
Camp for Everyone
At Calleva Summer Camp, kids of all ages explore the outdoors & become empowered, confident adventurers.
Visit a 2026 Camp Open House event!
Calleva VA Explorers & Fishers (Calleva at Camp Fraser) March 28, 10am-12:30pm
Calleva MD Explorers (Calleva Farm) April 18, 10am-12:30pm
Calleva VA Explorers & Fishers (Calleva at Camp Fraser) April 25, 10am-12:30pm
Camp for Summer, Confidence for Life
for campers ages 4-16
Calleva offers DAY camps as well as OVERNIGHT camp options. Please keep this in mind as you search for a camp below.
High Adventure Trips are a FULL WEEK AWAY for campers ages 12-16. These trips offer wilderness camping & adventure skill development in some of North America’s most beautiful places.
Canada Kayak Trip

Camp for All Ages in MD — VA — WV
Calleva Adventure Camps move about, finding the best locations for their adventure activities. More info on how to choose a camp here.
Between 9:30am-3pm every day campers are NOT ACCESSIBLE. Rafters will be rafting, climbers will be climbing, kayakers will be kayaking, bikers will be biking, and so on. In most cases, it is not possible for campers to join their Adventure Camp group late or depart camp early because they are adventuring in a location that is not accessible.
Calleva Cubs (ages 4-5) | free play-based, encouraging curiosity & discovery all day in the outdoors.
Calleva Explorers (ages 6-8) | nature exploration & intro adventure sport activities like canoeing, hiking & climbing.
Calleva Sampler Camp (ages 8-12) | DAY CAMP intro to a different outdoor adventure activity every day! Water & land activities. NO Thursday Campout.
Calleva Adventure Camp (ages 9-15) | skills & confidence building week focused on a single adventure sport! *Thursday Night Campout INCLUDED.
Calleva High Adventurers (ages 12-16) | full immersion during a week of non-stop back country exploration & skill building. This is a full week AWAY, outdoors in the wilderness.
Calleva Leaders in Training (ages 13-16) | physically & mentally challenging week in the outdoors for teens who are ready to reach beyond comfort zones to experience personal & team success. This is a full week AWAY, outdoors in the wilderness.
Calleva Summer Staff (ages 16-adults) | continue to expand capabilities by joining the community of leaders who make it all possible!
Camp ages are based on the camper’s age as of September 1, 2026.
Follow along on our Camp Adventures
Sign up for our Summer Camp Email Newsletter:
get all the updates and registration information


Why Calleva?
You may have noticed that Calleva Summer Camps sell out very quickly. We know this is disappointing for some, but we feel glad that kids (& their parents) love our camps! But the Calleva fun doesn’t have to end with summer ⎯ read more about our year round programs here.
Here are the qualities we look for in a Calleva Summer Camp staff:
- We hire people who love working with kids. Whether they’re educators or outdoor adventure professionals, our first criteria is that our staff gain joy & purpose from investing in the next generation of leaders.
- We hire detail oriented leaders. Safety is our number one priority, and this means we pay close attention to the details of every program we deliver. Our goal is to empower participants to take risks in a safe environment, to support one another, and to respect each other in the context of Calleva’s “challenge by choice” ethics.
- We hire creative geniuses. Working in the outdoors requires flexibility, adaptability, and confident problem solving. We manage many variables in each camp day & take great pride in the way our team works together to give campers & parents an excellent camp week.

Answers to what your child’s camp week will look like
Your child’s SPECIFIC camp details – schedule, transportation, health details, and other details — can be found in your Camp-in-Touch account.
We’ve gathered all the other basics in one place:
- Essential health forms (required by the State of Maryland camp license regulators)
- Important Calleva Policies (including Bus Rules & our ELECTRONICS Policy)
- Camp Needs Lists
- FAQs (& answers!) based on parents’ most commonly asked questions
- Blog posts to help you get ready for seamless registration, an unplugged summer and tips for camp success

Meet Your Camp Instructor

Howdy, I'm Adam! I was a longtime camper and, after a few years without Calleva (sad summers), I've returned for my third summer as a staff. I learned to sail at with Calleva Riley's Lock years ago and now instruct sailing each summer! I love returning to the same waters and campsites where we went when I was a camper, but also exploring more spaces with the sailing program! Outside of Calleva, I love to sail, run, hike, ski, and am dabbling in whitewater kayaking (I've mastered the wet-exit).

