We have a number of options for university and church groups and are always happy to work with you to create the perfect event for your organization.
We host everything from worship services and dance parties to Greek life retreats and college orientation programs. So we have the experience to help you troubleshoot the planning process.
We have multiple dining locations and both large and small breakout spaces, so you can pick the areas that are right for your event. Many of our breakout spaces are equipped with audio-visual equipment, and we can set up tables and chairs to whatever layout you would like. And if you are looking to get outside for some fun during your time here, we have instructors ready to lead your group in team building, high ropes, and even a few off-site trips like hiking or canoeing.
Facilities & Lodging
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
Expeditions
Custom Outdoor Adventure, Service, or Environmental Ed. Trips
(min. age: 7th grade – min. 12 participants) We do custom outdoor adventure travel trips! If you are interested in going rafting in West Virginia, kayaking in Virginia Beach, building houses with Habitat for Humanity, exploring local caves, or anything in between, we’ve got it covered. We can handle food, cover transportation, provide tents and camping equipment, and coordinate all the logistics to make it an enjoyable trip for both students and chaperones.
Off-Site Overnight Trips
(additional cost)
Overnight Backpacking
(min age: 6th grade) Pack up everything you need and spend the day hiking in Shenandoah National Park or George Washington National Forest. As the afternoon ends, set up camp, cook dinner on the camp stove, and enjoy an evening together in nature before heading to your tents for a great night’s sleep! We work hard to choose a backpacking trip length appropriate for your group’s needs as well as provide backpacks, tents, cooking supplies, and experienced staff to make your trip a reality.
Overnight River Canoeing
(min age: 6th grade) Already experienced a ½ day or full day canoe trip and would like to expand your outdoor skills? On this overnight trip participants will spend the day paddling down the Shenandoah River and then pull off the river for an evening of cooking on the camp stove, games, camp fire stories, and sleeping in tents.
On-Site Water Activities
(Mid-March to Mid-October) Camp Horizons Only
Canoeing
(min age: 3rd grade) Lake Philippa is the perfect setting to learn and practice basic canoeing skills. Participants will learn about canoe safety, paddling techniques, and a lot about teamwork as they paddle around the lake with their partners and play games.
Lake Free Swim
Put a life jacket on and enjoy swimming in Lake Philippa. Hold on tight as you fly down the zip line or see how fast you can slide down the water slide.
Pool Free Swim
Relax in the reclining pool chairs or jump off the diving board! Everyone loves swim time in the pool. With a depth ranging from a few feet to 9 feet, every participant will feel comfortable.
Water Craft
(min age: 3rd grade) Participants will have fun on the water while learning to paddle a kayak or paddle board and will get to put their new moves into practice while playing games. *Only available late spring through early fall due to weather.*
Wilderness Skills
Archery
(min age: 3rd grade) Bullseye! Participants will learn how to safely use a bow and arrow and get to practice their shooting skills at stationary targets.
Fire Building
(min age: 3rd grade) Tinder, kindling and fuel; participants learn the components needed to build a fire and learn fire safety. Split into small groups of 2-4, they will then get to put what they have learned into practice. *This can be a full or ½ activity block with the addition of another ½ activity.
Fishing
(min age: 4th grade) Fishing pole and bait in hand, participants will spend time fishing in our own lake. This activity can be an unguided activity block or led by OLC staff.
Navigation & Orienteering
(min age: 4th grade) Introduction to basic navigation skills using a compass. Participants will learn the parts of a compass as well as an understanding for how they work and why we use them. When everyone has an understanding of how to use a compass, groups will use their compass to find letters to spell out a secret word!
Outdoor Cooking
(min age: 5th grade) Students will prepare meals over the fire, on camp stoves, or even make no-bake recipes as if there were camping out. It is a super fun class with the bonus of a built in snack!
Overnight Trip Prep & LNT Ethics
(min age: 6th grade) This class is designed to prepare students for our offsite backpacking trips. It is a great opportunity to learn about packing techniques, review campsite setup, and learn about “Leave No Trace” best practices before hitting the trail or the river for a camp-out.
Shelter Building
Shelter is the greatest need in outdoor survival! Working in small groups, participants will use sticks and leaves to create shelters that could protect them from the elements. On rainy days the option of using tarps will be available.
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.
Evening Program
(additional cost)
Campfire Program
During this traditional evening program, participants will enjoy a s’more, join in with call and response style camp songs, and laugh along to funny camp skits.
Dutch Auction
(min age: 3rd grade) Everyone loves a good Dutch Auction. Group Leaders will be asked to act as judges as groups of participants use their creativity, acting skills, and items they have on hand to create anything from “a funky hat” to a skit about their favorite book.
Field Games
Anything from buddy tag and capture the flag, to gaga and kick ball, participants will enjoy a mix of active games during this activity. Games will be chosen to best fit the group and their interests.
Minute to Win It
Participants will race against each other and the clock to complete challenges and gain points for their team!
Movie Night
Sit back, relax, and kick off your shoes after a busy day of activities. We will set up a projector and popcorn machine. All you need to do is bring your favorite movie.
Night Hike
(min age: 3rd grade) With only the moon and the stars lighting the way, participants will use their night vision to set off on a hike around camp. During this hike, participants will learn about rods and cones, night creatures, and triboluminescence. Available fall season only.
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.