The Ultimate Explorer
Summer Day Programs
"Summertime as it should be!"
Summer 2024 Programs
Registration is open!
Nature discovery, survival skills, games, stories, water play and more!
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Weekdays 9 am - 4 pm
Drop-off begins at 8:45am Pick-up until 4:15pm Ages 7 - 12 yrs**
$320-$340/week* *with February earlybird coupons, orig. $360/wk |
**13-15yrs+? Checkout & enroll in a Fredericksburg, Lorton, or Stafford program!
Looking to for a teen-exclusive, custom, or overnight program?
Looking to host an Ultimate Explorer Program at an alternate site?
Complete our custom program request form!
Looking to for a teen-exclusive, custom, or overnight program?
Looking to host an Ultimate Explorer Program at an alternate site?
Complete our custom program request form!
2024 Summer Program Schedule
| 2023_2024_nl_summercalendar.pdf |
Summer Program Details
Shelter From the Storm
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Before knowledge, the world is a scary and dangerous place. As knowledge and ability increase, the world transforms into a realm of opportunity and wonder.
Before knowledge and skill, one feels small and restricted. With ability, one finds courage and daring. Shelter-building teaches more than just wilderness survival. In the camp setting it demands team-work and persistence. Students learn that survival is no joke, it takes work ethic. Not enough, and the roof leaks! Imagine how a child's world changes when he or she discovers the ability to create a warm shelter with just sticks and leaves.
It's the ability to literally make oneself at home in the wilderness. A good shelter creates a dry, cozy cocoon of warmth; it's a leaf bivy sack - tent, sleeping pad and sleeping bag, assembled from the forest floor. It's arguably the crux of wilderness survival knowledge -- the one skill all should know. |
For these young ladies, shelter-making is serious business!
This young man is snug and cozy in his debris hut
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Channeling Prometheus
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10 minutes and 1 match.
Can you get a fire going? Can your child? In my experience, very few can, regardless of age.
Proficiency with flame tending is a rare skill that only emerges through regular and consistent practice. But once developed, releasing sunlight from wood is a real magic rivaling anything Harry Potter can do with his wand and spells. Firemaking allows you:
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Living on the Edge & Carving Out One's Place in the World
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At a time when knives are increasingly banned, we ... require them!
We ask that our students buy, bring and bear the sharpest affordable knife we could find. Wielding the blade brings the child closer to the ranks of exceptional hobbits, of Arthurian knights, and of young visitors to Narnia -- it's a vital skill for every would-be hero to hone. Not that we contend with orcs (none have dared approach us to-date) -- still, sliding that steel through sticks of maple changes more than the wood. With each stroke of the knife our young carver slides farther from the helpless end of the spectrum, farther and farther into the realm of responsibility. The young human enters the arena of those who bravely manage the self and surroundings to make life better for all. It's life on the edge - between the known and the unknown. The place of growth, of pushing past fears into new knowledge and skill. |
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The Water of Life
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According to some tales I've read, drinking wild water can transform a child into a kid.
An actual baby goat! 
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This outcome fortunately, seems rare, although the search term "child turning into a goat" did bring up 72,600 results in Google Scholar...
Unfortunately, raw water frequently can have nasty consequences, sometimes even more dire and irreversible than shape-shifting. Luckily for your child, here at Natural Leaders we teach stratagems proven to relieve raw water of both bowel-distressing and goat-inducing properties. |
Now You See Them... Now You Don't
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WARNING:
At the Ultimate Explorer camps, instructors have been known to transform into leopards. Sometimes for a full hour or longer.
The leopard likes to hide his prey in a tree - safe from lions and hyenas - but not from some of our feisty students, who have been known to take on the challenge of sneaking into the heart of this powerful cat's territory. Once there they may manage to steal some of it's meat, much as young Akamba men would sometimes do to show their courage and skill in their native Kenya. As you might imagine, raiding a leopard requires extraordinary courage, stealth and alertness. |
Mud make up can help conceal kids and leopard alike...
Regular training in the form of games helps prepare students for this dangerous undertaking. |
FAQ
Our most commonly asked questions are addressed below, but if you find yours unaddressed, please don't hesitate to contact us.
What gear will my child need for summer programs?
Checkout our gear list here.
What knife should I get my child?
We recommend and sell the Bahco 2444 Carpenter Mora Multi Purpose Knife. See explanation here.
Is food provided?
Food is not provided during Ultimate Explorer programs. Please plan to bring a packed lunch and any necessary snacks each day that your child will carry with them. Reusable containers/packaging is encouraged to reduce waste in the parks.
Do you offer overnight programs?
We have run summer overnight programs in the past for advanced participants (comfortable outside in all ranges of weather, able to follow safety precautions, able to be away overnight, etc.) To find out more, visit our Advanced Programs - Summer Overnight page.
My child is younger than 7... Can they participate?