Alexa has been with the Calleva team since Summer 2017. She joined the team because she needed a summer job while she was majoring in Education and wanted to be outdoors! Her first summer she did a different activity every week, and that's where her love for 'all' the activities started. Alexa loves that she’s teaching kids in ways that they would never learn in a traditional school setting. She also really enjoys challenging herself in ways that she never would be able to in a school classroom.

Hi I’m Alex! I’ve been working at Calleva since summer 2021, but I was a camper for many years before that. I loved every part of being a camper here, and I really looked up to all of my counselors over the years. I jumped at the chance to be a counselor once I could apply, and I haven’t looked back since!
My favorite thing about working at Calleva is how everyone is encouraged to try new things and be their most authentic selves, and how a new and exciting thing happens every day!!

I started at Calleva in the summer of 2017 in the CHAPs program and I am now the Assistant Director of Explorers at the Calleva Farm. Some of my favorite Calleva activities are horseback riding, caving, and the challenge course, but I love helping students and campers form relationships with nature in all sorts of ways.
I am a big animal lover and outside of camp, you can often find me with my horse, Magnolia; beagle, Basil; and farm cat, Arlo.

Aliya is an enthusiastic, second season instructor at Calleva. She recently graduated St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a B.A. in environmental studies and minored in education and spanish. She has been teaching sailing at the Washington Sailing School for 8 years, has previous outdoor education experience, and loves working with kids in nature. Aliya is excited to kayak, climb, hike, and surf with Calleva this season. A fun fact about her is that growing up, she had 9 indoor pets and now, has

Anna joined the Calleva team in summer 2025, after experiencing the adventure when she was a camper herself. She grew up paddling up and down the Potomac river and has had a lot of fun with Calleva's sailing camp and Adventure Island as both a camper and a counselor. Her favorite activities at Calleva are caving, rapid swimming, and working with the Cubs, though really she enjoys any outdoor activity with the camp community. Anna loves theme weeks on the Farm and likes making costumes!

Ash is excited to be returning to CalleVA after a 2 years break to finish his degree in environmental studies. He started working as a Head Counselor in 2021 and as a Sampler Virginia instructor during the 2022 summer. Since finishing his degree Ash has been working as a substitute teacher and academic support tutor at a school in Baltimore where he has renewed his passion of working with children and helping them explore and learn about this big beautiful world we get to live in. He believes

Hi, my name is Austin, and I am an instructor here at Camp Calleva. I have been working here since the summer of 2023, but I have been with Calleva as a camper for much longer. My favorite parts of camp are the games. stories, and riddles I get to tell and be told throughout the weeks. Whether I am regaling kids with epic tales I make up on the fly on the bus, telling riddles in the barn, or playing sharks and minnows in the river, I assure you I am having as much fun as any of the kids are or

Averi joined the Calleva team in the summer of 2011. She found Calleva in college when looking for a way to gain experience working with children while pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education and has been lucky to be able to continue spending her summers at Calleva ever since. During the school year she balances working as a teacher in MCPS with traveling and trying to get outside as much as possible. Averi loves the variety of activities that are available at Calleva and that no two

Bea has been working at Calleva since 2022, but she was a camper here years before that. She is grateful for the opportunity to work with kids in the outdoors. When she was a camper here she enjoyed the space she had to be herself and the opportunities she had to be outside and learn crucial outdoor skills. She loves passing that on to her campers each week. Some fun facts about Bea: She loves cheese, she once painted herself yellow to dress up as a minion (not on Halloween) and she has strong

Beca joined the Calleva team in 2024 as a head counsellor and in Summer 2025 was made to be an instructor and absolutely loved it! Her favourite thing about working at Calleva is the family that comes along with it as well as witnessing the kids have fun! Beca has always loved the outdoors but being from the UK the weather doesn’t let her enjoy it so much! Her main hobbies include Musical Theatre in which she has a degree in; you’ll likely find her in a dance studio in her free time. She also

