Appalachian Adventure (for ages 9-13)
The Mountain Institute

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Week 2 (during Blues and Swing Weeks) or
Week 4 (during Bluegrass and Folk Arts Weeks)

Kids of Augusta families have a great number of choices about how to spend their summer, and The Mountain Institute is working with Augusta this summer to offer kids another reason to spend time with family in Elkins. Experience outdoor education out and about each day in lush green Randolph County guided by The Mountain Institute’s practiced staff and environmental adventure curriculum. Hike is nearby wilderness, explore a cave, gain navigation skills or learn about our rivers and study the unique creatures that have been here even longer than the people. Spend dinner and evening time with family enjoying session playing or family time and hearing stories of one another day inspired by the mountains.

Appalachian Adventure offers kids a chance to explore the rich natural world of Randolph County. Traveling by foot and van, we’ll see wilderness areas, trout streams, and endless mountains. We’ll explore a cave, learn traditional navigation skills, and have a ton of fun.

Days will start on campus after breakfast and will conclude on campus before dinner. (Lunch and snacks will be provided and are included in the price of a meal card for those students staying and/or eating on campus. There will be an additional charge for students without meal cards. Please call Augusta at 304-637-1209 for more details.)

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Clothing List:

Although the weather during the summer is often sunny and warm, it is also sometimes rainy, snowy, cold and windy. This clothing list is designed to function as a layered system. Since all the items may be worn alone in warmer conditions or together to create a comfortable outfit for colder conditions, it is imperative that you bring everything on the list unless it is marked optional.

Wool is the traditional outdoors miracle fabric. Unlike cotton, wool does not lose it’s loft when it becomes wet, resulting in a much warmer garment for inclement weather conditions. Cotton, such as jeans, sweat pants, sweat shirts, and flannel shirts are not as useful for our purposes, as they become quickly saturated and lose their insulating ability. The modern equivalent to wool is any synthetic fleece or fiber pile fabric. Anywhere you read wool in the following list a synthetic alternative is acceptable.       

Please bring the following items for camping:

______ 1 set polypropylene (or similar material) long underwear tops and bottoms. 

            ______ 2 pair light socks for the cave day

            ______ 1 pair light nylon shorts

            ______ 1 pair of comfortable pants for walking

______ 1 wool sweater or jacket

______ 1 warm wool hat

______ 1 rain suit – jacket and pants.  Heavy-duty rubber/plastic is great, Gore-Tex is OK ,too, but not necessary.

            ______ 1 pair comfortable shoes for hiking 

______ 1 flashlight with extra batteries – to be used in the cave

______ 1 small backpack (book bag)

______ 1 journal or sketch pad with a pen and/or pencil

______ 1 water bottle

Please bring the following additional items for caving.  Since caves are wet and muddy places, with an average temperature of 54 degrees, having the right clothes can really make a difference in your level of enjoyment.

______ 1 set polypropylene long underwear – tops and bottoms

______ 1 pair wool socks

______ 1 wool sweater

______ 1 outer layer to get muddy – jackets and pants

______ 1 pair old sneakers

Suggested optional gear:

______ camera

______ binoculars

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