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The Summit Experience
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The Summit Experience is the premier onsite high-adventure program of the Summit Bechtel Reserve. Scouts and Venturers, aged thirteen or older, are invited for a week of adventure, challenge, and growth wild and wonderful southern West Virginia. With an array of programs—something different each day—Summit Experience participants will climb, rappel, and zipline (on Alexander’s Eagle Flight and on the canopy course); mountain bike, skateboard, and ride BMX; complete a hunter education course and have fun on the archery, rifle, and shotgun ranges; and whitewater raft down the New River. The Summit Experience is a high-adventure program like no other!
BMX
Skateboarding
Mountain biking
Zip Lines
Canopy tours
Hunter’s education
Climbing
Range and Target Activities
Whitewater Rafting
I love this camp. I went here, in the summer of 2018, with a scout troop. It was a really great experience, that we will all remember for the rest of our lives. We did something called the Summit Experience. This involved ropes courses, archery, shot gun and rifle shooting, kayaking, and BMX biking. The food here, that they served, was really great. That staff is super nice and friendly. If you have the opportunity, I would definitely recommend going to this camp.
Conner R.
Troop 226 from Apex NC just got back from the Summit Experience. We had a great time with the all of the programs with the highlight of the trip being the whitewater rafting. The big zip and the shooting sports were also hit with our kids. Prepare to walk a lot. The shooting sports, BMX park, and the big zip are all up the mountain for a about 1-hour hike. Its a great place for those 13-15 year olds to be introduced into the High Adventure program!
Richard S.
In order to develop character, citizenship, and personal fitness, young people need the opportunity to push past their comfort zones in real world settings that help them understand who they are and envision who they can become. High adventure programs provide crucial experiences that help young people clarify their values, goals and vision for the future.
The Summit Experience begins with the challenge and thrill of the aerial sports offerings at the Summit, including climbing, rappelling, and the Leap of Faith at the Rocks; the exhilarating Alexander’s Eagle Flight (formerly known as the Big Zip); and the incredible canopy zip line tours. Then, participants visit Action Point for a day of mountain biking, on some of the hundreds of miles of available trails on property, and an enlightening experience at Crafton Hunter’s Hall, where hunter education training and laser shot (simulated shooting range) in the Crafton Skills Center are offered. After practicing on the virtual range, participants head to the Bows and Barrels, the premier target sports venue at the Summit, the following day. The penultimate day includes skateboarding and BMX activities at the Park and the Trax, some of the best venues for those activities in the country. The final day sees participants hit the New River, the fourth-oldest river in the world, to navigate and negotiate challenging rapids in the gorgeous setting of the New River Gorge.
While your schedule may vary slightly due to scheduling considerations, each group can expect to spend about a half day in each of our onsite Adventure Areas with similar themes for each day. For example, an “Aerial Sports Day” would include Ziplines, Canopy Tours and Climbing.
2025 Pricing
$1,150/Person
2026 Pricing
Coming Soon
By Crew
Summer
13 years +
Opens 18 months prior to trek
Aerial Activities
Aerial activities require no previous experience. We have awesome staff here to help you learn and grow! To allow for the best experience and safety of our participants, the following weight restrictions need to be followed: For the Rocks, you must weigh between 50-250lbs, for Action Point Canopy, between 50-250lbs and for Alexander’s Eagle Flight (Formerly “Big Zip”) between 80-250lbs. For Alexander’s Eagle Flight, you will zip down with your backpack, but it cannot be used for extra weight. All activities require close toed shoes. All required personal protective equipment is provided.
The Summit Experience is designed to be the best introduction to all the Summit has to offer. There are no specific pre-requisite skill requirements. Each of the Adventure Areas have Staff available to help all skill levels.
For quick reference, you can see which dates the Summit Experience will be offered for the next two summer seasons. Note that the Summit Experience session dates align with the James C. Justice National Scout Camp session dates to make it easier for units who are looking to have Scouts attend both in the same week! Check out the section below for availability and a link to our registration system.
June 8 – June 14
June 15 – June 21
June 22 – June 28
June 29 – July 5
July 6 – July 12
July 13 – July 19
July 20 – July 26
July 27 – August 2
August 1-7
August 2-8
August 3-9
August 4-10
The Summit High Adventure Experiences registration release is the January of the year prior. For example, summer 2025 registration opened January 2024. View open slots below.
We know that planning for your high adventure experience can be an adventure in itself, but don’t worry – We’ve got several great resources available to provide you with information and tips to help take some of the stress out of planning your adventure.
