Extreme Journey Middle School Camp
The Extreme Journey Middle School Camp Leads Middle School Students on a 175-Mile Tour of U.S. History and Lessons of Leadership

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Learning how to canoe
Visiting historic Waterford, Virginia
Soldiers' National Monument in Gettysburg-site of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

For two weeks each summer, students in sixth through eighth grades participate in The Extreme Journey Middle School Camp. A program that provides hands-on lessons in American heritage and leadership. This Extreme summer camp takes them on a high tech trip through history following the 175-mile Journey Through Hallowed Ground (JTHG.) Read the Students' Blog on the Loudoun Times web site»

The camp takes students on hiking, biking, and canoeing trips along one of America’s most historic paths between Gettysburg and Monticello. Students record the trials and triumphs and lessons of leadership from the Revolutionary period through the Civil War. They don't use pen and paper however, but state-of-the art video iPods and digital cameras to create a video documentary, or "vodcast," journaling their experiences. As they travel, they work with historians, archaeologists, and national park service guides to unlock the leadership contributions of this region's historical figures. View Highlights of Student Vodcasts from the summer of 2007

During the Extreme Journey Middle School Camp, students engage in a variety of learning activities. They bike to historic sites along the C&O Canal, role-play as cannoneers at the Antietam battlefield, lunch over an open fire before heading to an archeological dig, and canoe the Potomac with a local historian as they travel to the Battle of Ball’s Bluff.

On the second day of camp, Tyler Hoover, an Albemarle County public school student, said he ordinarily, "enjoys playing video games and lacrosse." On this day, however, he was dressed-up as “Earnest Johnston,” an 1880s student who spent his days skipping school to attend to his family farm. He noted, “It’s fun because the boy I’m role playing sure lives a lot different from how I do, and using the video technology really helps us learn about the history.”

Angela Stokes, a teacher with Albemarle County schools, said, “The rich American heritage found along the Journey Through Hallowed Ground is something that has shaped every day of our contemporary American experience. By engaging students in history in such an intense, real way, the Extreme Journey Middle School Camp provides an ideal way for students to understand that history is not just something from our distant past, but rather something that we live every day." Ms. Stokes added, "Plus, its just great fun, too."

News Articles

Recent articles about the camp

» Leesburg Today, July 31, 2007
» Orange County Review, August 2, 2007

Extreme Camp Videos

Videos related to this program:

Extreme Journey Middle School Camp  
» View Now  » Quicktime format  [@ 3min.]
The JTHG works with school systems to host summer learning experiences. Catch a glimpse into one day of this remarkable camp.
* This video was created by Midge Flinn Yost, owner of Fillmore Digital Media, LLC, for the JTHG Partnership.

Highlights of Movies Created by Extreme Camp Students
 » View Now   » Quicktime format [@ 3min.]

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Student Vodcasts from the Extreme Journey Middle School Camp 2007

My Journey  
» Quicktime format  [@ 3min.]
Zoe’s vodcast begins by asking, “What does a leader look like?” and concludes by saying, “I think anyone can be a leader, even the people you know in everyday life. We are all leaders and you are too. You don’t have to be famous or have an interesting name.”

The Places You’ll Go  
» Quicktime format  [@ 3min.]
Can we hop on top of the Journey with Dr. Seuss? Absolutely. Reilly, Maggie and Meghan connected popular works from the famed childhood author to the lessons on leadership that they learned while hiking and biking along this Hallowed Ground.

Remember the Names  
» Quicktime format  [@ 5min.]
The Journey is 175 miles of history made by people and events.

It’s A Wrap  
» Quicktime format  [@ 3min.]
There is something for everyone on the Journey. This young man was inspired by a Weird Al concert to put the historical lessons learned on the Journey to music. Chase’s work is brief, but packed with historical relevance.

Digging Through History  
» Quicktime format  [@ 3min.]
Meredith Bean McMath, film director and screenplay writer asked these ladies what they did best. Abby, Kayleigh, Kamilla and Lizzie replied with a simple response, “The worm.” And that gave birth to this extraordinary vodcast that showcases how these young women dug deep into the roots of the Journey’s history for lessons that they could apply to their world today.   

Out of the Park  
» Quicktime format  [@ 3min.]
John Mark loves baseball and therefore it was easy to draw a connection between contemporary leaders who travel around the diamond and those who ran along the Route 15 corridor.

A Ripple In Time  
» Quicktime format  [@ 3min.]
We want our vodcast on American leaders to be funny. Funny? Writing the Constitution, drafting foreign policy for a new nation and battling slavery are not usually “funny” topics, but thanks to inspiration by Sports Illustrated writer, Rick Reilly, Sam and Andrew and Sam were able to place a humorous twist on leadership and how it impacts future generations.

History’s Ink  
» Quicktime format  [@ 3min.]
Emily loves to sing. Clairborne loves to write. Leah loves to act and Claire loves music. What happens when these skills and passions come together? A beautiful story showcasing the contributions of men and women along the Journey and how we can learn from their work.

Told and Untold Stories  
» Quicktime format  [@ 3min.]
Justin, Dominic and Stephen began by asking the NPS Ranger at Gettysburg a question. “Are the only leaders the ones we find in our history books?” The Ranger replied, “No. And they are not only the ones that you see in the movies either.” This response prompted these gentlemen to dig deeper and to ask more questions while visiting with historical experts in order to uncover the stories of the common man who played significant leadership roles. They do not want their stories to be lost.