I am excited for my third summer working as an explorers instructor at Calleva! I was a camper at Calleva for many years and can't wait to show how incredible this camp is! I have had numerous experiences working with children and even was a 4th grade teaching assistant at Grace Episcopal School in the Spring of 2023. My favorite part of Calleva is its incredible community. I am a rising Senior at the University of South Carolina studying Political Science and I play on the school's club rugby

Brooke is working at Calleva for her second summer, but grew up loving Calleva as a camper. As a camper, she spent countless weeks on Adventure Island and is so excited to return again to the Calleva community as an Explorers Instructor. During the school year, Brooke skis and hikes in Vermont at Middlebury College, a place that has deepened her love for the outdoors. At Middlebury, she works at Red Clover Children's Center, introducing kids to the beautiful outdoors of Vermont. She's excited to

"My name is Caleb Balmoris, I have been working at Calleva since summer 2017. I started as a camper in 2009, and have enjoyed every summer I’ve spent at Calleva. Calleva fostered my love for the outdoors and community, and it is my goal to share that same experience with others.
I’m most known for Instructing the leaders in training program (LIT) at Calleva, which I have done for the past six years. It is a program that is very special to me, and I am forever grateful to be apart of. Other

This is Caroline's first season working for Calleva, but she grew up going on school field trips there and has very fond memories of getting to know her classmates better through them. She spent several years as a wilderness guide in college and is excited to bring that experience to Calleva as an instructor. She loves hiking, backpacking, kayaking, rock climbing, and anything that means spending time outside with other people!

Hi! My name is Charlotte, and this will be my third year as a Calleva staff member! I attended Calleva as a camper, starting as an explorer and finishing by completing LIT (Leaders in Training), totaling 10 years at camp! My favorite part of working at Calleva is being outside every day and being part of an amazing community of campers and staff. I love working with children and helping them grow confidence in the outdoors. My favorite Calleva activities are stand-up paddleboarding, rock

This is CJ's second year working at Calleva. Outside of Calleva, they have had many years of experience training and riding horses including being involved in the United States Pony Club, a national equine organization that teaches riding skills and horse care. CJ currently rides with their college equestrian team and is very active in the equine community. CJ has always had a passion for sharing the beauty of the equine sport and is excited to share the love of this sport with others.

This is David's first year with Calleva. His first experiences with Calleva were chaperoning his students from the Saint Anselm's Abbey school on whitewater rafting trips led by Calleva. However, his passion for the outdoors is lifelong. He has backpacked all over the world, bikepacked thousands of miles across the U.S., taught flatwater canoe and kayak skills in New England for six summers, fly fishes on his homemade rods, and races in long distance mountain biking events. He is excited to

Hi! My name is Debbie and I am thrilled to be back at Calleva for my second summer! I’m a high school physical education teacher and coach with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), and have international experience teaching PE in England. I have previously worked for eight summers at a sports day camp in New York leading a group of 6 year olds. I love hiking, biking, beach trips, and playing games with my husband and two children.

Nick attended LIT in its second ever year and was a part of the first Advanced LIT. He has worked at Calleva since 2008 and has been an LIT instructor since 2010. He helped create the LIT3 program and has trained numerous LIT instructors. He is a certified firewalking instructor and a member of the board of the Global Firewalking Association, as well as a history teacher, water polo coach, drum circle facilitator, and avid sea shantier.

Drew joined Calleva in 2023 with a mission to dive into everything Calleva and help launch new ventures in West Virginia, including The Trough Outfitters. A true outdoor enthusiast, Drew loves working with kids and believes in letting them fully embrace their energy and curiosity in the outdoors. He’s passionate about showing campers how their “hooligan energy” can be channeled into fun, challenging, and rewarding activities in nature.
During the summer, Drew serves as Director of

Ed is stoked to be spending his first summer at Calleva! Hailing from Montana, he is coming from Boise, Idaho where he spent the last 5 years mountain biking and skiing at every opportunity. Ed is excited to start a role where he can share his passion for outdoor recreation, especially mountain biking!

