West Virginia Wild Weekend

Pile all your camping gear, food, and adult beverages into your car and get your booty to the New River Gorge National Park for Wild! We’ll be checking you in from 3pm-6pm. After you come say Hi, we’ll direct you to the top of the mountain – aka Explorer Chick Basecamp – where the besties you never knew you had are awaiting! Okay, and also members of our Explorer Chick Dream Team to help you pitch your tent and settle in.

We officially kick off Wild at 7pm! But we had to go extra with it! You all crushed it in 2021 with the 80’s theme, 2022 with the 90’s TV Stars, and 2023 with Tropic Like It’s Hot, so we just had to bring back Theme Night!

What is the theme for 2024? Are you ready for this? * Cue drum roll * It’s “Unleash Your Wild” !! That’s right, we’re bringing the fierce and ferocious wild animals vibes to this party, and you better be ready to shake your tail feathers and wiggle your whiskers! So, paint your talons, sharpen your claws, strut your stripes and sashay in your spots, because we’re about to kick off one Wild weekend! ??

You can fully expect a Costume Contest, Ice Breakers, and lots of prizes!

We’ll also enjoy our first dinner together between all of the SHE-nanigans!

And don’t you worry: The annual Explorer Chick Cribs contest is on. Our Explorer Chick Team will tour our Basecamp looking for the most decked-out camp set up to proclaim this year’s champion!

Meals: D

Friday is your Free Day! You’ll have the option to add Half Day and Full Day guided adventures. Choose from rock climbing, kayaking, SUP, boating, ziplining, ATVing, bridgewalking, or the waterpark.  Got your own gear and expertise? Then meet up with other Explorer Chicks to embark on your own adventures in the New River Gorge National Park!

At check out, you’ll have the option to add guided adventures on Friday to pack more adventure into your weekend. Please keep in mind space is limited on the optional excursions!

Every year at Wild we invite an inspiring woman to come out and share her story, her wisdom with our Explorer Chicks on Friday nights. A lot of time goes into searching for our speaker. We listen to a lot of podcasts. Watch a ton of YouTube videos. Attend events to watch women speak. And we do all of this because it’s important.

What we love about Explorer Chick is that we’re real women embarking on real adventures. We’re ordinary women with the courage to go out and try extraordinary things. So, when looking for our next speaker, it’s important to us that our Friday night speaker is relatable. That we can maybe see a part of ourselves in her. Now, that’s actual inspiration.

“Hey, if she can do that. You know what? Maybe I can too.” It becomes less intimidating. Less impossible. It actually sparks action. It goes from I can do that, to I will do that, to I am doing that!

Past speakers have included awe inspiring women including: Jessi Morton-Langehaug, Stacy Kozel, Sophia Danenberg, Heather “Anish” Anderson, Khadijah Diggs, and Gail Muller.

This year, Natalia Cohen will talk about how we all have our own Pacific to cross.

Natalia Cohen is best known for being part of the “Coxless Crew”, a team of women who set two world records and gained an international following rowing, unsupported, across the Pacific Ocean!

This was a journey of just under 9000 miles from San Francisco, USA to Cairns, Australia in a 29ft ocean rowing boat. The expedition was not only a challenge of extreme conditions and perseverance but also a journey within, to better understand the strength of human spirit, the importance of being aligned with your values, keeping a positive mindset, and enjoying the journey.

Having lived and worked in over 70 countries, Natalia has a deep, personal understanding of the transformative power of travel and a strong passion for both people and adventure!

Nerves can be high on Friday with rafting the next morning. So we’ve deemed Friday Treat Yo Self night . Throw on your favorite onesie and meet us around the campfire for some good ol’ fashion lady pampering (and a specialty cocktail!)

Meals: D

On Saturday morning Explorer Chicks take to the New River for an adrenaline pumping full day whitewater rafting adventure! The New River won’t know what hit it when boats loaded full of Explorer Chicks go head to head with its Stage 5 Rapids! Bring it on!

