Interview With
Mark Diedering
Adventure Links was founded in 1997 by owners Anna and Austin Birch.
We are located at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park in Clifton, Virginia, just 20 miles outside of Washington D.C., in Fairfax County. Hemlock Overlook is a 228 acre park , and home to our cabins, lodge, pavilions, extensive trail system, and access to the Bull Run River. Tucked away in historic Clifton, if you visit the park you might forget that you are only 45 minutes outside of the nation’s capital.
The Adventure Links philosophy is to provide activities that educate and enrich our participants through exciting adventure activities. Every day of camp offers opportunities for personal growth, social development, and connection with the natural environment.
Adventure Links offers ropes course, rock climbing, caving, canoe and kayak paddling, outdoor living skills, mountain biking, sailing, whitewater rafting, hiking, and camping.
We offer both day camp and overnight camp options with sessions that last from 5 days up to 2 weeks. Day Camps for ages 8 – 14 are 5 days, and cost $495 – $550. Residential Sleepaway Camp, with campers staying in cabins here at Hemlock Overlook Park, is for ages 10 – 13 and costs $695 for 5 day session. Traveling Overnight Camps for ages 11 – 14 are 7 day sessions and cost $850. Teen Expeditions for ages 14 – 17 are two weeks sessions and cost $1750 – $2250.
We will have 26 – 28 Instructors during the summer season. With a minimum age of 20 years old, we recruit our staff primarily from Colleges and Universities with outdoor education programs. Many of our Lead Instructors are college graduates with significant experience leading youth in adventure activities, and many of our assistant instructors are college students enrolled in degree programs for outdoor education. All of our staff must pass rigorous pre-employment screening and complete an intensive two week training.
Adventure Links offers opportunities for campers to take a break from the technology that surrounds them on a daily basis, and use this time to build self-confidence, strengthen friendships, and learn about the natural environment. Our activities are appropriate for both beginners and experienced adventurers. Also, with Adventure Links parents and campers also get a high level of personal care and attention. Parents are welcome to communicate directly with the camp director before, during, and after the camp to make sure all of their questions are answered and all of their feedback is heard. We understand the responsibility and the trust that parents put it us when they send their child to our camp. We take this responsibility very seriously and do our best to help both parents and campers feel comfortable with their camp experience.
Enrollment begins in November and stays open throughout the summer, as long as spaces are still available.
If parents have any specific questions or want to learn more about Adventure Links, they are welcome to visit our website www.adventurelinks.net, send us an email at info@adventurelinks.net, or give us a call at 571-281-3556.
Parents can register at any time on our website, www.adventurelinks.net, and they can also register by phone Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
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