Leadership School

Participants from 2006 with Directors Meredith Montague (front center) and David Montague (back right).

Field Camp Outdoor Leadership School

Ages 13-16

Field Camp Outdoor Leadership School – Basic

We had another great year at our third year of Field Camp Outdoor Leadership School.  We kept busy during the first week with a hike in the St. Mary’s Wilderness area, a shake-down campout in the Shenandoah, and many hours of lessons and discussions in outdoors skills and leadership principles.  During the second week, we hiked roughly twenty miles on a southwestern Virginia section of the Appalachian Trail.  Highlights from our hike included summiting Mt. Rogers (5,720 ft), seeing wild ponies, and crossing some beautiful mountain meadow terrain. 

Based on last year’s experiences, we decided to cut back our daily hiking time in order to free up our evenings for more leadership instruction.  This change worked well for us and helped the group to bond through discussion and other fun activities besides the physical challenges of each day’s hike.  Our group of campers included strong leaders, excellent athletes, and highly entertaining storytellers.  They became supportive friends on the trail, looking out for each other’s safety and comfort, cooking for each other at camp, and always laughing together.  We look forward to more adventure next summer…!

We anticipate a similar program for Basic Leadership School in 2007.  The curriculum and goals will remain much the same, though the routes and destinations may change.  We encourage boys and girls ages 13-15 to apply.

Field Camp Outdoor Leadership School –Advanced

For graduates of the Basic Program, we are offering an exciting new challenge in 2007!  The Advanced Adventure trip is a five-day program designed to present new outdoors opportunities and challenges.  

Day 1:  Meet at Field Camp, quick introductions, lunch en route to West Virginia, camp at group campground.

Day 2:  All day guided rafting trip on Upper New River.

Day 3:  All day guided rafting trip on Lower New River.

Day 4:  All day rock climbing instruction and practice.

Day 5:  Break camp, fun morning activity, late afternoon return to Field Camp.

The Adventure Trip is reserved for students who have completed Field Camp's Basic Outdoor Leadership program from any summer, including 2007.  We will be utilizing hard skills from the Basic curriculum as well as practicing good expedition behavior.  Meals will be prepared by the group or provided by the guide service.  We look forward to lots of fun and physical challenges as we venture into new areas of outdoor recreation.

 Please click here for the application form. 

Leadership School participants for 2005 with instructors Meredith Montague (foreground), and David Montague (far right).  Meredith and David will return to lead both Leadership Schools in the Summer of 2006.