Elizabeth is a naturalist, gardener, educator, chicken keeper, and collector of interesting bugs, feathers, rocks, and nature facts. She has taught students from preschool through high school, but her favorite classroom is often outdoors-where there are birds to identify, plants to grow, critters to discover, and adventures waiting around every corner!
When she’s not teaching, you’ll likely find her tending her garden, hiking local trails, spending time with her two dogs, Balu and Bugsy, or

This is Estrella's third year with Calleva! She's done Markoff's Haunted Forest, CHAPS, and camp! She'll be instructing explorers this summer. She can't wait to give kids an amazing expirence at Calleva and share her love for teaching and being outside. Her favorite Calleva actives is horse back riding, swimming, and rock climbing! Goooo Calleva!!!

Faolan joined the Calleva team in the summer of 2025. She is an avid backpacker, rock climber, snowboarder, and SUPer! She has worked as a climbing instructor and snowboard coach in the past and was the vice president of both climbing clubs in high school. She enjoys taking friends out on new adventures to Shenandoah, Movement, or the Potomac. Her favorite aspect of Calleva is being able to spend every day outside and share her love for it with campers. A fun fact about her is that as a baby,

Frenda joined the Calleva staff in summer 2024 as a Head Counselor and is excited to come back this year as an Instructor. They attended the camp for many years as a camper and was even a part of the first group of campers to go on the Colorado Epic High Adventure back in 2019! This is their fifth summer working at camps and Calleva is definitely their favorite one. Frenda enjoys working kids ranging from the 4 year old Cubs to the 11 year old Samplers. Their favorite activity is going on creek

Gavin is new to Calleva in 2026 and is a rafting and inflatable fun instructor. He was a raft guide on the French Broad River for two years prior to coming to Calleva. He grew up hiking and spending time outdoors and remembers his experiences at adventure camps fondly. Nowadays Gavin spends his time rock climbing, kayaking, rafting and playing Ultimate Frisbee. He is excited to get kids stoked about the outdoors and have some fun on the river!

My name is Isaac and I will be an Instructor at Calleva Virginia this year! I have been working summers since 2022 and 3 seasons since fall of 23! I love being outside! It really allows me to disconnect from electronics and just day to day issues and really enjoy life so Calleva is amazing for letting me be outside and help kids do the same thing! One of my favorite Calleva activities is rafting, but this year I'm excited to be leading the Camper vs. Wild program in Virginia. I’m super excited

Jack started working at calleva in 2022, but has been around the excitement of Calleva summer camp since he was an eight year old explorer. Jack first fell in love with the outdoors through kayaking and mountain biking as an activity camper. His favorite part of working at Calleva is the energy that all the staff and campers bring to camp everyday!

Hi, I am Jason. this will be my 3rd summer working at Calleva. Having spent many summers as both a Calleva camper and as a staff member, I’m so excited to be a counselor again this summer. The best part about Calleva is being outdoors! I love to explore and just be outside. My love for the nature, being on/in the water, adventures and my love for kids = a great summer with Calleva. I can’t wait to share years of what I’ve learned with all of the Calleva kids. I’m so excited to connect with with

Jay has been a counselor at Calleva since the summer of 2024, but has been a part of Calleva since he was around 9 years old. He is a big fan of backpacking, surfing, climbing, and being outside in general. His favorite part of working at Calleva is teaching kids how to have fun in nature instead of being afraid of it. One fun fact about him is that Calleva helped him overcome his childhood fear of bees.

Jonah grew up in the outdoors and a career in outdoor education came naturally. He has worked at camps in 4 states and found Calleva when looking for work near his family. Jonah loves the way that challenging outdoor experiences teach us new skills and create strong community bonds with the people around us. After work, Jonah's can be found Climbing, Cycling, or Paddling in one of the amazing gems that the DC area has to offer!

Jordan joined the Calleva team in the summer of 2023, and is excited be back to Maryland this summer! As a kid at camp, Jordan discovered a passion for the outdoors, and ran with it. She got her degree in Outdoor Leadership, and loves the privilege of working in the outdoor field. Her favorite part of working at Calleva is making lifelong friends and seeing campers learn to love the world around them!

