The Outdoor Learning and Retreat Center operates several unique meeting and retreat venues that provide our guests the versatility they need to customize their event.
Facilities & Equipment
Operating three facilities that can host both conferences and retreats, Mountain Valley Retreat Center, Horizons Edge Sports Campus, and Camp Horizons, we are able to serve a wide variety of needs from Leadership Retreats and Corporate Meetings to University/Church Retreats and more.
Our conference areas offer projectors, screens, audio equipment, whiteboards, easels, flip charts, and a fully stocked supply kit for anyone facilitating while on-site.
Lodging & Meals
In addition to our conference spaces, we offer cozy lodging options, casual dining that ranges from outdoor barbeques to delicious executive meals prepared fresh on-site.
Our food service staff is ready to accommodate most food allergies and restrictions with advance notice.
Facilities & Lodging Professional Consulting
Outdoor Adventure & Offsite Trips
Day Trips Off-Site
(additional cost)
Caving
(min age: 4th grade) Head underground during this off-site trip and experience a whole new world. Participants will learn how to use a map and compass, the basics of caving safety, and how caves are formed as they walk and crawl through the cave.
Day Hike
(min age: 4th grade) Head off site with a pack lunch for an age-appropriate day hike in the Shenandoah National Park or George Washington National Forest. Both full day and half day hikes are available.
Luray Caverns
(min age: 3rd grade) Explore one of the areas most iconic and exciting caverns tours and bring science lessons to life in this awesome underground labyrinth of ancient formations. For more information, visit luraycaverns.com
NROCKS Canopy Tour
(min age: 7th grade) Spend a day in the trees with this extensive canopy tour course of 12 connected zip lines, 3 sky bridges, and a multitude of tree platforms. Your group will love zipping from tree to tree as they control their own approach, and even get to rappel back to the ground at the end. For more information on the Canopy Tour, visit nrocks.com
NROCKS Via Ferrata
(min age: 8th grade) Take your team on a one of a kind climbing adventure. The Via is a combination of fixed anchor professionally guided rock-climbing that takes between 3-5 hours. It is a great way for folks to experience the heights of multi-pitch rock climbing without the technical side of knots and ropes involved. For more information on the Via Ferrata, visit nrocks.com
River Canoeing
(min age: 5th grade) Spend a half-day or whole day on the beautiful Shenandoah River. Participants will get to learn the ins and outs of rowing a canoe in moving water while making memories and seeing Virginia wildlife along the way. We utilize a large portion of the river for our trips, so length and difficulty can/will be adjusted based on age, ability, and weather.
Rock Climbing
(min age: 4th grade) Equipped with a harness, helmet, and climbing shoes, each participant will learn safe climbing techniques as they climb up the cliff faces in the George Washington National Forest. With varying levels of climbing routes, everyone will enjoy this activity as they challenge themselves.
Equestrian
(additional cost) Camp Horizons Only
Ring Ride & Horse Care
(min age: 5 years old) (Available from early April through early November) learn how to steer and stop your horse as you ride around the ring. In this group-style lesson, participants will be assigned a horse to ride as an experienced instructor teaches them the fundamentals of horseback riding. Younger participants will have their horses led by an instructor. This activity time also includes a 45-minute horse care lesson where you learn how to brush and feed, as well as basic anatomy of the horse.
Trail Ride
(min age: 9 years old) (Available from early April through early November) During this group trail ride, participants will first learn to stop and steer their horse before heading out on a leisurely ride around camp
Team Building & Personal Challenge
Cooperative Challenges
Cardboard Build Co-Op Challenge
(min age: 5th grade) Students will start with $20 horizons dollars. They will be able to go to the horizons carboard shop to buy materials from cardboard, scissors, duct tape, trash bags, balloons, canoe paddles and more. Then they will be given an object to build out of the materials that must properly perform its given function. Maybe they need to build a boat out of cardboard that will transport one of their classmates across our lake! Or maybe they need to build a nice chair that can hold their chaperone! Whatever the object, students have to plan, budget, build, and test their way to a final product.
Egg Drop Co-Op Challenge
(min age: 3rd grade) Students will be divided into small groups and will be given an egg to protect. They will have a little over an hour to create a container for their egg that will keep it safe from a fall of 35 ft. This activity requires planning, communication, and strategic thinking to complete the task.
Survivor Co-Op Challenge
(min age: 5th grade) Students will work together to complete this survival scenario. With limited time and limited supplies, the teams must create a shelter, build a fire, and work to both purify water and cook food. It is an exciting challenge that works well for students who have previously done a few of our Wilderness Survival classes.
High Ropes Courses
Massanutten High Ropes Bornack Course
(min age: 7th grade) For participants looking for an added challenge, they can take on our classic Massanutten course with a new twist. Using our auto-locking system, students will navigate the course and work to overcome a series of obstacles on their way to the zipline. Only available for groups over 24 participants. Available only at Camp Horizons in Harrisonburg, VA.
Massanutten High Ropes Course
(min age: 5th Grade) Try out our improved high ropes experience! From the “Postman’s Walk” to the “Pirate’s Crossing,” participants will get to navigate their way through a single element before flying down the zipline. Only available for groups over 24 participants. Available only at Camp Horizons in Harrisonburg, VA.
Shenandoah High Ropes Course
(min age: 5th Grade) Combining teamwork and individual growth, the Shenandoah course encourages trust and perseverance. Following Challenge By Choice practices, participants try out individual elements while their teammates belay them from below. Available only at Camp Horizons in Harrisonburg, VA.
Personal Challenge Elements
Climbing Wall
(min age: 3rd grade) Reach new heights on our 40ft climbing tower. Using harnesses, ropes, and the belay system, participants may enjoy the beginner wall, the challenge of the overhang, or the fun of the cargo net and moving structures on the play pen side.
Flying Squirrel
(max age: 3rd grade) Attached to the end of a rope, the participant sets off running at the same moment their teammates start pulling the other end of the rope. The participant is lifted off the ground up to 20’ as they fly upwards just like Peter Pan. This is a great element for young participants and helps them build up to other high adventure activities.
Giant Swing
(min age: 4th grade) Harnessed in and attached to metal cables, one participant is pulled high into the air by their teammates. When ready, the participant pulls the release and is sent swinging back and forth.
Giant’s Ladder
(min age: 5th grade) Done in pairs, the Giant’s Ladder is a powerful partner-team tool. Imagine a wide ladder with large wooden rungs. Each step gets progressively bigger, from three to six feet apart. Participants find out quickly how important it is to help each other and that their success depends on their teammate.
Leap of Faith
(min age: 5th grade) While on belay, participants will climb to the top of a telephone pole where they will be challenged to stand on top. What comes next is the “Leap of Faith!” With encouragement from their teammates, they will jump off the pole and high five the ball suspended in the air.
Zipline
(min age: 5th grade) Participants will push their personal boundaries as they climb up towards the zip platform. Once at the platform, participants will slide off and zoom down the 400ft zipline!
Team Building
Field Initiatives
(min age: 1st grade) Using portable games and team-building activities, groups will learn communication, planning, and teamwork while completing challenges and solving problems. With outcomes similar to the Team-Building Course, this is a great choice during inclement weather or shorter activity times as all initiatives can be completed inside.
Team-Building Course
(min age: 4th grade) Using prebuilt elements such as the Birthday Beam, Whale Watch, and Toxic Waste, participants will be challenged to complete a task. Some tasks have physical challenges while some require great planning and cooperation. An instructor will lead your group through challenges that fit your group and meet your needs.