New River Expedition 2024

Last Wednesday, 12 campers and 4 naturalist educators headed out on a 29.5 mile journey down the New River…. and what a trip it was!

Day 1: Wagoner Access to Riverbend (1.5 miles)

The naturalist educators spent the morning putting the finishing touches on all the efficiently-packed gear we’d assembled over the past week (shout out to Cade and Brendan) and enjoyed a quick, quiet lunch before the craziness of the next few days! Campers and their adults started rolling up to the schoolhouse at 2:00PM for check in. This year we had a full roster! After tossing everyone’s personal gear into the bed of the truck, doing some introductions, and reviewing rules, we headed to our starting point an hour and a half away. Drew gave the campers a quick run-down on water safety (emergency whistles, paddle signals, etc) and then the adventure really began! Within the first 10 minutes, we saw a beaver (Castor canadensis) swimming by the shoreline! 1.5 miles passed in the blink of an eye, and we were pulling up on the shores of our first campsite. Riverbend is remote- no cell service, an outhouse a half mile away, and no water source. But that’s what makes it everyone’s favorite! Cade took some campers fly fishing, others waded for crayfish (we’ll never forget Kyle Crawdad, who’s a failure for committing tax fraud). After a delicious walking taco dinner, we crowded around the campfire and told stories- some silly, some scary. And of course, ate s’mores!

Fly Fishing with Naturalist Educator Cade

Day 2: Riverbend to 221 Access (8 miles)

You know it’s going to be a great day when you wake up to the smell of pancakes and bacon! We’re so spoiled in the first 24 hours of NRE. The theme of today’s journey? SWIMMING! All three of our stopping points were great swimming spots. Ariel’s Riptide has a strong current great for floating, or fighting your way upstream. Trying to perch on Ariel’s rock is a balancing act not for the faint of heart. After limboing under the low-bridge, we spent our lunch hour snorkeling and trying to grab an elusive northern watersnake (Nerodia sipedon). Right before the end of our day, we stopped at a wide, shallow stretch with shady shores to go fly fishing and search for macroinvertebrates. Plus we saw plenty of bluehead chub (Nocomis leptocephalus) nests! When we pulled up to 221, the kids demonstrated their impressive bucket brigading skills to get ALL of our gear (kayaks and canoes included) to our campsite. We had a relaxing evening of games before we explored 221’s trails in the dark. We didn’t have any luck calling in a barred owl (Strix varia) on our walk, but one started calling as soon as we got back to camp! Throughout the night, bold raccoons (Procyon lotor) wandered through our camp, trying to get their paws on our precious food buckets… and skillfully avoiding Drew sleeping in one of the canoes. 

Ariel’s Rock (under Naturalist Educator Olivia) and Riptide

Day 3: 221 Access to Allegheny Access (15 miles)

Today, we were hustling. Going 15 miles in a day is no easy feat. And the campers handled it like champs. Our first break was at the big rock, before our first real rapid. These rapids are split into two paths: one goes straight downriver but is steep and rocky, the other has a sharp turn but is full of water that creates a quick current. Last year taught us to take the sharp turn! Our next stop in the day was very different- a calm, wide stretch of river when we rafted up and did drive-thru PB&Js. Last, but not least, we made it to Old Rusty’s Falls, our second major rapid. Named affectionately after our first river camp session last year, when Cade and Olivia capsized the canoe and lost our stove in the river. The kids made it look easy! And we know from our Rusty recovery mission during our second session that it's a great swimming spot to cool down towards the end of a long day. When we finally paddled into Allegheny Access and unloaded everything, everyone was dead tired. So we took a nice long break and then ate a hearty dinner. Our evening was filled with a nature walk (collecting chanterelles that we cooked up), sculpting mud faces, manhunt, and riddles! Plus, admiring the special New River candle that Cade makes for every river camp out of a decorated can and Baby Bell cheese wax. We were all so tired that nobody stayed up too late!

Campers learned about the importance of accurate mushroom ID- some were fooled by Jack-o-lantern mushrooms!

The Sprouts

by Esme

Granny

by Olivia

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

by Annabelle

Day 4: Allegheny Access to 93 Bridge (4 miles)

Our last day! Time passes so quickly on the river. No crazy rapids or huge distance in front of us today (and some of us still sore from yesterday’s miles), we weren’t in any rush to make it to the end of our trip. We made time for a last game of battleship and enjoyed some bird watching. When we did make it to 93 Bridge, the snack feast began! All our leftover snacks and food were up for grabs (and man did they disappear quickly). And then we loaded our gear up and headed back to BRDC.

Our final raft-up, right before we reached 93 Bridge. We struggled a little to get the right formation, but it came together in the end! Every person shared their favorite part of the trip.

Another amazing New River Expedition in the books- even knowing the route, the river is different every time. We couldn't have asked for a better crew, better weather, or better river conditions, and are excited for next year’s trip already!

The whole 2024 gang! (Not pictured: Mrs. Lisa, transporter of gear and boats!)

New River Expedition-Take 2

Another successful New River Expedition for the books! Last week, campers joined our guides on a second four-day, 30-mile kayaking trip down the New River. These strong paddlers covered more than 13 miles in a single day, braving two “canoe tipper rapids.”

Along the way, they took a few breaks to swim and snorkel the river. The nights were full of catching fireflies and telling riddles around the campfire. The campers had the opportunity to see (and even catch) several amazing species that live along the New River including a bald eagle, rock bass, water snake, and painted box turtle.

