Explore a cave, climb a mountain, raft a wild river, cook a delicious dinner over a camp-fire and then sleep under the stars!

MAG Summer Adventure Camp is an all outdoors, coed summer adventure camp, located in Erwin, TN in the NC/TN Mountains between Asheville, NC and Johnson City, TN.

Campers will make new friends, learn outdoor skills and have fun and adventure. Our camp groups are deliberately small, with up to 12 campers and 3 instructor guides. Activities are age appropriate and include comprehensive instruction. We're a great choice for active, healthy kids! Camp is run independently of our rafting operations and managed by our owners/directors.

No experience is necessary and MAG provides all major gear. Just bring a good attitude and willingness to spend time having fun outdoors trying new things!

It's not too late!

Blue Ridge Introduction Camp (a 6 day camp)

Ages 12-14: Dates: 6/13-6/18, 6/27-7/2, 7/11-7/16. Ages 14-17: Dates: 6/20-6/25, 7/4-7/9, 7/18-7/23.

BR Introduction Tuition is $650.

Sunday: welcome to camp, teambuilding, camping trip
Monday: Worley's Cave then swimming
Tuesday: rafting/ducky’s Lower Nolichucky River
Wednesday: backpacking and overnight camping
Thursday: whitewater rafting Nolichucky River Gorge
Friday: farewell

BR Introduction activities include camping, hiking, an over-night backpacking trip, caving, and whitewater rafting/ducky's. Emphasis is on learning basic outdoor skills and having fun! We will camp every night in the mountains, prepare meals over fires or camp stoves and sleep outdoors in tents throughout the program. For a more adventurous rafting trip, try the self-paddled individual or double ducks.

Blue Ridge Expedition Camp (a 12 day camp)

Ages 14-17: Dates: 6/13-6/24, 6/27-7/8, 7/11-7/22.

Blue Ridge Expedition Tuition is $1000

Sunday: welcome to camp, teambuilding, camping trip
Monday: Worley’s Cave then swimming
Tuesday: rock climbing and rappelling
Wednesday: whitewater rafting/ducky's Nantahala River
Thursday: horseback riding Nantahala National Forest
Friday: whitewater rafting/ducky's French Broad River
Saturday-Tuesday backpacking
Wednesday: whitewater rafting/ducky's Nolichucky River Gorge
Thursday: farewell

We recommend the 12 day programs for a more complete camp experience for older campers. Emphasis is on learning more advanced outdoor skills and having fun! We will camp every night in the mountains, prepare meals over fires or camp stoves and sleep outdoors in tents throughout the program or in tarps when backpacking. We believe every teen should experience an extended backpacking trip before college! Campers will have opportunities to develop leadership skills, master Leave No Trace techniques, learn how to use map and compass and then stay on route when hiking. We will also learn how to build tarp shelters and camp fires, find and treat water, plan for a backpacking trip, more! Supervised by our guides, campers will take turns leading the hike, being in charge of the camp kitchen and watching over the health and safety of fellow expedition members.

Although there is no final deadline, we encourage early registration, as space is limited per group.

FAQ  What to Bring  Registration

About Camp

Our summer camp is a small group program - an all outdoors, rustic, adventure based program. Campers camp every night, prepare meals over fires or camp stoves and sleep outdoors in tents throughout the program or in tarps when backpacking.

Mission and Philosophy

We want campers to make new friends, learn outdoor skills and have fun and adventure. We believe campers will grow more confident by participating in challenging outdoor activities and learn the value of teamwork by working with guides and fellow campers to achieve common goals.

Camp is deliberately small.

Each group has a maximum of 12 campers and there are 3 instructor guides (4:1 ratio). The small size of each camper group allows for more individual attention for each camper.

About Mountain Adventure Guides, LLC

Mountain Adventure Guides, LLC dba USA Raft on the French Broad, Nolichucky, Nantahala and Watauga Rivers is a professional outfitter and guide service. MAG is fully insured and holds guide/outfitter permits and licenses with the U.S. Forest Service,

We are well qualified to guide and instruct all activities that we offer at camp. You can count on us to provide your child with the highest quality guides and equipment.

MAG Summer Adventure Camp guide standards exceed by a wide margin counselor standards set by the leading camp accreditation association. We routinely guide public and private schools and universities, scouts, churches, "accredited camps", "Y" camps, "scout camps" and families on vacation each season.

We have been recognized in: Men's Journal, American Scouting Digest, National Geographic Adventure, Pilots Away, Diversion Magazine for Physicians at Leisure and Hooked on the Outdoors.