This guide is designed to help unit and council contingents plan a successful trip to the Summit. It is important that each adult leader accompanying the unit to the Summit Experience become familiar with every aspect of the trip and to share this information with participants and their parents/guardians. During the Summit Experience, each group will be assigned a Summit staff member, known as a Mountain Rover, to guide them to and through the adventures and activities.
The Summit is committed to ensuring the health and safety of our participants. Activities at the Summit require a certain level of fitness, and some can be very physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding. The programs can include mountain biking, BMX biking, skateboarding, rock climbing, zip lines, challenge courses, shooting, archery, whitewater rafting, and kayaking. Depending on the program(s) you select, you will need to arrive at the Summit physically prepared to participate in those activities. The average walk is 5–7 miles a day on uneven terrain with significant changes in elevation. The heat index often reaches almost 100 degrees in the summer. Be prepared!
All youth and adult participants must undergo a medical evaluation by a licensed healthcare provider within twelve months prior to their Summit program.
IMPORTANT: Failure to properly review all information on the Summit AHMR and Risk Advisory could result in your denial of participation upon arrival at the Summit.
In addition to the planning guides, we also offer several Webinars that are a great way to find out more information and ask questions. Information on when webinars will be made available once scheduling details are finalized.
While onsite at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, you’ll be able to stay connected with complimentary wifi available to all guests. Additionally, the Summit site has cell towers for several major carriers, which allows the majority of our guests to have great cell coverage.
The primary phone number for the Summit Bechtel Reserve is 304-465-2800. This phone number is typically answered between Monday and Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The Summit Bechtel Reserve operates a twenty-four-hour hotline number, at 304-465-2900. All calls to or for participants are routed from this number, and parents/guardians or unit leaders attempting contact should be prepared to provide the name and expedition number of the individual whom they are trying to reach.
Johnny Tracy – Johnny.Tracy@scouting.org
We know that there is a lot of information to cover regarding your High Adventure Experience and while we do our best to provide as much information as possible, you may still have some questions. If you need help or have a specific question you need help with, please reach contact the Summit registration team at summit.program@scouting.org or 304-465-2800, or contact Camp Director Johnny Tracy, at johnny.tracy@scouting.org or 901-489-6027. We are here to help!
The Summit Experience includes aerial sports (climbing, rappelling, Leap of Faith, canopy zipline tour, and Alexander’s Eagle Flight), mountain biking, skateboarding, BMX, hunter education, target and range activities, aquatics activities, and whitewater rafting on the New River. Each group will be assigned a schedule that includes all these activities during their visit to the Summit. Please note that A.T.V. programs are not included in the Summit Experience.
Participants must be thirteen years old and registered members of Scouting America to participate in the Summit Experience.
Absolutely! Both programs, the Summit Experience and Justice National Scout Camp, begin on Sunday for every session, making it easy for units to send groups to each program. Registration for both programs must be placed separately and proper adult leadership—at least two adults per reservation—must be in place for both groups. Please note that unit camping in the same site while participating in both programs may be challenging. Please contact Camp Director Johnny Tracy, at johnny.tracy@scouting.org or 901-489-6027, to discuss specific considerations.
All units will enter the Summit Bechtel Reserve through the North Gate entrance (2550 Jack Furst Drive, Glen Jean, WV 25846). With the assistance of signage and staff, unit vehicles will navigate to and check in at the Pigott Headquarters building. Unit leaders will present the requisite paperwork to the registration team and present copies of the Annual Health and Medical Records for everyone in the unit to the health and safety team for review. Restrooms, the trading post (The Bunker), and the Summit Snack Shack are all located near the check-in area. After the check-in process is completed, units will head to Bravo Base Camp to set up camp for the week.
Yes, parking for Summit Experience participants is offered in parking lots that are convenient to the Summit Experience camping area and Fork in the Road Diner (the dining hall in which Summit Experience participants eat).
Nine-foot-by-nine-foot dome tents are provided for all Summit Experience participants; cots are also provided. Dining canopies and picnic tables are provided in each camping area.
Uniforms may be worn in transit to and from the Summit, though uniforms are not required during any part of the Summit Experience program.
Please contact the Summit registration team, at summit.program@scouting.org, or call 304-465-2800. For program and camping questions, contact Camp Director Johnny Tracy, at johnny.tracy@scouting.org, or call 901-489-6027.
Yes! This program is not administered by the Summit Bechtel Reserve, but participation in the Summit Experience does count for these awards. Visit www.nationalhighadventureawards.org/ to learn more.
Situated in the wilds of West Virginia, The Summit Bechtel Reserve is a training, Scouting, and adventure center for the millions of youth and adults involved in Scouting America and anyone who loves the outdoors. The Summit Bechtel Reserve is also home to the National Scout Jamboree and the Paul R. Christen National High Adventure Base.
The mission of Scouting America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