6.5 year-old children turning 7 can be accommodated on a case-by-case basis depending on location, instructor, group size, average group age, etc.
To discuss registration for these students, contact [email protected] with the following information:
1. Your Child's Name & Child's Date of Birth
2. Desired program location(s) and dates
3. Detailed response to all considerations below, including relevant examples where applicable:
KNIFE USE: Please note, knife use is a component of the Ultimate Explorers Program and a significant factor in determining the 7yr+ age limit. While knife safety is taught and students practice under the supervision of an instructor, younger students can often require additional support which may not always be available based on group makeup.
We ask that you consider these items as they could impact your child's experience and the experience of other program participants.
Should a student under-7 be admitted to a program, their continued participation beyond their first day is determined by their instructor. Should the student be asked to discontinue, you will receive a refund of the cost of the program save the non-refundable deposit ($50) & registration fees.
My child is 12 or older - can I sign them up and will there be other children their age?
In the past, we have had a number of 12+ participants in our programs. We find that mixed age groups offer tremendous opportunities for peer-to-peer mentoring and confidence building.
If your child has attended previously and is excited to return, or is excited about the program and won't mind being in a group with younger kids, it should be a great experience. However, if your child is 13+ and hoping to be with mostly other kids that age for a more senior social environment, we would recommend that you work with us to create a custom, older group. In that case, please complete the Custom Program Request Form.
We attempt to group participants according to their ages. If for some reason, there are no other participants in the same age range as your child leading up to the program, we will reach out to you and process a full refund if you choose. Final group demographics likely won't be known until late spring.
You can also signup by selecting the "waitlist" option on the enroll form for your location of interest. Be sure to add the week of interest in the "notes" section.
How do you determine groups?
We take into consideration a number of factors when creating groups, including age and group requests. We do our best to accommodate everyone's preferences, but cannot guarantee group placement. In our enrollment form there is a space to include other children you would like your child to be grouped with and information in the health profile about precautionary preferences. Groupings are typically determined about a week before of the first day of the program.
Can my child attend half-day or just a few days out of the week? We have an appointment one morning - can we come late?
Due to the nature of our programs, our groups are out exploring! This means it is not possible to adjust for the logistics of half-day attendance and makes late drop-off & early pickup difficult to coordinate with instructors in the field. Registration/cost is for the full week, we do not offer pricing for partial attendance.
If we sign-up for multiple weeks, will new content be covered each week?
Luckily, there's always more to learn in the natural world! We work to scale content, skills, stories, projects, games, and topics to enable students of all skill levels to try new things, deepen their knowledge, and expand their practice of basic techniques. As returning students grow confident in their abilities, they will be encouraged to take on leadership opportunities, share with newer students, and challenge themselves to take their skills to the next level.
What training do your staff have?
Our talented instructors have a range of backgrounds in classroom instruction, backcountry experience, primitive skills, leadership development, naturalism, ecology, and more. Many work out in the field throughout the year and are familiar with the parks and region in which they work. They all are trained in First Aid/CPR and have completed background checks.
A program is not currently offered in my area, can I start one?
New or custom summer programs are possible based on interest (6 or more children enrolled) and instructor availability. Please complete the Custom Program Request Form and as soon as there is viability for a program, someone from our team will reach out!
Can we sign-up for a trial day?
Currently, we do not offer trial days for our summer programs. We do have a satisfaction guarantee, and we will refund the cost of your program if your child does not enjoy their experience and would like to discontinue.
Is this camp jedi friendly?
Of course!
Will attending this program help my child get into Hogwarts?
Natural Leaders programs have been consistently rated among the top 10 Muggle enrichment programs by the Hogwarts Alumni Association.
Checkout our gear list here.
What knife should I get my child?
We recommend and sell the Bahco 2444 Carpenter Mora Multi Purpose Knife. See explanation here.
Is food provided?
Food is not provided during Ultimate Explorer programs. Please plan to bring a packed lunch and any necessary snacks each day that your child will carry with them. Reusable containers/packaging is encouraged to reduce waste in the parks.
Do you offer overnight programs?
We have run summer overnight programs in the past for advanced participants (comfortable outside in all ranges of weather, able to follow safety precautions, able to be away overnight, etc.) To find out more, visit our Advanced Programs - Summer Overnight page.
My child is younger than 7... Can they participate?
6.5 year-old children turning 7 can be accommodated on a case-by-case basis depending on location, instructor, group size, average group age, etc.
To discuss registration for these students, contact [email protected] with the following information:
1. Your Child's Name & Child's Date of Birth
2. Desired program location(s) and dates
3. Detailed response to all considerations below, including relevant examples where applicable:
- stamina during long distance hikes over variable terrain (ranging 1 - 3 miles per day)
- comfortability outside/getting dirty/facing adverse weather conditions
- self-reliant/comfortable with back-country bathroom use
- ability to follow the directions of an instructor
- ability and awareness to stay with the group
- ability to express emotions in a safe and helpful way
- ability to work/play collaboratively and respectfully with others
KNIFE USE: Please note, knife use is a component of the Ultimate Explorers Program and a significant factor in determining the 7yr+ age limit. While knife safety is taught and students practice under the supervision of an instructor, younger students can often require additional support which may not always be available based on group makeup.
