Teen Camps

For Calleva staff, one of the most fulfilling moments of a High Adventure camp week is the end-of-week debrief. Sitting together, often with well-earned ice cream from a local creamery in hand, the group reflects on the week’s accomplishments. These conversations celebrate favorite memories, dissect the most challenging moments, and even inspire laughs over what items campers would—and wouldn’t—pack again.

Asking “Why?”: The Heart of High Adventure

While reliving successes is gratifying, the most meaningful part of the debrief often stems from one question: “Why?” Why embark on these challenging trips? Why push through discomfort? Why take the risk of making new friends? One common answer is simple yet powerful: “To have fun.”

And fun is guaranteed. Calleva High Adventure trips are jam-packed with thrilling activities such as surfing, rock climbing, canoeing, caving, backpacking, fishing, kayaking, canyoneering, and mountain biking. With trips spanning 5, 6, or even 14 days, these experiences combine adrenaline-filled days with opportunities to develop new skills.

What sets Calleva apart is its ability to make these epic activities accessible to all skill levels. Carefully chosen venues blend world-class scenery with challenges suitable for everyone, ensuring campers of any experience level have an unforgettable time.

Camp Memories That Last a Lifetime

Beyond the day’s adventures, evenings at camp provide their own magic. Campers bond over cooking competitions, team-led meals, campfire stories, and, of course, s’mores. These moments transform groups of campers into cohesive teams, forging memories and friendships that last long after the trip ends.

With approachable activities, stunning locations, and unforgettable camping experiences, it’s no wonder campers unanimously declare High Adventure trips as pure fun.

Building Lifelong Friendships

Another common answer to “Why?” is “To make friends.” The opportunities for connection on High Adventure trips are endless, and Calleva staff are dedicated to facilitating friendships. These trips thrive on trust, communication, and respect, all essential elements that staff help campers develop throughout the journey.

Trust is built through shared challenges, such as navigating rapids or scaling rock walls, where campers rely on each other for safety and encouragement. Communication is fostered as campers plan their days, ask for help, and collaborate on tasks like cooking or setting up camp. Respect is key, especially when diverse backgrounds and varying comfort zones come into play. With guidance from staff, these elements create a foundation for meaningful connections that go beyond the trip.

Embracing the Challenge

Perhaps the most impactful answer to “Why?” is “To push ourselves.” High Adventure trips are designed to challenge campers in ways that promote personal growth. Whether it’s their first time camping outdoors or tackling a Class V rapid, campers are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones. Calleva’s “challenge by choice” philosophy ensures that every camper feels supported while exploring their limits.

These challenges align perfectly with Calleva’s mission: “To provide challenging experiences that promote personal growth, group cooperation, and leadership skills.” From climbing a step higher to catching one more wave or venturing into an underground cave, staff guide campers with enthusiasm, helping them embrace each challenge.

Group cooperation is essential for success, and leadership opportunities abound. Campers are encouraged to take initiative, whether by being the first to try a new activity or stepping up to organize tasks at camp. These moments allow campers to practice resilience and teamwork in an immersive, adventure-packed setting.

Unforgettable Adventures Await

The joy of celebrating accomplishments, reflecting on growth, and sharing laughter is what makes Calleva High Adventure trips memorable. The thrill of adventure, the bonds of friendship, and the rewards of personal challenges make them truly unforgettable.

Ready to embark on your own High Adventure? Discover the perfect trip for you with our How to Pick a High Adventure Guide.

Adventure awaits!

Jesse Pulliam

River School Instructor & Summer Camp Instructor

Jesse joined the Calleva team in spring 2021. His first Calleva experience was with Calleva’s River School taking kayaking classes. He discovered his passion for the outdoors and started working at Calleva to share his skills with the community.

Jesse’s favorite part of Calleva is one of our challenge course elements, “Rails”! He loves running our High Adventure summer camps. Jesse enjoys that his role allows him to do many different things like Cubs, birthday parties, and High Adventures.