While at campsites, we took a few hikes to explore the forest that grows alongside the river. There were plenty of fresh blackberries to snack on, and they even got to fry up some foraged chanterelle and oyster mushrooms as an appetizer for the last dinner. It was another great expedition. We can’t wait to do it again next year!

New River Expedition Recap

The BRDC campus was quiet last week as our team of guides were floating down the New River with 10 awesome campers. Spanning 29.5 miles over four days, from Wagoner Access in North Carolina to the 93 Bridge in Virginia, campers carried their personal gear on their kayaks, while the guides carried the essentials.

The kids were troopers. Stopping for snacks on a big rocks and lunch under shady trees, the breaks were enjoyed by all. Luckily, the only capsizes were staff related! The kids became pros at kayaking, setting up hammocks and snorkeling. We had a great time and hope they return for another kayaking expedition! 

New River Expedition

Twelve eager young people and four BRDC staff set out on one of our favorite summer adventures: a four-day, three-night expedition down the New River, camping on its banks by night and paddling on its waters by day. The trip covered around 25 river miles with some Class I and II rapids adding to the excitement.

We snorkeled and swam before the river became churned up from the heavy downpours and then made good use of our time on land searching for insects, amphibians, and reptiles. A special treat was a nice dunk under a waterfall. Quite refreshing after paddling in the hot sun.

And there is nothing like a hot meal after a long day on the water. Breaking bread morning, noon, and night added to the camaraderie and friendship around the stove and the fire. Roasting marshmallows and eating key lime pie riverside can’t be beat. Games such as battleship and ninja kept us competitive and laughing. We couldn’t have asked for a better crew and surely lifelong friendships and memories were made.

Expedition on the New

Twelve eager young people and four BRDC staff set out on one of our favorite summer adventures: a four-day, three-night expedition down the New River, camping on its banks by night and paddling on its waters by day. The trip covered around 25 river miles with some Class I and II rapids adding to the excitement.

We snorkeled and swam before the river became churned up from the heavy downpours and then made good use of our time on land searching for insects and amphibians, all of which were found a plenty. A special treat was a nice dunk under a waterfall on the last night. Quite refreshing after paddling in the hot sun…no, we weren’t complaining after the rains, but it did get warm!

And there is nothing like a hot meal after a long day on the water. Breaking bread morning, noon, and night added to the camaraderie and friendship around the stove and the fire. Roasting marshmallows and eating key lime pie and cherry cobbler riverside can’t be beat. Games such as battleship, ninja, and ultimate frisbee kept us competitive and laughing all the while.

We couldn’t have asked for a better crew and surely lifelong friendships and memories were made. At least they were for us! This camp is supported by the 2018 Virginia Wildlife Grant Program through a partnership between the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia. Thank you for your support in purchasing kayaks and helmets to keep our kids safe and actively exploring, discovering, and sharing the wonders of the Blue Ridge!

New River Expedition 2018!

Being in the thick of winter we thought it might be a good time to compile the footage from our New River Expedition last summer, when the days were hot, long, and filled with all sorts of fun! Going through video clips from summer camps always cracks me up. You never fully hear all of the conversations taking place in the field but the microphone captures all, so I had to put some captions in here just for clarification! As much as our camps are about exploration and experiential learning, the greatest thing about camp is ALWAYS the personalities of the kids. It never fails that we have one or two comedians on the trip to keep us highly entertained! (wait till you hear the Russian/Trump impersonation on the Fly Fishing Camp)

The New River Expedition is one of those adventures that will stick with you for a lifetime, embedded in your identity. With all the gear packed into canoes and kayaks, we start down the river on a 4day/3night trip, pitching camp in three different locations. Along the way we snorkel, fly fish, go on an owl prowl, portage a dam, look at birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and aquatic insects, we talk about geology and riparian ecology, and we do LOTS of swimming. We keep them well fed with snacks and camp meals to fuel their 72 hour adventure. In the end, when we arrive at the boat ramp, we are all cooked! No doubt these kids crash into sleep in the backseat of their parent’s cars, and maybe hit up Arby’s right away, hehehe, but I imagine that their reflection on the trip begins immediately as they recite stories to family. I also imagine that, like us, they are dreaming of their adventure during the cold winter days of January!

Looking forward to 2019!

An Expedition on the New

The New River is one of the oldest rivers in the world and Alleghany and Grayson Counties are graced with its presence. BRDC shared its majesty with 9 eager kayakers during a 4 day/3 night camp we call New River Expedition.

Carrying all provisions in canoes and kayaks, camping at canoe-in-only campgrounds or on private, remote islands allowed these campers to see and experience the beauty and tranquility of the New River. Traveling past meadows and farmland, through rugged hillsides and craggy rock cliffs, on flat water and Class II/III rapids accentuated the power of this ancient river.

Each day, these campers traveled 6-9 miles down the river honing in their boating skills. They loaded and unloaded their gear and set up camp every night. Campfires were built, dinner was prepared and hammocks were hung. And along the way, they learned fly fishing, snorkeled, investigated nighttime wildlife and learned about protecting our riparian zone and the web of life associated with this river. Eagles flying overhead, floating down rapids in and out of boats, jumping off rocks, playing games and telling stories, and the camaraderie among campers and guides along this age old river, will not soon be forgotten.