eclipse during their normal camp day. We would like all campers and families to know that we are excited for this opportunity and taking the necessary precautions to provide a safe and memorable day.

At our staff meeting this Friday, all Calleva staff will be briefed about the precautions to take while viewing the eclipse, and they will be reminded of these precautions on Monday morning.

We encourage all guardians and parents of campers to review precautions with their children before sending them to camp on Monday. For helpful reminders that increase the knowledge and safety in preparation for the eclipse, please visit the NASA website.

Calleva will be providing a few eclipse glasses to each group, but we suggest you send your camper(s) with solar eclipse glasses of their own. Please use this opportunity to get your campers excited to safely experience this solar eclipse with us!

Beginner Boating

Driving along  MacArthur or Falls Road or Clara Barton Parkway, it is hard to not notice cars with brightly colored boats tied to the roof. But do people passing by really know what an incredible place the DC area is for kayaking? What makes this area so popular for the sport is accessibility, both geographically and to a wide range of skill levels.

The Potomac flows along the border of Maryland and Virginia from Harpers Ferry right into Washington DC. The C & O Canal National Historical Park protects a lot of this land and provides ample parking and river access points. You can park at Great Falls, Anglers Inn, or near Chain Bridge and just walk down to the river with your boat! We also have sections of the Potomac that range from Class I (flat water) to the expert level Class V (Great Falls). People who are just learning can find the river equivalent of a bunny slope and shred whitewater all day.

These reasons are precisely why I get excited when the leaves turn green and the water warms up. Summer is the time to introduce new paddlers to the sport. Nothing beats the thrill of teaching someone to surf for their first time or spending a beautiful evening on the water with a group of stoked beginners. Teaching refuels me every time, reminding me of why I love the river and how lucky we are to have this natural resource right in a major city.

Calleva has changed up our beginner river progression a little bit this year. Instead of a four hour lesson for total beginners we have broken it down into two classes. Offered Saturdays and Sundays, Level 1: Introduction is to give you the fun part of cruising around flat and moving water, getting you used to paddling and steering and introducing a few strokes. If you want to come back for more, our Level 2: Foundations class will challenge you a little bit more. You will complete a wet exit and run your first small rapid by the end! What is a wet exit, you ask? Come find out.

Beginner Classes

See you on the river!

Farm Events and Workshops

Through a series of circumstances, I ended up taking on a much larger role in Dirty Dinners last year. Though definitely stressful, I really feel like the experience promoted a lot of personal growth for me and inspired me to think up more events to throw at the Calleva farm. The farm is a very special place, but though Calleva’s camps and Markoff’s Haunted Forest are well known in the area, the fact that we are a working farm with market animals and an intensive vegetable operation comes as a surprise to many people I’ve spoken with. Thus the idea to bring more people to the farm, to experience all we have to offer first hand. This year we will be offering a number of workshops and events for families and individuals from the DC and Frederick areas to try their hands at some homesteading skills as well as some more social events featuring our farm fresh produce.

I’m especially excited for our backyard chicken series. Many of our staff have been very helpful in taking care of our birds on the farm, and have gotten their own chickens over the years. During this workshop there will be a chicken processing demonstration for those interested in raising their own meat birds, or want to know what to do with an old “stew hen” that is no longer laying eggs. To me, this was one of the rites of passage into really seeing myself as a farmer. It’s always hard to take the life of something you see and care for every day, but if I made the decision to eat meat, it is important for me to know what goes into making my meal. That said, my meat consumption since coming to Calleva has gone down a lot. Partially for health reasons, partially because I feel that for the amount if work that goes into producing meat quality has to beat out quantity for me to feel ok consuming it. This concerns the quality of life for the animals and the farmers. The second part of this series concerns egg-layers. We have designed an optimal hen house for a backyard flock of 4-6 hens, which would supply a family with about a dozen eggs a week at peak laying time. We will provide the parts, tools and instructions to put together this kit, and a few coop – ready pullets to start. We will also talk about different chicken breeds and the unique considerations for raising chickens in the Mid-Atlantic.
Another event I’m really looking forward to is another addition to our Dirty Dinner series – the Deadly Dinner. It will coincide with Haunted Forest time and allow us to feature the plethora of fall crops we will have and hopefully create a great haunting atmosphere, different from the forest, but still cohesive. I’m also hoping it will serve to remind people that they are on a farm, and that fall farm season isn’t just about pumpkin patches, corn mazes and hay rides (though that’s all great fun and has been a staple of agritourism for ages).

