About The Outdoor Program
Emory & Henry is nestled in an outdoor adventure paradise. Lush forests to hike, mountains to ascend, creeks to paddle, cliffs to climb, and deep caves to explore are just minutes from the Emory & Henry Campus. The Appalachian and Iron Mountain Trails, The Virginia Creeper Trail, The Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, The Jefferson and George Washington National Forests, and the New, Holston, and Clinch rivers are all close by.
Two Programs in One
The Outdoor Adventure Program is available to the entire E&H community. The goal of the Adventure Program is to responsibly introduce the E&H students, faculty, and staff to the wonders of silent sports: Hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, caving, paddling, cross-country skiing, and biking.
Climbing Tower
Built in 2006, The E&H triangular Climbing Tower rises 40 feet into the air. It is surrounded by a serene meadow and borded by the Emory Woods. It’s rigged for excitement and clinical instruction.
Stewardship
The Emory & Henry Outdoor Program is committed to sustainability, cultivating ecological awareness and responsibility in its participants. The E&H Outdoor Program is part of a community that includes many forests, rivers, and caves, and the Program believes that healthy communities rely upon reciprocity and the individuals who take the initiative to give as much as they receive.
Facility
The Outdoor Program Building is a home, a place for the outdoor culture to grow. During the construction of the facility, students, faculty, and staff regularly participated in the construction of the center, hammering, drilling, painting, and shaping a vital part of E&H, and ongoing projects and maintenance are completed in the same familial way.
Staff
The staff of the Outdoor Program are dedicated to providing Emory & Henry students and members of the community the best outdoor experiences possible in Southwest Virginia's adventure paradise and beyond. They provide expert leadership training to guide students in a disciplined, goal oriented process that will enhance not only their experience at Emory & Henry but also their impact on the world.