Surf High Adventures is a 5-day, 4-night overnight camp on Assateague Island where campers learn to surf and better understand the ocean. Campers come away from this trip with a greater experience & knowledge about water safety, surfing etiquette, different types of boards, ocean conservation, and reading the break.

A head instructor and two junior counselors are there for campers, ensuring safety and that each camper feels confident and heard.

Through Letters From Camp, we aim to share the magic of Calleva. This series will provide insights into our programs, stories from parents, campers and staff, and tips for making the most out of your child’s summer adventure.

Letter From a Camper

Our first camper submission of the summer was written by Eleanor, a first-time surf camper, about her experience on the Week 2 Surf High Adventure Camp in June.

Here is what she wanted to share:

Dear Fellow Campers,

At first, I wasn’t sure about how to write this. I mean, how am I supposed to write about such an amazing week in just a few paragraphs? It was truly an amazing experience. We had an amazing instructor, Aussie (just a nickname, though those are names at Calleva), and counselors, Jordi and Lulu.

It was so much fun swimming in the ocean and playing “Mr. President”. If you don’t know what that is, it starts with someone randomly putting their hand by their ear and when another person sees that they do the same. The last person to do it gets tackled and dunked underwater.

The best part of the week was hanging out with everybody. It was so much fun to sit around the campfire, cooking dinner and talking.

On Tuesday evening we spent time as a group bonding. We did a trust exercise that celebrated our spontaneity, friendship and mullets.

On Wednesday a huge storm came through. It broke a few tents, I think one went over the dune…yikes. It was chaotic, to say the least. We ended up sleeping at the Assateague Island Visitor Center, it was actually pretty fun.

I also learned a lot about surfing. Aussie taught us how to catch waves, and pop-up on our boards. At the end of the week, I felt more confident and comfortable surfing! I can’t wait to do it again next year.

Regards,

Eleanor

Discover why Calleva’s Mountain Biking Camp is the perfect choice for your child’s summer adventure! From beginner to intermediate levels, our program offers hands-on learning, well-maintained equipment, and access to premier biking locations in Maryland and Virginia.

With a focus on mountain biking skill development and environmental education, our campers explore nature while gaining confidence and building friendships. Join us for an unforgettable outdoor experience!

Overview of the mountain biking programs at Calleva

There are three main camp options for mountain biking for kids at Calleva: MD Mountain Biking Camp, and MD Explorers.

MD Calleva Mountain Biking camp serves as an introduction to the exciting world of mountain biking. During the week, campers sample the best mountain biking in Maryland and Virginia. Additionally, this camp includes an exciting Thursday Overnight!

Our WV High Adventure Mountain Biking Camp is on hiatus in 2026, but it’s worth noting that West Virginia is home to some of the best mountain biking on the East Coast. We love Black Water Falls State Park because it is a favorite Calleva throwback from the early years.

Our latest addition to the mountain biking program is designed for our MD Explorers. Now even our youngest campers can enjoy the thrill of mountain biking, with activities and equipment designed especially for them!

The Explorers mountain biking program is using BALANCE BIKES!! They are such a great way for little riders to feel comfortable on 2 wheels. There are no pedals, but campers can still learn to kick off and balance in the way they would on a pedal bike. Our goal here is to lay a foundation of skills and a love of biking that empowers 6-8 year olds with a taste of Calleva-style adventure on the biking trails.

The introduction of mountain biking camp and how it aligns with the camp’s mission

Flash may now be famous for his cookies from the Farm Store, but once upon the beginning of Calleva he was the Mountain Biking Instructor. Flash’s dedication to adventure is where it all started.

Calleva has always been and will always be about trying new things. New camps that get campers outdoors, pushing themselves to try new things, do hard things and conquer new challenges. You can read more about the early days of Calleva and the heart of camp in our recent Markoff Brother interview.

This year we were looking to expand our Explorers’ program and needed a couple of additional activities to offer our youngest adventurers. The addition of mountain biking to Explorers gets campers learning more had skills at an early age. This not only prepares campers for more epic adventures as they grow, but fosters new ways for campers to spend time outdoors during the year.