Joseph joined Calleva Virgina during the summer of 2021 and was once a camper at Calleva Maryland. Over the summers at Calleva Joseph has engaged in a lot of different aspects of the camp and has become accustomed and experienced with how things should operate. Some of his Favorite Calleva activities include swimming, Suping, hiking and playing games.

My name is Julia Markoff, and I have been working at Calleva for 8 years but I have been a camper my whole life. Most of my time spent outdoors has been with calleva, but I also go to school in Idaho during the year where I love to bike, ski and kayak. There are so many things that keep me coming back to calleva year after year but the main reason is the opportunities for adventure and growth that calleva provides for the campers but also for myself. Calleva is an environment created to teach

Kaelyn joined the Calleva team in the summer of 2022 and has been with Calleva since the summer of 2018 as a camper. I have always had a passion for being outside and helping kids build their confidence, as Calleva did for me when I was growing up, which is why I have continued my Calleva journey throughout the years. My favorite aspect of working at Calleva is the community and how much passion everyone shows for introducing kids to the outdoors and helping them build and develop their

'Hi, I’m Karla! I joined the Calleva team in the summer of 2025 as a Head Counselor and quickly fell in love with life on the farm, especially horseback riding and doing rockclimbing. Having been a Scout since the age of ten, I’ve been able to bring a wealth of outdoor education experience to my role here. My favorite part of being at Calleva is the warm, immediate welcome everyone receives the moment they arrive. Of course, the camp songs and roasting s'mores when doing overnigh camp are the

This is Keith's fifth summer at Calleva, and his forty-fourth summer on Earth. He's been making independent movies for about twenty years now, and some of them have won prizes and stuff, but he still considers himself a passionate amateur, and the short films that he makes with campers are in the same spirit as his 'professional' feature-length projects. His favorite thing about working at Calleva is when campers who took his program the previous summer come back to take it again.

Ken is starting their first year at Calleva. They previously worked at sandy spring adventure park and as a field hockey instructor. Ken’s always loved the outdoors since they were a kid and regularly spent time in creeks catching frogs. Ken’s favorite Callava activities include swimming, kayaking, and hiking. They are so excited to be apart of the Callava community.

Kiki is returning for her sixth summer with Calleva in Virginia. She keeps coming back because of the incredible culture and the tight-knit community—especially on the VA side.
Last summer, she worked with the Explorers program and loved spending time outdoors with the younger campers. This year, she’s joining the Sampler crew and is excited to get to know a new group of campers!
Some of her favorite parts of camp are running the challenge course and cliff jumping at the Madeira pond. She

Kunj is excited to be joining Calleva as an Explorers Instructor this season. He brings experience in youth leadership, outdoor education, and teaching from his work as a graduate student and course assistant at George Mason University. His favorite part of Calleva is helping kids build confidence through curiosity, nature play, and hands-on adventures. A fun fact about him: he speaks four languages.

Leland is joining Calleva for the 2026 season as a climbing instructor. He was first involved with Calleva as a camper, taking part in after-school kayaking as well as a few summers as a camper, also spent kayaking. Outside of Calleva, Leland is an avid sport climber and is stoked to share his passion for climbing with campers this summer. His favorite thing about working at Calleva is being around like-minded staff and kids who love getting outside.

Hi! My name is Lola, and this is my second summer working at Calleva. I love Calleva! I attended as a camper growing up and loved it every summer. Outside of Calleva, I study Political Science and French at Union College and enjoy spending time outdoors and staying active. My favorite part of working at Calleva is helping kids build confidence while having fun and trying new things. A fun fact about me is that I can speak French!

Hey, I am Cheesy, aka Michael. Halfway through the summer of 2016 after a long battle with chronic lyme disease my sister convinced me to start working at Calleva. I started out working with explorers and loved every second of it, but I found a passion towards whitewater kayaking and grew to love the sport! A big reason for that passion is that I am able to share it with my friends and campers and take them to places they would never have gotten to see without a kayak. Another reason is I am to

Hi! My name is Nevan!
I have been a staff member at Calleva since the summer of 2022 and have been a camper since I was eight. I love being outdoors, and working at Calleva allows me to share that with others. I especially love rafting, paddleboarding, and climbing. Calleva introduced me to many new outdoor activities, and I am super excited to introduce campers to the same activities I love.