Camp is managed by MAG founders & Directors

Richard has more than 30 years of outdoor adventure experience and first guided professionally in 1983. He spent his boyhood summers at Camp Sequoyah and Camp Chosatonga in Western North Carolina, where he was introduced to whitewater canoeing, backpacking and rock climbing. A graduate of Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, Richard has served as a summer camp counselor, ACA Certified Whitewater Instructor, River Manager for USA Raft, Inc. and Program Director for Camp Chosatonga in Brevard, NC, as well as a whitewater rafting, rock climbing and backpacking guide, trip leader and instructor trainer. Jeanne trains adventure camp guides and manages Camp each summer. In 2003, she was recognized as one of the top ten outdoors persons of the year by "Hooked on the Outdoors Magazine!" In her "off season" Jeanne is head of Undergraduate Social Work at Western Carolina University, where she was awarded the Chancellor’s Meritorious Award for Engaged Teaching. Jeanne loves people and everything outdoors. You just might spot her fly fishing in an area mountain stream.

Our Guides

Our guides excel in school and life! There are at least 3 guides with a group. Guides participate in our pre-camp clinics and training programs. The trip leader is at least 21 years old and an upperclassmen or recent college graduate. Trip leaders are experienced and have advanced certifications and first aid training (Wilderness First Responder, WFR or Wilderness First Aid, WFA or equivalent, and CPR), gained through guiding and/or working with summer camp programs and/or participation in wilderness leadership programs like National Outdoor Leadership School, Outward Bound and College Outdoor Leadership Degree Programs. Assistant trip leaders are at least 19 and will have finished a year or two of college, and typically have attended summer camp programs with wilderness components. In addition, we look for individuals with personal outdoor experience, as well as experience in working with kids. Assistant trip leaders are trained in first aid and CPR and outdoor skills. We are extremely proud of the high quality people who guide with us at camp each summer. All strive to teach, coach and motivate teens to grow and learn from their experiences with us.

Safety

In all outdoor adventure programming involving travel in remote areas and the unpredictable forces of nature, there will be some element of risk of injury. Our highest priority is your child's safety. We are well qualified to lead all aspects of your teen’s program. MAG Summer Adventure Camp has an excellent safety record. We minimize risk through low staff to camper ratios and small group size, extensive preparation, staff training, use of high-quality equipment, and our safety policies and procedures. We also provide the supervision, instruction, and equipment needed to minimize risk while participating in camp program activities.

What others say about MAG Summer Adventure Camp

"I can't put into words how much fun I had at camp!" Camper
"Certainly a growth experience as she prepares to finish high school and move on to college!" Parent
"My kids had a fantastic time with your guides. Thanks for putting together such an outstanding program!" Parent
"Matt has had nothing but positive things to say about his recent trip. This was a much better choice for a 13 year old than the traditional summer camps we have sent him to in the past." Parent
"I know those days at camp were a life changing experience for her. Thank you for hiring top notch staff, for finding a location where the scenery is breath-taking and for providing an environment where campers can be themselves." Parent

Tuition Includes

Tuition includes all major equipment, food and instruction costs. Tuition does not include $35 per week recommended pocket money (for pizza and soda, souvenir, etc.), round-trip transportation from the Asheville airport to our Base Camp on the Nolichucky River in Erwin, TN ($25 each way), minor gear (i.e. headlamp, sleeping bag, etc.) personal clothing and footwear, a physical exam by your physician, or medical expenses beyond basic first aid. We encourage you to purchase camp interruption insurance to protect your tuition investment.

Arrival and departure via car

Campers in cars should arrive at our Nolichucky River Base camp between 1 and 2 pm on opening day. Closing day departure is 9:00 AM.

Airport pick up and return

We meet students who travel by air at the Asheville, North Carolina airport (AVL). There is a $25 fee each way for airport pick-up in Asheville, NC. Please schedule your camper's arrival at the Asheville airport between 12 and 2 pm the day camp begins. For departure from camp, please schedule between 8 and 10 AM. Please check your trip information on flight arrival and departure times before you book a flight. We strongly recommend refundable airline tickets. Note: Asheville airlines have strict rules regarding rules for unaccompanied minors (15 y/o or under). They will not let your child board in Asheville if this rule applies. Please check with your airline for rules and/or additional fees.

Equipment and what to bring

You will need appropriate clothing for an active adventure in the mountains and a few pieces of personal gear, but MAG provides all major program gear, including a high quality backpack, tarps, tents and all technical gear. Packing List

Registration

For additional information or questions, please call the camp office.

MAG Summer Adventure Camp contact information:
2 Jones Branch Road, Erwin, TN, 37650 USA
Phone: 1-866-813-5210 or 1-423-743-7111.