Want more information?

Alice Ferguson Day

The Potomac River and Seneca Creek are the arteries running straight through every program we do here at Calleva!  These incredible natural resources are often overlooked if you don’t take the time to experience, enjoy, and care for them! That is why Calleva is excited to be a part of the 29th annual Potomac Watershed Cleanup Day on Saturday April 8, 2017.

Clean up Rileys Lock

The trash free Potomac Watershed Initiative, also known as the Alice Ferguson Foundation, spearheads a huge river cleanup day every year in April.  Last year, more than 9,400 volunteers worked as part of Alice Ferguson Day and other trash removal events in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.  Calleva’s staff, campers and their families, and some dedicated friends of the Potomac are leading the effort at Riley’s Lock.

Calleva will have teams of staff and volunteers on foot and in canoes picking up trash from the riverbank, on the towpath, and everywhere in between.  The Canoe Cruisers Association will be in canoes, gathering trash along the banks of Seneca Creek.  We gather our “treasures” into bags and the good people from Alice Ferguson make sure that trash and recycling gets to the right place.  Last year we found several tires, a plastic barrel, along with a huge number of plastic beverage bottles, golf balls, and the usual debris.

Alice Ferguson Day is not just a great chance to be outside on a spring day, it also serves as a reminder of just how much impact we have on the waterways.  So much of what we leave behind, often accidentally, ends up in our creeks, streams, rivers, and bay.  It’s awesome to see how beautiful the park can be when it is trash-free!

For more information or to signup as a volunteer please contact Ashley McEwan in the Calleva office.

Cuba by Motorcycle

How better to celebrate your father’s 75th birthday then with a motorcycle tour of Cuba. Our father had wanted to return to Cuba and see the land and people of a nation that so captured his military and historical curiousity. An easy excuse to have some time with our father on what would be an adventure we will always remember, made even more exciting element with the sheer lack of planning. Our only contact was the father of one of our international staff that lived in the area; and with only one week out from our father’s birthday, we purchased airplane tickets and asked our contact to find 5 motorcycles. Route TBD…

We landed in Holguin, and knew we had to make our way to Santiago de Cuba. Our brother-in-law “Señor Cinco” worked his magic and got us a place to stay, and we soon found ourselves with a map and taxi en route to our launching point. That night we visited with the men that would rent their bikes and discussed the details of this new transaction. None of the men had ever done anything like this, and the amount of trust that would be extended was above and beyond what we could have ever expected.

However hard and difficult the challenges of arranging things in a communist country (there is lots of waiting), we were continuously inspired by the people, the culture, and the landscape that we were immersed in. We found ourselves with a serious decision to make: should we loop East or West? Bigger mountains to the West, but our lonely planet guidebook suggested that East could end up a better cultural experience. We left late in the day with the sun at our backs.

The first day was filled with fueling up, waiting, fixing bikes, waiting, trading bikes, waiting, eating, and waiting and then we finally pulled out towards Guantánamo and the south coast. Before the trip we had decided not to travel at night, and on the first day we had already broken this rule. Fortunately we found ourselves at one of the most amazing Hostel experiences of the trip: Hostal Costa Sur in Tortuguilla. Not only was our first home so very comfortable, but the story of a Cuban-Canadian that returned to invest and help out his small town was inspiring. I couldn’t imagine the trip getting any better as I slept in my hammock overlooking the beach with the amazing stars overhead; but it did.

The next day was maybe one of my favorite motorcycling days of the trip. Beautiful coastal roads that eventually turned northward and through an unbelievably beautiful mountain range that descended into the most amazing city of Baracoa. That night we ate at a woman’s home rumored to be one of the best cooks in the town. Our meal was fabulous, and my favorite eating experience of the entire trip. Claudia served Fish, Pork, and Beef beautifully seasoned and we poured every drop of the sauces onto our rice until everything was devoured. It also happened to be Señor Cinco’s birthday and so much cause for celebration that that very same night everyone in the town marched through town with torches in rememberence of José Martí, a Cuban national hero. The night never seemed to end with festivities, dancing, and celebrations. It is definitely a place I need to return, Baracoa is known for its cocoa production, and so we filled our pockets and bellies as well as our souls.

