Calleva
Non-profit | |
Founded | 1994 in Darnestown, Maryland |
Founder | Alex Markoff |
Headquarters | Poolesville, Maryland |
Area served |
Washington, D.C. Montgomery County, Maryland Potomac & Great Falls, Virginia |
Services | Summer camp, outdoor education, private programming |
Website | Calleva.org |
Calleva is the largest outdoor education organization in Central Maryland, United States, established to provide outdoor team building opportunities for groups such as schools and companies, and to take groups of individuals on excursions throughout Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.
History
Calleva was owned by Nick and Alex Markoff, whose family was involved in the summer camp 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 offered 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.
Programs
Calleva offers outdoor programming. They use a fleet of buses that can make pickups virtually anywhere in Central Maryland, and bring people to the activities. They have a staff that has been certified to take people on outdoor activities.
Programs
- Kayaking
- Whitewater rafting
- Horseback riding
- Backpacking
- Mountain biking
- Caving
- Rock climbing
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Mountain boarding
- Surfing
- Sailing
- Ropes course
- Grunkan's Adventures
- Growing Green
Also available is the Calleva Ski Club during the winter, and the LIT (Leadership in Training) program during the summer.
Locations
Riley's Lock
13015 Riley's Lock Rd. Poolesville MD 20837
The main office of Calleva, the hub of Camp Calleva, where Calleva's maintenance facility and bus fleet are located. It sits adjacent to the Potomac River and the C&O Canal.
Markoff's Farm
19120 Martinsburg Rd. Dickerson MD 20842
The 168-acre (0.68 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 20874
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
Adventure Island
Potomac River, MD / VA
Calleva's private island, located in the Potomac river. On it are ropes courses, green buildings, and trails. The island is surrounded by river and rapids.
See also
- Camp Calleva
References
- Chadwick, Melissa A. (July 26, 2006). "Calleva puts a little adventure in summer. Kids let loose and relax as they learn at Poolesville camp". The Gazette (Gaithersburg, MD). Retrieved 2008-07-23.
- Poma, Elissa Leibowitz (October 25, 2006). "Scared Out of Your . . . Town – Markoff's Haunted Forest, Dickerson, Md.". The Washington Post. p. C02. Retrieved 2008-07-23.