We’ll share our final meal together on Saturday night to watch our rafting movie (starring you!) and reliving our rafting adventure! Then it’s one last party around the bonfire where someone always busts our a mason jar of moonshine.

Meals: L-D

Sunday is the saddest day of the weekend: departure day. We’ll pack up camp, share hugs, and say our “See you laters!”.

If you need to squeeze in just one more adventure with your besties before you head out, sign up for one of our optional adventures on Sunday morning!

Just like Friday’s Optional Adventures, at check out, you’ll have the option to add guided adventures on Sunday too, just in case you need a few more hours of adventure packed into your weekend. Please keep in mind space is limited on the optional excursions!

All Half Day Optional Adventures take place on Friday (Morning and Afternoon) and Sunday (Morning).

Half-Day Adventures are curated to be booked back to back if desired (i.e. Embark on a morning and afternoon session)

At check out, you’ll have the option to add guided adventures on Friday (Morning and Afternoon) and Sunday (Morning) to pack more adventure into your weekend. Please keep in mind space is limited on the optional excursions.

Upper Gorge Climb/Rappel

• A great intro to rock climbing and rappelling for beginners. Located on ACE’s private climbing property.
• TRIP LENGTH: 4.5 hours

Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP)

• Learn Stand Up Paddle Boarding on the New River while working your balance, core, and shoulders.
• TRIP LENGTH: 4.5 hours

Zip-Lining

• Tour the treetops of West Virginia with a bird’s eye view of the New River Gorge on a World Record Winning Zipline. Trips will depart in waves. You will be notified of your precise start time.
• TRIP LENGTH: 3.5 hours
• WEIGHT REQUIREMENT: 70-250 LBS.

Mountain Lake Kayaking

• Explore the beautiful sandstone cliffs of Summersville Lake while paddling in a sit-on-top kayak.
• TRIP LENGTH: 4.5 hours

Bridge Walk

• Take the walk of your life across the catwalk 25′ underneath the New River Gorge Bridge. You’ll walk the entire length of the bridge high above the river with plenty of time to snap photos along the way. Throughout the entire time, you’ll have an interpretive guide sharing the history of the bridge and more.
• NOTE: This trip departs off property – approximately 20 minutes away.
• TRIP LENGTH: 3 hours

ATV

• This ATV Adventure is geared up for our thrill-seekers who are into driving their own machine on a guided tour. With over 100 miles of trails ranging from beginner to expert, the experienced guides, and top of the line ATVs, riders of all skill levels will enjoy the challenge and adventure of a lifetime. Each rider will driver her own machine for the entirety of the tour.
• All riders must be 18+ with a valid driver’s license.
• TRIP LENGTH: 3.5 hours

Horseback Riding

• Experience the magic of the New River Gorge while horseback riding through 8 miles of breathtaking scenery. With over 80% of the trail in the shade, it’s the perfect activity for anyone looking for a mixture of adventure and relaxation.
• NOTE: This trip departs off property – approximately 30 minutes away.
• TRIP LENGTH: 2.5 hours
• WEIGHT REQUIREMENT: Max 220 LBS.

You are responsible for setting your schedule of guided adventures.

You will receive confirmation of your check-in times and locations on Day 1 of your trip. Spots are limited.

All guided activities are open to all skill levels.

Summersville Lake Pontoon Adventure

Spend a full day playing on Summersville Lake with a Pontoon boat. Your boat comes with all the equipment to rock climb, kayak, SUP, and swimming. Your captain will be your guide out on the lake taking you to all the secret spots, waterfalls, and best places to play. Meal included. Pack a swimsuit, towel, and extra snacks and water. Optional: Climbing shoes or water shoes. No alcohol permitted on the boat. Available Friday and Sunday mornings.

• CHECK IN: Friday or Sunday Morning
• TRIP LENGTH: 6 hours

You are responsible for setting your schedule of guided adventures.

