Arrival to Mountain Lake. Wine and cheese reception before dinner to meet and greet fellow participants.

Afternoon: 4:00 pm Program check-in at hotel library 5:00-6:00 Wine and cheese mixer on the hotel veranda to welcome and mingle with fellow Road Scholars.

Dinner: 6:15 pm - Enjoy a tasty and healthy Appalachian dinner in the new Harvest Restaurant.

Evening: 7:45 pm - Gather for a brief orientation to the week's activities, and learn more your program leaders and fellow Road Scholars.

Lodging: Mountain Lake Lodge

Meals Included: Dinner

Learn the basics of rafting on a stunningly beautiful section of the New River. Enjoy learning about the history of the New River during an evening presentation.

Breakfast: 7:30-9:00 am - Enjoy breakfast in the Harvest Restaurant.

Morning: 9:00 am - Depart for Tangent Outfitters in Pembroke, just a 15 minute drive. Float 10 miles along the New River and learn the basics of rafting with expert river guides from Tangent Outfitters. This day's section from Pembroke to Bluff City introduces class I-III rapids in addition to many calm stretches of water. Get a feel for the river this first day, relax and enjoy stories of history, flora and fauna with your guide.

Lunch: Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch on the riverside. Try out stand-up paddle boarding or take a swim in the calm water.

Afternoon: Rafting continued along with the opportunity for some river swimming.

Dinner: 5:30 pm - Dinner in the Harvest Restaurant.

Evening: 7:30 pm - Evening presentation by local geologist on the Geological History of the New River Valley and surrounding Appalachian Mountains.

Lodging: Mountain Lake Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Basics of kayaking along the New River. Kayaks are single and sit-on-top river kayaks; tandem available upon request (please contact program provider with request in advance). Sunset hike to an overlook in the evening.

Breakfast: 7:30-9:00 am - Breakfast in the Harvest Restaurant.

Morning: 9:00 am - Depart for Tangent Outfitters, 15 minute drive. Learn the basics of kayaking with expert guides. You will learn different paddle strokes, boat maneuvering, and how to tackle class 1-2 rapids with your boat along this 7 mile stretch of the New River from Eggleston to Pembroke.

Lunch: Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch on the riverside. Enjoy a moment to swim in the calm water.

Afternoon: Kayaking continued along the gorgeous bluffs and curves of the river.

Dinner: 5:30 pm - Dinner in the Harvest Restaurant.

Evening: 7:15 pm - Depart for the Appalachian Trail for a sunset Hike to Wind Rock, 10-minute drive along the ridge from the Lodge. Hike is uphill but relatively easy, and only one-third of a mile in distance one-way.

Lodging: Mountain Lake Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hike 4 miles round-trip to the 66-foot Cascades waterfall at the base of the mountain, the most popular waterfall in Southwest Virginia. Gather for a bonfire, s'mores and an informal jam with local traditional Appalachian musicians in the evening.

Breakfast: 7:30-9:00 am - Breakfast in the Harvest Restaurant.

Morning: 9:00 am - Travel down to the Cascades Trailhead in Pembroke, a 20 minute drive from Mountain Lake. Walk with naturalists along Little Stony Creek for 2 miles on rocky, uneven, varied terrain till you reach the awesome 66-foot, Cascades waterfall.

Lunch: Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch at the waterfall. Swimming is optional, the water is very chilly!

Afternoon: Hike 2 miles downhill on a fire road to trail head parking lot and shuttle back to Mountain Lake.

Dinner: 5:30 pm - Dinner in the Harvest Restaurant. Save room for dessert at the bonfire!

Evening: 7:30 pm - Relax by the outdoor bonfire and enjoy an informal jam session with local musicians sharing traditional Appalachian song and history. True to camp tradition, s'mores provided!

Lodging: Mountain Lake Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Whitewater rafting the Lower New section of the New River Gorge. Gourmet buffet dinner at Smokies Restaurant, Adventures on the Gorge facility.

Breakfast: 7:00 am - Quick continental breakfast "on-the-go".

Morning: 7:15 am - Shuttle (2 hours) to the New River Gorge in WV. Join Class VI Whitewater Company for a thrilling whitewater rafting trip down the New River Gorge. You will drift into the 1,300 foot deep canyon, and pass old mining towns, ferry sites, and coal camps. Experienced guides will share the history and geology of the gorge. Dependent upon water level, participants will experience Class I to Class V rapids during this 5-hour excursion. (No experience necessary)

Lunch: Delicious deli-style lunch along the river.

Afternoon: Rafting continued. Float under the New River Gorge Bridge, the Western hemisphere's longest single arch bridge!

Dinner: 5:30 pm - Some free time to explore overlooks and shops or relax and enjoy the view. Dinner at Smokies on the Gorge at Class VI River Company.

Evening: 7:00 - 9:00 pm - Shuttle back to Mountain Lake (2-hour drive). Upon arrival, relax and enjoy the hot-tub, you earned it!

Lodging: Mountain Lake Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Program wrap-up, graduation, and a picture slideshow. After check out, enjoy lunch with the group in Harvest Restaurant.

Breakfast: 7:30-9:00 am - Breakfast in the Harvest Restaurant.

Morning: 9:00 am - Wrap up session, graduation and picture slide show!

Morning: 11:00 am - Check-out time for the Mountain Lake Lodge.

Meals Included: Breakfast