Course Spotlight – Custom Courses
We’re wrapping up our Course Spotlight Series with a spotlight on our Custom Experiences. From school retreats to leadership training to family reunions to custom outdoor adventures, Mountain Shepherd is ready to host your group. We can provide programming and meals...
Course Spotlight – Women’s Courses
We hope you enjoyed our last blog highlighting our Survival Courses. In case you missed it, you can check it out here. Next up in the Course Spotlight Series is our amazingly empowering women’s courses. These courses are open to anyone who identifies as a woman, and...
Course Spotlight – Adventure Courses
So far in our Course Spotlight Series, we’ve highlighted our Survival Courses, our Women’s Courses, and our GEMS Camp. But did you know Mountain Shepherd also has a wide variety of Adventure Courses to try out??? Our adventure courses offer students a chance to try...
GEMS Camp Spotlight!
Any girl who has attended GEMS Camp knows about the magic that happens at camp. We’re already gearing up for another summer of fun, and we want you to join us! Whether you are a returning GEM, or you are thinking about coming for your first experience, you’re bound to...
Course Spotlight – Survival Courses
Did you know that Mountain Shepherd Adventure School has five different survival class offerings (well, six if you count Women’s Survival Essentials course)? We’ve got courses that cover survival basics for adults (Survival Essentials), survival basics for families...
Day Pack Course Series
Something that we get asked about from our AirBnB cabin guests is, what there is to do around here? Our local area is chock full of outdoor activities, like hiking the world-famous Appalachian Trail, literally right behind our property. We’re always happy to give out...
Hello Again, It’s Been A While!
If you’ve never been out to see us here at Mountain Shepherd (or it has been awhile), it might be time to plan your next visit. We’ve been busy making some upgrades to the property, updating the website, and adding in new courses. We think you’ll be pleased with what...
GEMS for G.I.R.L.s
Introducing “GEMS for G.I.R.L.s” from Girls Empowered by Mountain Shepherd (GEMS) and Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline Council! This unique set of experiences for Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors combines the four Girl Scout Program Pillars with the backcountry...
What’s so great about learning in the “great outdoors”?
At Mountain Shepherd, we believe each person, regardless of life experience, can learn to navigate the outdoors and respond to unexpected challenges. We also agree that learning outdoors, about anything, and even shifting activities typically done indoors out to a...
Time in the Wild
GEMS camp explores the connections between learning survival skills and learning to lead. by Beth JoJack ’98 If Allie Mitchem ever finds herself among the cast of TV’s Survivor, she’s certain to be in high demand as an alliance partner—even at the tender age of 13....
What’s so great about learning the “great outdoors”?
At Mountain Shepherd, we believe each person, regardless of life experience, can learn to navigate the outdoors and respond to unexpected challenges. We also agree that learning outdoors, about anything, and even shifting activities typically done indoors out to a...
Middle school girls learn survival skills, confidence at camp
Posted on The Roanoke Times: Wednesday, July 20, 2016 4:45 pm By Kylee Sapp kylee.sapp@roanoke.com 981-3435 During their last hike of the week, four middle school girls showed off their survival skills when they came across a small “crashed” plane and one of their...
Meet the GEMS creators
Dina Bennett Interests: Hiking Learning Teaching Traveling Creating new experiences Quilting (aka mastering the art of imperfection) Dogs – All but most important to my heart are Holly, Scout, Levi and Riley Music Slacklining/Unicycling – brand new and somewhat scary...
Situational Awareness – Be vigilant to Survive
The madness continues. Reports of horrfic acts of violent terrorism, on foreign soil and in our back yards, clog our airwaves and news feeds. This constant bombardment of fear based news achieves its goal, it sparks fear. Some cancel or postpone trips. Others avoid...
Worth the cost of the course!
Reggie, About two years ago my fiancee and I took the survival 101 course. The course was great we both learned a lot. I thought it was worth the cost of the course just to learn how to build a fire. That was until this weekend. My 11-year-old future stepson,...