River Shredders camp is designed for participants 12-16 years old, and appeals to both experienced and new river lovers alike. Kids will get the opportunity to try out all kinds of river activities – whitewater rafting, sit-on-top kayaking, and stand up paddleboarding to name a few!
Our goal is to encourage responsibility on the river, a sense of environmental stewardship, and the confidence to pursue things that bring them joy. Along with hydrology, river ecology, environmental stewardship, and whitewater safety, camp will be rounded out with lots of swimming, river island exploration, and good old-fashioned camp shenanigans. These activities can be relatively strenuous and require a moderate level of physical fitness. Previous river experience is not required, but participants must be comfortable swimming in moving currents.
At an age where it’s hard to keep these young adventurers entertained, a week with us will teach them to enjoy the giant natural playground in our backyard – the James River!
River Shredders Camp is held on and around RVA’s awesome, award-winning river and urban forest. Camp is led by professional river guides trained in swiftwater rescue.
This camp will be from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., with a flexible pickup window between 3:30 and 4:00. Camp is held in Forest Hill Park and the James River Park System and runs Monday through Friday.
12-16
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
For real-time capacities, please click “Register Now” to enter the enrollment portal.
June 2-6
June 9-13
June 16-20
June 23-27
July 7-11
July 14-18
July 21-25
July 28 – Aug 1
Aug 4-8
A sliding scale is a tool to help increase access to experiences like summer camp, while acknowledging differences in financial resources. We ask for your active participation in deciding your contribution. We do not require proof of income but ask that you take a moment to thoughtfully reflect and choose the option that best represents your situation.
We want to give a huge thank you to those who were able to opt for our highest sliding scale tier last year; you helped 32 kids attend camp at a lower rate in 2024!
If you do not wish to pay in full upon registration, we offer 2 payment plans:
Our Scholarship Program:
Donations: There is an option to donate to the scholarship fund during the registration process. All scholarship funds go directly towards camp spots for scholarship recipients. In 2024, the money raised through these donations funded 8 additional completely free camp spots! Thank you to everyone who donated!
Recipients: If none of the sliding scale choices are affordable to you, please email us at riversidecamps@gmail.com to ask about our scholarship program. In order to offer assistance without increasing barriers, we do not require proof of income, but ask that you only request scholarship funds if you’re not able to attend otherwise.
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