Skill levels of the mountain biking programs and how these levels are differentiated

Calleva’s mountain biking programs are geared toward beginner and intermediate riders. We start with the basics and build up. With the addition of mountain biking to the Explorers program we are now offering the basics of mountain biking using balance bikes. Then riders will progress to full pedal bikes.

The MD Mountain Biking Adventure camp is designed for beginners. Once campers are at the intermediate to advanced level they are ready for the WV Mountain Biking High Adventure camp.

For our Adventure and High Adventure camps, depending on the skill level within a group, the instructor may choose to separate into two groups to better serve the campers. At Calleva we pride ourselves on a challenge by choice philosophy. This allows us to meet campers where they are with a focus on progress, not perfection.

Mountain biking equipment provided at the camp

For all mountain biking programs, Calleva provides a fleet of capable and well maintained mountain bikes. The balance bikes used for Explorers are perfect for young riders just starting out.

Balance bikes are for all ages! We are proud owners of 2 fleets of balance bikes that fit 5 to 12 year olds! This allows campers who have never been on any bike up to very experienced riders to gain confidence in body positioning, momentum, and basic obstacles of mountain biking.

We also have pedal kits that we can use to upgrade the bikes, if there is a significant camper interest. The more skilled a camper is, the more they may be able to challenge themselves on the track.

Our fleet of bikes is available to meet the needs of all riders, but campers are allowed to bring their own bikes on Adventure and High Adventure programs if they prefer.

Dedicated facilities or trails designed specifically for mountain biking

For our Adventure and High Adventure camps we visit an array of locations depending on the weather and group skill level. MD Mountain Biking Camp travels to an array of locations including but not limited to Schaeffer Farms, Fountainhead Regional Park, Patapsco State Park, Gambrill State Park, and the Calleva Farm.

Our WV Mountain Biking Camp visits some of the best mountain biking on the East Coast. Trails like Hellbender and Plantation are just a few of the routes during a high adventure week.

Our Explorers will stay on the pump track. This is a fill dirt track full of burms, bumps, low logs and more on the Calleva Farm this summer. The leader of our OneWheel program had built a pretty sweet pump track for them to use in the past. This year, without OneWheel on our offerings, we Explorers decided we would take over the pump track!

Mountain biking programs incorporate educational elements for campers

Mountain biking at Calleva in general teaches campers classic etiquette in public use spaces. Things like how to share the trail, LNT, don’t ride muddy trails, etc. During Explorers, campers will have drills to practice their balance. Additionally they will have the opportunity to work on some obstacles of their very own to learn how a trail is built for “flow”.

The MD Mountain Biking program is designed to progressively introduce campers to mountain biking. On Day 1, we teach basic trail riding, trail etiquette, and basic bike maintenance. For Day 2, we focus specifically on cornering, rocks, and roots. On Day 3, we transition to techniques such as pumping, jumpings, and dropping. Finally, on our overnight, we travel to trails that challenge all the skills we learned during the week. 

The High Adventure WV Mountain Biking camp is designed for intermediate to advanced riders. However, that does not mean they won’t be learning anything new. Campers will practice cornering, approaching features with brake control, practice drops and getting air. Campers will learn evening bike tips and attend a maintenance class at Blackwater Bikes.

Like everything we do at Calleva, we approach mountain biking with the same always learning and always growing mentality. Campers will learn new skill on and off their bikes.

Mountain Biking camps complement the other activities offered at Calleva

The goal of Explorers is for campers to get a “taste of it all!” At Calleva, we pride ourselves on educating kids to be safe, competent adventure sports enthusiasts. So the more sports we can give them a foundation for, the better!

Mountain biking skills, such as risk management, transfer over well to other Calleva activities such as whitewater kayaking and rock climbing. Our mountain biking programs provide children with opportunities to push themselves out of their comfort zones and tackle obstacles that may have seemed unfeasible. The confidence from such an experience will carry over to all aspects of a campers life.

