Program Offerings

Fall: Whitewater Paddling

Under the guidance of Brad Cooke, Director of Outdoor Collegiate with two decades of whitewater experience, students navigate various sections of the James River. They learn river safety, navigation, and rescue techniques using whitewater paddleboards, rafts, inflatable kayaks, and whitewater kayaks, progressing from flatwater to Class III rapids in downtown Richmond.

Winter: Indoor Rock Climbing

During colder months, the program moves indoors to a local climbing gym. This popular offering engages students in fun and challenging climbing sessions four days a week. Led by Collegiate faculty and Outdoor Collegiate student leaders, participants enhance their climbing and bouldering skills while learning best practices for climbing and belaying.

Winter: Wilderness Skills

Also in winter, students gather in the woods of the Robins Campus to learn essential outdoor skills such as shelter building, primitive fire making, cooking, navigation, plant identification, animal tracking, and trail building. This offering often includes an overnight experience using only basic supplies and shelters constructed by the students.

Spring: Mountain Biking

In the spring, students interested in mountain biking develop critical skills such as hill climbing and log hopping at the Robins Campus training course and at Richmond-area biking hotspots including Forest Hill Park and the Buttermilk Trail. The program, which also teaches bike safety, etiquette, and maintenance, is supported by local bike shop Outpost Richmond.