Transformational Outdoor Experiences
Every year, Calleva works with more than 150 schools, scout troops, nonprofits, and corporate groups who believe that experiential education is great for individual character development as well as the formation of positive group culture. Find out why teachers love Calleva field trips!
Our Philosophy
Whether you’re leading a school, business team, scout troop, or family group, our goal is for participants to leave their Calleva experience united as a team, feeling empowered in their individual abilities, and excited for their next outdoor adventure.
Groups experiences are customized based on partner goals, team dynamic, time available, and budget. Our seasoned facilitators create a safe and inclusive group culture while pushing participants to step outside of their comfort zones and progress in their skills.
Calleva follows a “challenge by choice” model and our elements are designed in a way for everyone to experience success.
Our staff facilitate groups through each element on our course, and include a discussion/debrief afterwards so that participants can reflect on their experience.
When designing your challenge course program, we choose elements best suited to achieve your desired goals.
Customized Group Programs
Choose a single day trip, a multi-day overnight program, and anything in between that will engage the full range of outdoor enthusiasts in your group (from novice to experienced adventurers!).
Challenge Course Programs
Participants split into small teams of 10-14 and rotate through various team-building elements. Each rotation is typically 30-60 min and is facilitated by a Calleva staff member who is specifically trained to help the team discover their strengths and come together as a group.
All programming is customizable; typically, groups choose to rotate through a combination of “low elements” and “high elements”.
Low elements encourage teamwork. Students walk along cables, on top of boards, and through obstacles all close to the ground. These elements challenge the group in communication, problem solving, teamwork, creative thinking, and cohesion.
High elements focus on individual growth. Participants are up in the trees, empowered to break through comfort zones with the support of their teammates. Calleva staff are trained to harness & belay participants as they climb, swing through the air, and slide down cables.
Locations
- The Calleva Farm in Dickerson, MD
- Our Virginia Campus near Great Falls, VA
- Portable programming brought to your campus
Possible Itinerary
- Introductions, discuss expectations, goals & outcomes
- Divide into groups. Create team Name, Sound, and Motion
- 2 rotations on Calleva Challenge Course elements
- Break for lunch
- 1-2 more rotations on Calleva Challenge Course elements
- Debrief discussion & shares about our different experiences from the day.
Outdoor Adventure Programs
Calleva is permitted to use local State and National Parks as our locations for our outdoor adventure activities. Our instructors & staff practice Leave No Trace principles, whether we’re leading a single day excursion or a multiple day wilderness program.
We create an itinerary to suit the goals of each group with an emphasis on adventure, teamwork, and of course FUN!
Calleva’s “challenge by choice” model encourages participants to stretch themselves in a safe environment. Often, we see a huge range of experience levels and abilities within each group, so we design programs to create a cooperative, collaborative, and empowering environment. Find out how you can unlock inner strength at Calleva.
Single Day, Multiple Day, and Overnight itineraries available:
Water Options
- Whitewater Rafting
- Kayaking
- Canoeing
- Standup Paddleboarding
- Duckies (inflatable kayaks)
- Adventure Island
- Sailing
- Fishing
Land Options
- Rock Climbing
- Mountain Biking
- Horseback Riding
- Hiking
- Backpacking
- Navigation
- Wilderness Skills
- Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics
Agriculture and Environmental Programs
Calleva is committed to environmental conservation & sustainability. We welcome opportunities to teach the next generation of leaders about sustainability and stewardship.
Choose from a variety of workshops for participants to rotate through. These workshops are facilitated in small groups by our experienced Calleva staff, who engage participants with interactive and age-appropriate lessons.
Workshop Options
- Soil studies
- Stream Studies
- Sprouting Plants
- Bees and Pollinator Studies
- Leave No Trace Ethics
- Farm Animals
- Sustainable Forestry
Workshop availability may depend on the location of the field trip, as well as the season!
