Calleva
Encyclopedia
Calleva is the largest outdoor education
organization in Central Maryland, established to provide outdoor team building
opportunities for groups such as schools and companies, and to take groups of individuals on various excursions throughout Maryland
, Virginia
, and West Virginia
.
business for generations. In the fall of 1993, in order to raise capital, they held the first ever Markoff's Haunted Forest. Camp Calleva began in the summer of 1994. In 1997 programs for schools became available throughout the entire year, offering natural history and group challenge courses. They also began offering week long high adventure
programs during the summer. In 1998 the first ever Calleva Challenge was held, a triathlon
of sorts on the Potomac River
. This was later renamed the Potomac Challenge in 1999.
Also available is the Calleva Ski Club during the winter, and the LIT (Leadership in Training) program during the summer.
The main office of Calleva, the hub of Camp Calleva, where Calleva's maintenance facility and bus fleet are located. It sits adjacent to both the Potomac River
and the C&O Canal.
This 168 acre (0.67987248 km²) farm is the home of Markoff's Haunted Forest, and CEEP (Calleva Equestrian Educational Programming) horseback riding, and Calleva's agricultural tourism program.
Most of Calleva's private horseback riding parties take place here. All Calleva Explorers groups are taken here for half a day of activities, which includes horseback riding and archery
Calleva's private island, located in the Potomac river. On it are ropes course
s, green building
s, and trails. The island is surrounded by river and rapids.
Outdoor education
Outdoor education usually refers to organized learning that takes place in the outdoors. Outdoor education programs sometimes involve residential or journey-based experiences in which students participate in a variety of adventurous challenges in the form of outdoor activities such as hiking,...
organization in Central Maryland, established to provide outdoor team building
Team building
Team building refers to a wide range of activities, presented to businesses, schools, sports teams, religious or nonprofit organizations designed for improving team performance...
opportunities for groups such as schools and companies, and to take groups of individuals on various excursions throughout Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, and West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
.
History
Calleva was originally owned by Nick and Alex Markoff, whose family was involved in the summer campSummer camp
Summer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers....
business for generations. In the fall of 1993, in order to raise capital, they held the first ever Markoff's Haunted Forest. Camp Calleva began in the summer of 1994. In 1997 programs for schools became available throughout the entire year, offering natural history and group challenge courses. They also began offering week long high adventure
High adventure
High adventure is a type of outdoor experience. It typically is meant to include activities like backpacking, hiking, kayaking or canoeing. It may also include mountaineering, rock climbing, mountain biking, orienteering, hang gliding, paragliding and hot air ballooning.-High adventure in...
programs during the summer. In 1998 the first ever Calleva Challenge was held, a triathlon
Triathlon
A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
of sorts on the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
. This was later renamed the Potomac Challenge in 1999.
Programs
Calleva offers a variety of outdoor programming. They utilize a fleet of buses that can make pickups virtually anywhere in Central Maryland, and bring people to various activities. They have a staff that has been certified to take people on most types outdoor activities.Available Programs
- KayakingKayakingKayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
- Whitewater rafting
- Horseback riding
- BackpackingBackpacking (wilderness)Backpacking combines the activities of hiking and camping for an overnight stay in backcountry wilderness...
- Mountain BikingMountain bikingMountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
- CavingCavingCaving—also occasionally known as spelunking in the United States and potholing in the United Kingdom—is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems...
- Rock climbingRock climbingRock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
- CanoeingCanoeingCanoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
- FishingFishingFishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
- Mountain boarding
- SurfingSurfingSurfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
- SailingSailingSailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
- Ropes courseRopes courseA ropes course is a challenging outdoor personal development and team building activity which usually consists of high and/or low elements. Low elements take place on the ground or only a few feet above the ground...
- Duncan's Adventures
- Growing Green
Also available is the Calleva Ski Club during the winter, and the LIT (Leadership in Training) program during the summer.
Riley's Lock
13015 Riley's Lock Rd. Poolesville MD 20837The main office of Calleva, the hub of Camp Calleva, where Calleva's maintenance facility and bus fleet are located. It sits adjacent to both the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
and the C&O Canal.
Markoff's Farm
19120 Martinsburg Rd. Dickerson MD 20842This 168 acre (0.67987248 km²) farm is the home of Markoff's Haunted Forest, and CEEP (Calleva Equestrian Educational Programming) horseback riding, and Calleva's agricultural tourism program.
Seneca Barn
15209 Seneca Rd. Darnestown, MD 20874Most of Calleva's private horseback riding parties take place here. All Calleva Explorers groups are taken here for half a day of activities, which includes horseback riding and archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
Adventure Island
Potomac River, MD / VACalleva's private island, located in the Potomac river. On it are ropes course
Ropes course
A ropes course is a challenging outdoor personal development and team building activity which usually consists of high and/or low elements. Low elements take place on the ground or only a few feet above the ground...
s, green building
Green building
Green building refers to a structure and using process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition...
s, and trails. The island is surrounded by river and rapids.