Opportunities for campers to combine mountain biking with other outdoor experiences

Biking is exhausting!! Especially in Maryland, in the summer. Those 95 degree days with 90% humidity will really push our campers! One of the best parts about our biking program is that it is balanced with finding the perfect swimming hole in the afternoon!

Be it Seneca creek, the Potomac or else where, the bikers are pretty good at finding some epic rope swings.

Plans to expand or enhance the mountain biking program in the future

Beginning this summer, we will be reintroducing Mountain Biking High adventures and mountain biking during Explorers. It certainly helps to differentiate skill levels and/or ages. Which is why we have shifted to an older group for biking this year.

We are excited to see where the camper enthusiasm takes the future of our mountain biking programs.

Pump up Adventure with Mountain Biking Camp at Calleva

Mountain Biking Camp at Calleva offers an unparalleled summer adventure experience for children of all skill levels. From our MD Mountain Biking Camp to the WV High Adventure Mountain Biking Camp and the MD Explorers program, there’s something for every young rider.

Our focus on skill development, environmental education, and outdoor exploration sets us apart, providing campers with the tools they need to succeed on and off the trails. With well-maintained equipment, experienced instructors, and access to premier biking locations, Mountain Biking Camp at Calleva promises an unforgettable summer filled with excitement, growth, and endless outdoor adventures. Join us and watch your child thrive in the exhilarating world of mountain biking!

Julia Markoff

Mountain Biking Instructor

Julia grew up at Calleva. Her back yard was the Calleva farm so it’s no surprise she is a pro at all things outdoors. Julia joined the family business as a camp counselor when she was 13. She is currently attending the University of Idaho studying architecture.

Julia loves mountain biking! She learned how to mountain bike right here at Calleva from a bull rider we called Cowboy Kyle because he rode bulls. Her favorite part of mountain biking is that there is always something to learn and you go places that you never would have thought of.

Olivia Murphy

Events Director & Farm Camp Director

Olivia is the Farm Camp Director and Calleva’s Events Director. She has been with the Calleva team since Summer 2008 starting as a JC for the excitement of a paycheck. Her favorite part of being at Calleva is the unceasing entertainment.

She is also a whitewater kayak instructor and loves to mountain bike, whichever is seasonally appropriate would be her favorite at the time. Olivia enjoys how EVERY day is different and that she gets to work with a STELLAR team.

What Is LIT All About?

We’ve designed the Leaders in Training (LIT) course specifically for teens, ages 13-16. The purpose of the LIT is to help teenagers build their self-confidence and resilience! We do this by sharing with them positive/empowerment psychology principles and tools so they can start taking charge of their beliefs and thoughts. We do this in an outdoor nature environment that is fast-paced and experiential… and exciting and fun. Teens are guided to become aware of their fears and limiting beliefs and then negotiate challenges to push through them. All of this is done in a supportive, safe, and encouraging environment. 

Calleva’s commitment to leading teens to become their best selves is why I’m here. After a long career in the Army, and years of studying the science of the mind, 

I’ve been directing Calleva’s LIT program for the past 16 years. This summer we will have a total of 20 LIT weeks!  

There’s nothing more fulfilling than creating exciting challenges, guiding teens through introspection and goal-setting exercises, and supporting them as they break through the doubts & fears that hold them back from pursuing their goals. 

Our 5-day week takes a thematic approach.

Teenagers come away from LIT understanding principles & tools for building a confident and “can-do” attitude. They are equipped to build their personal power and handle the challenges they will face every day in Middle and High School.

~ Tony Witter – Director of LIT and Corporate Programming 

When I was in the eighth grade, I was like most middle schoolers: angsty, tired, and annoyed with anything that presented itself as a challenge. However, this dull version of myself had a wake-up call in the summer of 2015. 