Testimonials
I wanted to reach out and tell you what an amazing time we all had learning from all of you. Each one of you are such a gift in what you can offer these students, many of whom have never seen a farm animal or a large garden in real life! I think growing up in rural Pennsylvania I tend to forget sometimes that these students (especially Gaithersburg students) have a very different perspective of the environment than I do. I do believe it really helped put so many abstract concepts of this class into a real-world experience that they will never forget. I truly appreciate the time and effort you all put into this field trip – I am so excited to plan it again for next year!
Leah Bierly
AP Environmental Science & BiologyGaithersburg High School
I really appreciate how well trained the staff are. By far, this is the most professional and well trained group of people that do this! I don’t know how you keep and retain staff but you all should write a book on it.
Sandy Spring Friends
6th gradeThey didn’t want to leave! Ian and Robo were amazing! Shiz and Sosa were fantastic leaders.
Jesse and Rachel lead an amazing trip. No questions unanswered and all was very well presented and done. Every time we did an activity both would explain all that was involved and ask comfort level and work through all before starting. I love that when the kids had a suggestion on a climb that Jesse made it happen.
Canterbury
What an awesome program. Loved that the students had so much autonomy. A great team-building programing. This was a phenomenal trip. Spirits were high – even in the rain. We loved our time on the river and the experience swimming in the pond. Having students guide their own rafts was an amazing experience. Students really got to practice teamwork and leadership. It was great to hear kids cheering each other on.
Jewish Day School
I liked the mix of activities and how some allowed for teamwork while others pushed them out of their comfort zone which presented an opportunity to encourage each other. Staff were excellent!
Washington International School
9th gradeSteve-O and his crew crushed it! It’s my favorite staff to work with outside of our school. We loved being able to paddle to Adventure Island. What a cool spot! Staff were incredible — they got middle schoolers personalities, fears, hesitations, etc and were incredible supportive and professional.
Bullis School
7th & 8th gradesGroups FAQ
Where do you offer group programs?
- Calleva Farm, 200+ acres in Dickerson, MD
- Riverfront, at our Virginia campus in McLean, VA
- Riley’s Lock
- Various public park and wilderness spaces
- Portable programming brought on-site to your campus!
What group sizes/ages can you accommodate?
We create customized experiences for groups of 10 – 150 participants, aged 4-104.
Do groups do one activity or multiple activities in a day?
Typically, Calleva groups do one primary activity per day to hold space for participants to progress in their skills throughout the day.
Do you offer half day options?
Our pricing is based on a day rate, and we customize programming based on the amount of time your group has available. We do not offer discounts for half day programs.
What are your programming prices?
Depending on the specific programming, pricing ranges from $55-75 per participant per day, with additional costs for food, transportation, and overnight accommodations. We offer discounts for Title I Groups, Nonprofits, Off-season and first-time programs.
Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
We can typically accommodate common dietary restrictions. Please make sure your group contact communicates your dietary restrictions so that we are prepared.
Our kitchen is a “nut aware” facility meaning we don’t serve food with active nut ingredients. We have many food options available that don’t include gluten, meat and dairy.
HOWEVER: We cannot guarantee zero cross contamination so if allergies are particularly sensitive we recommend bringing your own food to supplement what we can safely provide.
What if it rains?
We run activities rain or shine! If storms occur, we may suspend activities in order to seek shelter. In rare cases, Calleva may choose to change activities or locations in order to maximize the experience given weather conditions.
What’s the bathroom situation?
Participants use port-o-potties that are cleaned daily. We have a hand-washing station outside restrooms and encourage hygienic practices from all students and staff.
What about the overnight campout?
Calleva keeps kids engaged up until bedtime. We use standard 4-person tents set up in primitive campsites. The school determines tent groups and decides how and where tents are spaced.
No previous camping experience is required! Supervising adults sleep in separate quarters nearby in case of nighttime emergency.
What if someone is afraid of heights?
Calleva abides by a “challenge by choice” philosophy, meaning that each participant can determine the extent to which they participate. Our facilitators create a safe environment that encourages students to step outside their comfort zones, while providing them with the space to participate in other ways. We acknowledge that sometimes the bravest decision is to say “no”.
Do you offer transportation?
Yes! We maintain a fleet of busses and can offer transportation to and from the program location for $700 per bus.
Contact Us
If you have questions, we’re here to help!
