The Extreme Journey is an innovative, award-winning summer camp where middle school students canoe, bike and walk in the footsteps of great leaders from this region… Campers will visit National Parks, Civil War battlefields, presidential homes, Civil Rights museums, and Native American sites, all while considering the meaning of our American past.
Your Mission: This summer, your mission will be to reveal the mysteries of history! You will stand in the shoes of those who lived here before us, face the same problems they faced, and then decide: What does leadership mean to me?
You will create cherished memories while working with your friends on a project – it might be artwork, a short play or a mini movie – to bring to life the lessons you learn about leadership from the remarkable men and women who shaped this country. And this will all happen under the guidance of incomparable interpreters who will lead hands-on cultural, recreational, and creative activities.
Now in its 17th year, the Extreme Journey is offered by the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area, a non-profit organization dedicated to civically engaging students of every age in our shared heritage, in partnership with Loudoun County Parks and Recreation. This activity is not sponsored or endorsed by Loudoun County Public Schools.
Download the 2024 Extreme Journey Flyer
Adventure Open To: Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Students
SESSION 1: BATTLEFIELD ADVENTURE
July 8 through July 19 (Monday-Friday, Day Camp Only)
Smart’s Mill Middle School
850 North King Street, Leesburg, VA 20176
PRCS Activity & Section #: 573212 (01)
You will visit the following battlefields:
● Antietam National Battlefield
● Gettysburg National Battlefield
● Manassas National Battlefield
● Brandy Station Battlefield
● Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Regional Park
Activities you will engage in include:
● Tube Antietam Creek
● Hike Gettysburg National Military Park
● Loudoun Escape Room (RETURNING)
● Scavenger Hunt at Mount Olivet Cemetery
Museums/Historic Locations you will visit include:
● Loudoun Museum & Civil War Medicine Museum
● Loudoun Freedom Center
● Aldie Mill & Mount Zion Church
● Graffiti House & Seminary Ridge Museum (NEW)
SESSION 2: GREAT AMERICANS ADVENTURE
July 22 through August 2 (Monday-Friday, Day Camp Only)
Brambleton Middle School
23070 Learning Circle, Ashburn, VA 20148
PRCS Activity & Section #: 573212 (02)
You will visit the following Presidential Homes:
● Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello Estate
● James Madison’s Montpelier Estate
● Dwight D. Eisenhower Farm (NEW)
● James Monroe’s Highland Estate (NEW)
Activities you will engage in include:
● Canoe the Potomac River
● Bike the C&O Canal Towpath
● Hike Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
● Udvar Hazy Air & Space Museum IMAX(NEW)
Museums/Historic Locations you will visit include:
● The David Wills House (NEW)
● Adams County Historical Society Museum
● Historic Oatlands Estate & Gardens
● African American Historical Association (NEW)
● The George C. Marshall House
Cost: $895 (Limited Scholarships Available)
*Special Rate Available for Returning Campers = $795*
For the second summer in a row, we will offer two REVAMPED programs that are completely different and students are welcome to register for both sessions!
REDUCED RATE: $100 discount per session if you sign up for both!
This price partially covers charges for bus transportation, park admission, guided tours, bike and canoe rentals, snacks, and use of cutting-edge filmmaking equipment. The remaining costs are underwritten by the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership.
Please type in the PRCS Activity/Session Number for the session you want to register for! (573212 (01) for Session 1 or 573212 (02) for Session 2).
For additional information regarding camp registration contact Erik Sassak, Camp Director, at erik@jthg.org, or call (703) 999-5928.
Camp Offerings
This two-week day camp offers a unique chance to take a guided bike tour of Gettysburg National Military Park, canoe the Potomac and learn about John Brown at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, tube Antietam Creek, explore Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello Estate, and make a short film about the meaning of Leadership, among many other exciting activities.