We ask that you consider these items as they could impact your child's experience and the experience of other program participants.
Should a student under-7 be admitted to a program, their continued participation beyond their first day is determined by their instructor. Should the student be asked to discontinue, you will receive a refund of the cost of the program save the non-refundable deposit ($50) & registration fees.
My child is 12 or older - can I sign them up and will there be other children their age?
In the past, we have had a number of 12+ participants in our programs. We find that mixed age groups offer tremendous opportunities for peer-to-peer mentoring and confidence building.
If your child has attended previously and is excited to return, or is excited about the program and won't mind being in a group with younger kids, it should be a great experience. However, if your child is 13+ and hoping to be with mostly other kids that age for a more senior social environment, we would recommend that you work with us to create a custom, older group. In that case, please complete the Custom Program Request Form.
We attempt to group participants according to their ages. If for some reason, there are no other participants in the same age range as your child leading up to the program, we will reach out to you and process a full refund if you choose. Final group demographics likely won't be known until late spring.
You can also signup by selecting the "waitlist" option on the enroll form for your location of interest. Be sure to add the week of interest in the "notes" section.
How do you determine groups?
We take into consideration a number of factors when creating groups, including age and group requests. We do our best to accommodate everyone's preferences, but cannot guarantee group placement. In our enrollment form there is a space to include other children you would like your child to be grouped with and information in the health profile about precautionary preferences. Groupings are typically determined about a week before of the first day of the program.
Can my child attend half-day or just a few days out of the week? We have an appointment one morning - can we come late?
Due to the nature of our programs, our groups are out exploring! This means it is not possible to adjust for the logistics of half-day attendance and makes late drop-off & early pickup difficult to coordinate with instructors in the field. Registration/cost is for the full week, we do not offer pricing for partial attendance.
If we sign-up for multiple weeks, will new content be covered each week?
Luckily, there's always more to learn in the natural world! We work to scale content, skills, stories, projects, games, and topics to enable students of all skill levels to try new things, deepen their knowledge, and expand their practice of basic techniques. As returning students grow confident in their abilities, they will be encouraged to take on leadership opportunities, share with newer students, and challenge themselves to take their skills to the next level.
What training do your staff have?
Our talented instructors have a range of backgrounds in classroom instruction, backcountry experience, primitive skills, leadership development, naturalism, ecology, and more. Many work out in the field throughout the year and are familiar with the parks and region in which they work. They all are trained in First Aid/CPR and have completed background checks.
A program is not currently offered in my area, can I start one?
New or custom summer programs are possible based on interest (6 or more children enrolled) and instructor availability. Please complete the Custom Program Request Form and as soon as there is viability for a program, someone from our team will reach out!
Can we sign-up for a trial day?
Currently, we do not offer trial days for our summer programs. We do have a satisfaction guarantee, and we will refund the cost of your program if your child does not enjoy their experience and would like to discontinue.
Is this camp jedi friendly?
Of course!
Will attending this program help my child get into Hogwarts?
Natural Leaders programs have been consistently rated among the top 10 Muggle enrichment programs by the Hogwarts Alumni Association.
Testimonials
from previous years' Ultimate Explorer programs:
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"Thank you very much for the great photos and the recap of the week. K had absolutely wonderful time with your family and fellow campers.
He enjoyed everything, but especially, fire-making, shelters, fishing, and the games. I really appreciated your summary of the week and the photos. They helped me to put the pieces of information from K together. We feel so fortunate to have been able to participate in your camp. K would love to go back, and I already have a few friends who would love their children to participate if you plan more camps in future in this area. We wish you all the best for the coming school year and hope to see you again" |
"Thanks again for the awesome experience this summer. Not a day goes by that N doesn't mention it. She's already looking forward to next year.
She has taught her little brother to identify wood sorrel, which he now happily forages on the soccer sidelines- much to the horror of NOVA parents! A few weeks ago, we went with a group of friends to [another camper]' s family's cottage on the northern neck. She and S taught the other kids shelter-building, which all 12 kids ages 3+ happily spent the entire weekend working on together. All that to say, the summer camp was an awesome experience for her." |
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"Thank you so much for making the last week very memorable for A. He loved all the experiences in the woods, going to the creek, fishing, building the shelters, and, above all, finding creatures. He says his favorite day was the day you guys went fishing."
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Summer Coupons Codes
ONLY ONE COUPON CAN BE APPLIED.
Coupons are also listed on site pages.
Coupons are also listed on site pages.
