For 17 years Virginia Outside has helped countless kids discover all that Virginia’s natural environment has to offer. From 6-year-olds catching bluegill in a pond, to overnight fly fishing trips for middle and high schoolers, Virginia Outside offers outdoor opportunities for all ages and ability levels. VO began in Richmond in 2004 and quickly spread throughout Virginia. The company now offers camps and programs around the state including Virginia Beach, Fredericksburg, Northern Virginia, and Charlottesville, and is excited to officially expand into Roanoke for their 15th summer. Virginia Outside- Roanoke is owned and operated by Ben Garden, a Roanoke native, who recently moved back home with his wife and young son after living in Richmond where he has worked with Virginia Outside for the previous six years. In addition to running VO-Roanoke, Ben teaches 8th-grade Civics at William Byrd Middle School in Roanoke County.
This summer, Virginia Outside is excited to offer a variety of fishing opportunities for varying ages and interests. In late June, they are running a Fish N Fun camp for ages 6-8. Later in July, they offer Adventure fishing for ages 9-14. Virginia Outside offers other exciting camps, such as an overnight fly fishing camp in Lebanon, Virginia where campers will stay in a private lodge and fish for trophy trout on miles of pristine private water. In early July, Virginia Outside will be leading a Yellowstone expedition, offering campers a fishing opportunity of a lifetime- a week backpacking, camping, and fly fishing the incomparable trout streams of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. They will wrap up July with a fly fishing day camp here in Roanoke and another 9-15 year old camp through Roanoke Catholic School’s summer camp program.
All Roanoke camps will target the wide variety of fish and diversity of waterways in the Roanoke region. Campers will float the James River in rafts and canoes in search of smallmouth bass as well as fish private ponds for largemouth bass, tiny mountain streams for native brook trout, and the Roanoke River right through town. All equipment is provided and no experience is necessary. In addition to having fun, making memories that will last a lifetime, and learning about the natural environment in and around Roanoke, campers will also learn how to fish if they are new to the sport or hone their skills if they are experienced anglers. Please see their website for information or give Ben Garden a call at 540-761-9487.
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Learn more: NRV Summer Camp Guide
