All Trips > West Virginia > West Virginia Wild Weekend West Virginia Wild Weekend Book Now AT A GLANCE West Virginia 120 Explorer Chicks Camping Camping, Multisport, National Park, US-Based, Water Sports, Weekend, White Water Rafting 4 Days 2 - Moderately Active Physical demand level for this trip Summer Camp for Adults Itinerary Optional Adventures Photos Logistics What's Included Book Now Share Summer Camp for Adults Explorer Chick Wild is an inspiring weekend in West Virginia dedicated to that inner “wild” residing in all women! While New River Gorge camping and whitewater rafting, you’ll gather with dozens of rad chicks for a women’s weekend of outdoor activities, a female outdoor adventurer keynote speaker, endless adventures, and plenty of SHE-nanigans! Itinerary Expand All Days Day 1 - Welcome to West Virginia 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 and in 2022 with the 90’s TV Stars, so we just had to bring back Theme Night! What is the theme for 2023? Are you ready for this? cue drum roll ? It’s “Tropic Like It’s Hot” ?! That’s right, we’re bringing the island vibes to the party, and you better be ready to shake your coconuts and show off those grass skirts and Hawaiian shirts. So, pop an umbrella in your drink, 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 Day 2 - Day of Adventures and Keynote Speaker 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. 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 Day 3 - Whitewater Rafting the New River 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 Day 4 - Hugs Until Next Year 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! Optional Adventures Expand All Days Half-Day Adventures 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. Full-Day Adventures 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. Photos Logistics Expand All Days Travel 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 and Upgrades 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 Meals and Food 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. Packing List 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 What's Included 3 nights of camping at the Exclusive Explorer Chick Mountaintop camp site – Hot showers and Flush Toilets within walking distance A full weekend with nightly games, prizes, bonfire parties, and SHE-nanigans Full day Lower New River Whitewater Rafting All meals as indicated in itinerary: L-1, D-3 Inspiration from an inspiring Outdoors Women during our Friday night dinner Access to the ACE Adventure Waterpark Resort Not Included Airfare Airport Transportation Alcoholic beverages Travel Insurance Meals exclusive of itineraries Costs for additional activities Gratuity for your Raft and Optional Activity Guides.* *We recommend $15-30+ tip for your Rafting Guide. For optional activities 10-20%. We strongly encourage you to recognize your Guides personally for their hard work and keeping you safe. ATM on site. Explorer Chick reserves the option to modify trip itineraries at the discretion of your tour director as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, or other unforeseen incidents. If you choose not to do a specific activity, it cannot be exchanged or refunded. Explorer Chick West Virginia Wild Weekend will go on RAIN OR SHINE! This is an outdoor event. Please plan accordingly. More from West Virginia 🥰 Can we talk about this INSPIRING mother/daughter duo for a sec?🤩 "I had an amazing week... ⛺ Mom and I had a wonderful mother-daughter camping trip to West Virginia with Explorer Chick. We met so many wonderful women and were able to make connections with other strong women. 💪 I am PROUD of Mom for being willing to challenge herself! She could check off some adventures off her bucket list, which were ziplining and white water rafting! We will definitely be coming back and doing other adventures with the Explorer Chick in the future!" - Lan: Age 30 Mom (Joanne): Age 77🤗 ARE YOU FILLED WITH ALL THE FUZZY FEELINGS?! I`ve got goosebumps!👏 Lan and Joanne are inspiring us ALL to keep exploring no matter what age you are! As our oldest EC at Wild, Joanne reminded us all, there is NEVER a time in life to stop taking on new challenges.❤️#explorerchick #womenempowerment #maturewomen #adultsummercamp #EasyDoesntChangeYou #WomenWhoHike #weareexplorerchick #WeAreNature #memorylane #NatureTherapy #BucketListTrip #NewRiverGorge #WestVirginiaWild #WestVirginia #AdultSummercamp #explorerchickwvwild Open ⛺️”It`s like summer camp for adult women!”West Virginia Wild is our 4-day beginner-friendly camping weekend in the 📍New River Gorge National Park, WV.