Nico first joined the Calleva team in 2016. This is his first summer back at Calleva since 2021, and he's absolutely thrilled to be back! Nico started as a camper at Calleva back in 2009, where he fell in love with the program and discovered his passion for outdoor activities. 'Spending summers at Calleva was one of the highlights of my childhood, and it really shaped the person that I am today.' His favorite Calleva activities are fishing, kayaking, SUP, and rock climbing. Nico has a passion

Hi, I'm Ollie. I started going to Calleva as a camper when I was 12 and began working for Calleva when I was 16. I teach mainly the kayaking programs as I have been an avid whitewater kayaker since I was 9. I have travelled extensively in my search for good whitewater, landing in parts of Mexico and Canada. To me, the best part of Calleva is watching campers grow from little mischievous kids in kayaks to admirable and accomplished paddlers. Some of these campers have even gone on to work for the

Owen is a recent addition to the Calleva team. He has come in with eight years of climbing experience to spread the joy that can be found outdoors on the rocks to young faces. Since he is new to the team, his favorite aspect of the camp is yet to be determined, but will almost certainly involve teaching the kids. Besides climbing, Owen loves playing board games, with his favorites being Root and Chess.

Hi! I’m Patrick Flynn.
My journey with Calleva started way back in 6th grade when my friend Jake’s dad, Tony, took a group of us to celebrate Jake’s birthday at the Calleva farm. We explored the Haunted Forest, flew down the zip lines, and I’ve been hooked ever since! From that day on, I’ve spent every summer with Calleva (whether as a camper or on staff) and it’s become a huge part of my life. I’ve always loved being active and have played a variety of sports growing up, but at Calleva, my

Rachael has been part of Calleva’s instructor team since Summer 2021. Her amazing fellow staff, the everyday opportunities for adventure, and most of all the magic of watching campers exceed their own expectations keep her coming back. She loves the variety of activities that Calleva offers and the fact that no two days are the same. When not at Calleva, she teaches first grade and middle school math and is always scheming ways to get her students outdoors.

Remy started her Calleva career as a volunteer Junior Counselor in 2016 and has come back every summer since! She started her first day working with the Cubs program and now helps head the program 11 summers later. It is her favorite thing to do at camp and has a strong passion for helping the littlest of campers learn about nature. She is a graduate from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland with a degree in early childhood education and film studies. She was a four year member of the women's

Ryan has been a part of the Calleva staff since the summer of 2022. He's lived in Poolesville since he was eight years old and attended Calleva's after school horseback riding program in Elementary school. He also attended Traveling Players Ensemble theatre summer camp which is run by a former member of Calleva's staff. Ryan's favorite parts of working at Calleva are all the great people he's able to work with and all the exciting adventures he's able to go on with the campers. Experiencing the

My name is Sadie Frazier. I have been part of the Calleva team since 2022, but was a camper for much longer! I have worked a large variety of programs with each one bringing something different to the table. Working at Calleva has provided me with so many skills and opportunities that I wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise. One of my favorite memories as a staff is getting to repel off a bridge on the Cheat River. As a kid I would get to go on 1 week of camp a summer, I would spend this week

Sarah joined the Calleva team in 2021, and after having a few camper experiences fell in love with the whole idea of it. Sarah pushes herself to try new, fast-paced activities in the outdoors like kayaking, but also appreciates the slow beauty and wonder of outside. Her favorite parts of Calleva are the people who make up the team and the opportunities for growth, resilience, and exploration in the outdoors. Sarah loves the energy of Calleva and people who can adapt to turn things like a

Savannah went from being a camper at Calleva to joining the team officially summer 2019. This would be her eighth summer with the team! Savannah is a dedicated high adventure instructor who never fails to make the best of any experience. Her first Calleva Camp, as a camper, was the West Virginia Sampler; fast forward to present day she has now taken on the role of instructing the WV sampler for the last three years! Apart from working at Calleva, Savannah enjoys spending her own time outdoors.

