Blue Ridge Outdoor School

★★★★★Jeffrey Schwab

I grew up in Lexington, Virginia, but for the past 21 plus years I have relocated to Asia where I currently live in Taipei, Taiwan with my wife from Japan, and our 5 year old daughter, Luna. We make visits back every few months in order to spend more time with my aging mother. On our most recent visit, we decided to stay in Lexington for a month, and I signed Luna up for 5 days at the Blue Ridge Outdoor School so that she could integrate some more core memories with Nature and kids her age, in addition to spending time with her grandmother. As we live in a VERY urban environment and Luna attends an entirely Chinese language speaking pre-school, I was Uncertain how she would respond to the differences, especially going to an entirely outdoor school. Additionally, the weather during the week had drastic changes with super hot temperatures, and then quite cool and rainy. On the very first morning of the school, I knew that we had made an EXCELLENT decision. Luna said very proudly, "Today is my first day of American school!" With her newly packed lunchbox, she got into our car, and we dropped her off for the pick-up where Amy greeted us. Luna hopped in the van and never looked back. The week flew by for Luna. She said to us, "I feel like my time in America is going so fast--I wake up, eat breakfast, go to the outdoor school, come home, and go to bed." Clearly she was having a lot of fun and learning a lot. One of the experiences that impacted her deeply was when the teacher, Amy, stopped the car to rescue baby opossums that were skittering around in the road after the mother had been hit by a previous driver. Luna recounted how Amy had taken them with care to a shelter and two of them were successfully rescued. I'm truly grateful to the Blue Ridge Outdoor School and their staff who lead the programs with care and strong reinforcement of positive language and sustainable mindsets. Luna surprised me when she said, "This land is special, we must protect it, we must honor it!" Looking forward to returning in the future!

★★★★★Lilian Bürgler

Blue Ridge Outdoor School was the answer to my prayers. My family loves living in Lexington, but unfortunately as college towns have become inundated with retirees from HCOL states, the family-oriented services have suffered, and this was especially true in Lexington, where there weren't ANY good summer camp options. Both of my kids, ages 6 and 7, LOVED the Outdoor School. I thought it was going to be hot, clammy, and boring, and they would refuse to go after a day or two, but the exact opposite happened. My kids had a blast. Everyday they came home covered in mud, and overflowing with joy. They loved getting to know their surroundings. They loved being in the fresh air all day. Rhianna, the camp director, is super responsive. The teachers and counselors are top notch. The highest possible quality. I cannot say enough good things!

★★★★★Beth Staples

We love Blue Ridge Outdoor School!! The time our son gets to spend outdoors after school makes him such a happier kid. And our whole family benefits from his adventures. He brings home treasures of all kinds and takes us on journeys during the weekends to his favorite spots from the week. We're so lucky to have this school and camp here in Lexington!

★★★★★Rachael Thompson

Outstanding experience for my kids! We drive almost an hour to participate in this unique and fulfilling summer camp experience each summer. It's a fantastic opportunity for kids to experience and connect with nature, learning and playing freely the way they should. You can see the joy on their faces each day at pickup! Such fun! Exceptional staff and a quality program.

★★★★★Kara Braddick

My child has attended their After School program and it has been a great experience! She loves the school counselors so much and they are always off on a fun adventure! I'm grateful to have a safe, caring spot for after school and look forward to signing up again next year!