📆June 15-18💭Imagine over 90 women camping together, roasting smores, dancing to throwback jams every night, rafting on thrilling white water, and playing together outside ziplining, ATVing, swimming, hiking, climbing and more!🎤Our 2023 speaker is @thegailmuller, who will inspire us all during our group dinner on Friday night.🌴This year`s theme is "Tropic Like It`s Hot," 🔥and we CANNOT wait to see your tropical fits for Thursday night`s costume contest (it`s just ONE Month Away!)!❤️ Double-tap if this sounds like your kind of trip!👇 And let us know if you`re joining us at Wild! 🔗 in bio to save your spot!#ExplorerChick #WomenWhoTravel #AmongTheWild #IdHikeThat #WanderWomen #AdventureTravel #OutdoorWomen #EasyDoesntChangeYou #WomenWhoHike #weareexplorerchick #WeAreNature #summercamp #memorylane #NatureTherapy #BucketListTrip #NewRiverGorge #WestVirginiaWild #WestVirginia #AdultSummercamp #explorerchickwvwild Open Load More In Her Words Lan F. ★★★★★ A great organized group. My first explorer chick adventure with West Virginia Wild. Super friendly and helpful guides and surrounded with like minded positive womenMoni N. ★★★★★ If you find yourself wanting to get out and do something, but not really having anyone quite as adventurous or available as you, then this company is a great way both explore and meet people. I went to the West Virginia Wild knowing no one and ended up having so much fun and meeting so many great people. Everyone is encouraging, everything is well organized and run, and you can choose from small adventures to once in a lifetime trips. I am definitely considering a few other trips now. Thank you so much for the great weekend!Megan S. ★★★★★ Just got finished with my second Explorer Chick trip, the West Virginia Wild (WVWild), and it was simply the best. The ladies were wonderful and empowering. The rafting was awesome - all around great trip and hope to be back!Rachel C. ★★★★★ Went on the West Virginia Wild trip in June 2022. Great fun and excellent service. I appreciate all of the communication. Will definitely travel with them again!Beth K. ★★★★★ I've taken multiple trips with EC: Virginia Hiking and Survival, Red River Gorge Backpacking, Havasu Falls, Canaan Valley in West Virginia, West Virginia Wild, and the Iconic Inca Trail. Every trip has been a pleasure and a learning experience. These trips are physically and mentally challenging and the guides and other participants are some of the most supportive and encouraging women I've ever known. I've formed many friendships with women I have met on this trips. Kudos to Nicki and her guides, they are making the world a better place one woman at a time. If you are ready to step out and change your life, book a trip with Explorer Chick.Response from the ownerBeth, it is always a pleasure to travel with you. I'll never forget our first trip together in Virginia - the catch phrase, the summit whiskey, the SHE-nanigans. It's always a honor to travel with you and to hear your laugh! Thank you for letting me, and all of the Explorer Chick team be a part of your journey! Carrie W. ★★★★★ I had an awesome time with EC on the West Virginia Wild trip and the Smoky Mountain adventure!! Explorer Chick does not disappoint. So many awesome memories and friendships made.Response from the ownerGRRRLLL! You are way too much fun on an adventure! I adore you! (And feel slightly guilty for that epic bruise 😜) Cheers to more adventures and hiking dirt trails together! Let's Do This Starting from $449 Reserve Your Spot Save $30 with our Early Bird Discounts! Just book at least 6 Months in Advance! Discount is automatically applied. Non-Refundable Deposit: $100 due at booking to secure your spot Book with Confidence Your wanderlust doesn’t have to wait. Our payment plans make booking your dream trip easier than ever. The best part? Zero additional fees. Payment Plans We want nothing more than for you join us. However, we understand emergencies do occur that may cause you to cancel your reservation. Cancellation Policy To protect your travel investment and your hide, we recommend purchasing travel insurance. Receive a no-hassle, online quote in less than 2 minutes. 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