Hi I'm Seth! When I'm not winning paintball matches on LIT I can typically be found broadcasting my love for LACEVAL to the world. If I still have time after that busy schedule, I'm usually kayaking or climbing. I started at Calleva in summer 2022 and have come back every summer since. I love getting outside and take every chance I get to do so. My goal in life is to continue to advocate for environmental protection and to get as many people involved in the outdoors as possible. My favorite

Sophia has been with Calleva since fall 2022. She is originally from Washington state, but makes the trek out east to enjoy all the fun that Calleva has to offer, both at camp and with school programs. Sophia enjoys working with the explorers on the farm and getting to experience the creativity and humor that campers bring, all while enjoying the great outdoors! When she's not running around with the Calleva community, you can find Sophia somewhere out west, usually on the snow in Colorado!

I am so fired up to be here for my second summer working at Calleva. From a young age, I've nurtured an outdoor inquisitiveness through formal activities such as Scouts, Calleva and other outdoor experiences. These experiences laid the groundwork and understanding for my outdoor leadership. Over time, I realized that everything I have learned, I want to share with growing minds... outside. I want to help connect others to their environment and community. Playing and exploring is integral to the

My name is Stefan Gagnier and I joined Calleva in summer 2024. I’ve been camping and climbing since I was a kid and have spent several years working with kids in outdoor settings. I also spend a lot of time boating and being on the water. Outside of Calleva I like to be outside as much as possible and keep building my skills in climbing and backcountry travel. My favorite part of working at Calleva is being outside every day and sharing that with others, especially helping kids build their own

My name is Taylor Borie and I've been working at Calleva since 2018! One of the most fulfilling aspects of my role is nurturing a sense of capability in our campers, guiding them to discover their strengths and overcome challenges from a young age. It's incredibly rewarding to witness them realize that they can not only survive, but thrive doing activities and being in an environment that they started the week uncomfortable in.

Teddy has been working at Calleva since 2020 and first started as a camper in 2013! He is a student at the University of Vermont, studying Community and International Development. Teddy enjoys being in the water and moves all around CalleVA! He is from Washington, D.C, and loves making every camper excited about Calleva! You can catch Teddy constantly laughing with a smile on his face!

Hi! My name is Theo I have done one year at Calleva as a camper in 2015-2016 mainly learning kayaking. I have also done almost 6 years of Valley Mill, learning kayaking and rock climbing. I remember being so excited to go to camp everyday because it was a place I could have fun and be MYSELF! I have worked in multiple summer camp situations whether I was a camper, CIT, or counselor. I love introducing other people to my passions because I remember finally loving something that I could do on my

Tina has been with the Calleva team since the summer of 2016. Tina came to Calleva as a camper for a few summers and knew she couldn’t stay away. She started working with Explorers and since then has worked almost every program we run here. Tina appreciates that the Calleva community is so welcoming to everyone & how everyone who comes to Calleva has silly stories to share at the end of the day.
She loves almost every activity we have at Calleva but if she had to choose, her favorites

My name is Vera Wiegmann. This is my first summer as a Calleva instructor, however, I used to come to camp Calleva every summer when I was younger. In addition to camp, I have been taking weekly horseback riding lessons at the Calleva farm for 9 years. Calleva holds such a special place in my heart and I'm so glad I have the privilege to work here this summer. Outside of Calleva, I was a volunteer at Lift Me Up, a therapeutic horseback riding center for children with disabilities. This was such

Wells joined the Calleva community in 2017 after finding the power that Calleva helps one harness through the Leaders In Training program. Through this lens, he enjoys helping others challenge themselves, grow, and step outside their comfort zones in an outdoor setting. His favorite activities at Calleva are the challenge course, ziplines, and anything involving water! He loves the beauty and fun that the Maryland/Virginia outdoors provide and can’t wait to share it with campers!

This is my 3rd year being an instructor with the explorers, and I'm so excited to make each summer even more awesome than the last! When I'm not at camp, I work for at an elementary before and after school program as well as the University of Iowa's outdoor recreation department. I love getting to experience the amazing outdoors with new faces all year round!









