My mom had decided to surprise me by signing me up for LIT, Calleva’s “leaders in training” program. At first, I was against the idea, but this viewpoint changed after one short week. LIT was definitely one of the hardest adventures of my life, but it was also a chance I will never regret taking.

The first few days of LIT were nothing short of interesting. I was surrounded by strangers, but we all were looking for the same thing; we were looking for peace within ourselves. The counselors and campers alike shared their insecurities, fears, and memories. Never in my life had I felt so connected to such a diverse group of people. 

Through endless outdoor activities, pounds of sunscreen, and sharing with the smartest boys and girls I’ve ever met, my middle schooler mentality shifted for the better. In just one week, I had discovered more about myself than I ever knew previously. I started to understand where the storm clouds of my life came from, and trust me, I started appreciating hot showers more than ever before. 

To this day, I still have the journal I kept at LIT on my bedside table. It is full of my complaints, my biggest laughs, and names of people my mind will never get rid of. I started journaling because of Calleva and haven’t stopped since. If you’re considering whether or not this program is a good idea for you or a loved one, take this from an LIT graduate. I have never looked back on my experience with regret, only with gratefulness, pride, confidence, and strength. LIT helped me form the leadership skills I still use today and become the person I always admired in my mind.

~ Brooke Bedell – LIT graduate

Learn More About LIT

Instructor Log: Kayak West Virginia 2017 Nick Markoff

I never know what to expect on each of these trips- weather, river levels, kids paddling skills and just overall group dynamics…

Monday: The Cheat Narrows is a great class 2-3 river that allows me to quickly assess everyone’s ability. Everyone did well and since we were close to the Big Sandy river I wanted to take them on a very forgiving 18′ waterfall. To do this would mean we would have to paddle down the first mile and half of the Lower Big Sandy to get there and then hike all the way out with our kayaks. I do like to push kids and toughen them up, but I also didn’t want to break them on the first day! I will just say that since your kids are home, then they survived. We ate a hearty Mexican meal and we all slept in hammocks under a pavilion will commandeered for the week. I think the hike out helped them sleep hard.

Tuesday: All night I thought the next day we would go to the Lower Yough river and then come back to the cheat as a progressive step in ability and challenge but a small rain on Monday night allowed the Lower Big Sandy to still have enough flow on Tuesday. I had never take a group down the Lower Big Sandy. It is steep and technical. Maybe on a Friday I would think about it, but the chances of enough water were not looking good for Friday. The Yough was the easy safe bet but I thought, this is high adventure! So we went to LBS! I think.  We carried and snuck some of the harder rapids. I’m glad the kids could experience a harder river and realize they could do it!  Congrats to Johnny and Mitchell for running Big Splat.

Wednesday: the Cheat Canyon was way low and dropping. 11 miles at low water makes a long day. I have in the past camped out along the river so we can take out time and play along the way. I brought a raft and we loaded just the bare minimum to head out on a 2 day trip. At low water the Cheat has nice holes to surf.  The stars and moon were amazing and we went to bed thinking we were safe from rain.

Thursday: I woke up at 3:33am to dark clouds and winds picking up. I hastily made shelter but the rain never came. It must of rained somewhere because at 6:00am I noticed a change to the sound of the rapid. I looked at our kayaks and realized the water had risen a foot! One kayak was about to slip away and a blue kayak was missing.  I sent Johnny and Mitchell downriver and a seek and find mission while the rest of us broke camp. The Cheat was indeed a higher and different river.  That night we went to CiCis pizza and saw Spider-Man. Not to bad but if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all, same plot different costumes lol.

Friday: It poured overnight and the plan was to spend last day on Yough river, but… when the Cheat is high, it’s an entirely different river then before. We voted on the cheat, and boy did we make the right choice. Ask your boys about the mist, the monsoon, the big waves and holes, it was my favorite day of kayaking in a long time.

I really feel like we accomplished a lot this past week. Each kid had moments of doubt and of greatness. I thoroughly enjoyed spending a week with these guys and hope they continue to push and believe in themselves both on and off the river.