We had heard the road north from Baracoa was bad… but WOW was it bad! On top of that, the devastation that Hurricane Matthew had on the area must have been nothing short of terrifying. Weaving in and out of potholes that one could lose their entire bike in made the day long, the sun was hot, but spirits could not be broken. Driving behind our old man as he nimbly weaved around one obstacle after another showed us just how strong our father actually was. Long days can be mentally and physically exhausting, however each day his spirit was nothing short of inspirational. He jokingly commented that he would have to do the next trip in a sidecar, however I don’t believe it. This man is so strong, and any pains or signs of slowing down were tossed aside by his positive attitude. The road eventually improved and brought us to the ugliness and brutal realities of nickel mining in a town called Moa. Earth torn open while bits and pieces dyed the landscape of what was once so beautiful. We eventually found another town to stop at and after getting separated and turned around for awhile we ended up staying with the nicest family that were doctors in a town called Mayarí. Another hidden gem of the night was a restaurant tucked behind someone’s house. The food was prepared and served with love as they all sang Happy Birthday to what would be our last night in Cuba.

We made it back to the Airport in Holguin where all the owners to the bikes anxiously awaited to see the condition of their bikes after our 400+ km joyride. I wish the bikes could have returned the same way I did when I dismounted my 200cc single cylinder Jawa ~ cleansed by the Cuban air that blew through me day and night, stirred by the music and culture, refreshed with my thoughts from soaking in the landscape, joyous from the shared experience with my brothers, brother-in-law, cubans, and inspired from riding with my father ~ usually alongside, sometimes in the lead, but always wanting to follow right behind him… in his tracks.  Just another adventure to remind us of the important things in life.

My Packing List: Everything should fit into one duffle on the back of your motorbike that was attached with a 12’ NRS strap. The ideal duffle size is the 60L Patagonia Black Hole, however I had the 45L (make sure you have room to bring something back). Motorcycle Helmet (¾ at most), Clothes for Travel days, 2 pair of Socks, Shorts/Swim Suit, 2 t-Shirts,  Button up Short sleeve shirt, Button-up Long sleeve shirt. Long pants (same as travel clothes), toilet kit, Deck of Cards for Tablenet, Hat, Lightweight Jacket, Sunglasses/Motorcycle goggles, headlamp, Sunscreen, a collapsable lightweight backpack, and book: Waiting for Snow in Havana.

Extras I was able to carry but not necessary: Exped Hammock, Exped Wallcrawler Sleeping Bag, flip-flops.

Things I wish I had: Go-Pro

The Alseseca Race

In 2008, Aventurec and Liquid Adventures joined together to create Mexico’s premier extreme whitewater kayaking event, The Alseseca Race. The race was formed to bring attention to the Alseseca River, growing environmental problems and the building of dams in the surrounding Veracruz region. The race continues to bring in a strong environmental awareness to the region but also has become a yearly stop for many professional world-class kayakers. The race is divided into two main categories; a short race (1 km) and the long race (just over 2.2 km)

January 14, 2017 marked the 9th annual Alseseca Race. This year’s race featured fifty-five racers from ten different countries gather on the start line of the Alseseca River.  What made this year so unique was the number of local homegrown Mexican kayakers who were in the list of competitors, but what was truly special was seeing the final results of the local contingency. They had 8 finishers in the top 10 of the short race and 5 of the top ten in the long race. Two local siblings, Antonio Reinoso Diaz Barriga and Sofia Reinoso Diaz Barriga swept the long boat category winning both the men’s and women’s category.

Team Calleva had a strong showing with 18 racers competing across the two categories. 20-year-old Beau Burns won the short race for the men, and 16-year-old Alexandra Markoff won the short race for the women. It wasn’t just about the results on team Calleva this year, but also a multi-generational gathering. Calleva had the youngest racer in history, George Markoff (10), father Alex Markoff (46), and great uncle Tom McEwan (70) all competing side by side.

The day finishes up with a beautiful closing ceremony in the town center of Tlapacoyan. All of the racers, volunteers, spectators, and town locals are invited to participate in the celebration.

The vibe was much more electric than in years past with a Ranchera Band, folk dancing, and machete throwers. The highlight of the night is the presentation of awards and prizes to the winners of each category. “The Alseseca Race is the perfect clash between celebration and culture,” Alex Markoff.

This year’s race was one for the books. It continued to help raise environmental awareness for the Veracruz region and brought the local and world kayaking community closer together. The 10th anniversary of the Alseseca Race is only 353 days away, training starts today!