You will receive confirmation of your check-in times and locations on Day 1 of your trip. Spots are limited.

All guided activities are open to all skill levels.

Location: ACE Adventure Resort. Minden, WV

Arrival: 

• Check-In: Day 1 between 3-6pm
• Welcome Dinner and Kick-off: 7pm

Departure

• Check-out: Day 4 before 10am.
• If booked on an Optional Excursion Sunday, then check out afterwards

Air Travel

• The closest major airport is Yeager Airport in Charleston, WV (CRW).
• ACE Adventure Resort is located approximately 56 miles and just over an hour from the airport.

Car Pooling

• Don’t be shy! Invite an Explorer Chick to share gas, stories, and road trip music jams!
• Coordinate on your own through the Facebook Group or the Social Site accessible after booking.

You will receive a travel guide attached to your booking confirmation with all the information you’ll need to prepare for your epic trip!

Camping – Included in Your Registration: Mountaintop camping at the exclusive Explorer Chick Camp is included. It is car camping style so you can drive right up to your spot. Pack your tents and all of your favorite camping essentials to set up your pop up home among your newest friends. Hot showers, Flush Toilets, and Dish Sinks within walking distance. No electric at camp sites.

Optional Rentals – Available at Booking

Cabin Tents
A spacious “safari” style tent equipped with 2 sets of bunk beds. Each bunk bed is a single top and a double bottom. Sleeps up to 6. Rental is the total for all three nights of Wild. Bedding NOT included.
Availability: 7 Tents

Camping Rentals

• Camping Kit: 4 Person Tent with 4 Sleeping Pads
• Slumber Kit: 1 Sleeping Bag and 1 Pillow

Wild includes 4 meals: Thursday Dinner, Friday Dinner, Saturday Lunch and Dinner. Vegetarian diets will be accommodated. For other dietary restrictions, please be prepared to supplement the included meals if needed.

For the rest of the weekend, your options are endless!

Pack your food: Yep! We’re camping so pack your camp stove, burner, and cooler to cook your favorite fireside meals. There are no grills at the campsite, so plan accordingly! Ice can be purchased at ACE’s Welcome Center.

ACE Adventure Resort: Ace has 3 restaurants and grills conveniently located on their property.

Local eateries: There are great local eateries located outside of the resort properties. Our favorites are Pies & Pints, Freefolk Brewery, and El Rio (for the margs…..).

Fuel for your Adventures: However you intend to satiate your appetite at meal time, remember to pack snacks and fuel for your adventures! Trail mix, bars, Gu’s. However you fuel, pack it so you don’t bonk mid-adventure.

Grocery Stores: There are major grocery stores including Kroger and Walmart just 15 minutes from Ace Adventure Resort if you need to stock up.

What in the world do you need to bring to Explorer Chick Wild?

Here’s a list to get you started!

• Camping gear – Tent, Sleeping bag, pad, pillow.
• Cookware – Stove, pots, plate, utensils, water, food, cooler
• ID
• Day Pack
• Foldable Chair
• Refillable water bottle or hydration pack
• Fuel for your adventures
• Personal clothing
• Hiking boots or Trail Shoes
• Swimsuit and towel
• Rain gear – jacket, poncho, etc.
• Toiletries – Shampoo, soap, bath towel, personal medications, etc.
• Headlamp and spare batteries
• Sunscreen and sunglasses
• Bug spray
• Camera
• Cash – Souvenirs, Guide Tips, Food, etc.
• Adventure Gear – Mountain Bike, Climbing Shoes, Trekking Poles, etc.

For Whitewater Rafting:

• Swimsuit and shorts (No towels!)
• Synthetic or Wool materials. Cotton is not recommended!
• Sun block – One per boat
• River shoes or sandals with straps
• Wetsuits and Dry Jackets are available to rent the morning of if you get cold
• Leave behind your jewelry and wallets locked inside your car
• ACE holds onto our car keys while on the river