Trips
Venture Out
Venture Out is an excellent way to see beautiful areas, explore, and be active. We provide fun, exciting, and educational outdoor services to students, faculty, staff, and the greater Hokie community. We specialize in outdoor adventure recreation, team building, and quality rental gear at unbeatable rates, as well as a valuable resources to help you plan your own perfect adventure.
We now offer Custom Trips and Adventure Programming. Please use the request form above labeled "custom program request" to begin planning a custom program tailored to the needs of you and your group.
Venture Out: Trip Schedule - Fall 2025
Sunset Hike
Join us for a sunset hike! We will meet at 5:30 pm at the Venture Out Center and drive together to a local trail for a short hike to watch the sunset. We will provide light snacks, necessary equipment, and transportation.
Dates: August 29th
Cost: $10
Canoeing
Join us out for a day on the water in the beautiful southwest Virginia. Never canoed before? That's okay, no experience necessary! The New River has class one and two rapids that are perfect for learning the basics of canoeing. Our Venture Out staff will teach you different strokes, how to read a river, and help you experience the New River Valley in a whole new way. This trip will involve swimming with a life jacket, sitting and paddling in a canoe, and hanging out all day in the sunshine. Equipment, transportation, lunch, and instruction are all included in the price. We will meet at the Venture Out Center at 8:30am and return by 5pm.
Dates: August 31st
Cost: $35
Afternoon Standup Paddleboarding
Try out stand up paddleboarding! Enjoy a peaceful day paddling around on a calm section of water. Our staff will provide instruction on proper paddling technique.
This trip is beginner friendly. This trip will involve balancing while standing on the water, swimming with a life jacket, and hanging out in the sun.
Equipment, light snacks, and transportation are provided. We will meet at 1:30pm at the Venture Out Center and return by 6:30pm.
Dates: September 5th
Cost: $20
Biking
Come try Biking on the New River Trail. The Venture Out staff is ready to teach you everything you need to know to about riding. Trust us, it's a wheelie good time.
This trip will involve riding a bike for up to 30 minutes at a time over a gravel bike path. The path is level with some hills and great views of Claytor Lake. Bikes, transportation, and light snacks are provided, just bring your energy!
This trip will meet at the Venture Out Center at 9:00am and return by 4:00pm.
Dates: September 6th
Cost: $30
Sunset Hike
Join us for a sunset hike! We will meet at 5:30 pm at the Venture Out Center and drive together to Buffalo Mountain, for a short hike to watch the sunset. We will provide light snacks, necessary equipment, and transportation.
Dates: September 12th
Cost: $10
Overnight Canoe
Our local rivers and lakes offer plenty of opportunity to explore and camp in solitude.
We welcome beginners to canoeing and those new to camping. Our wonderful instructors will teach you how to paddle a canoe, set up a tent, cook outdoors, identify plants and wildlife, and navigate on the water.
We will paddle during the day with all our food and equipment in canoes, pull off at a campsite for an evening around the campfire, and pack up in the morning to continue paddling downstream. Two days is just enough time to relax and have a little fun before returning to the busy week.
This trip will involve swimming with a life jacket, sitting and paddling in a canoe, and hanging out all day in the sunshine. We provide all food, equipment, and transportation. We will meet at 8:30am at the Venture Out Center. There will be a pre-trip meeting for this trip on Wed, 9/10 at 8pm.
Dates: September 13th & 14th
Cost: $70
Afternoon Standup Paddleboarding
Try out stand up paddleboarding! Enjoy a peaceful day paddling around on a calm section of water. Our staff will provide instruction on proper paddling technique. This trip is beginner friendly. This trip will involve balancing while standing on the water, swimming with a life jacket, and hanging out in the sun.
Dates: September 19th
Cost: $20
Family Weekend Challenge Course Open Registration
The Venture Out Challenge Course implements a "challenge-by-choice" principle so that individuals can choose their level of participation and difficulty throughout the course. This experience is open to the public and will last roughly 2 hours. Registration is required. The challenge course has a weight limit of 250 pounds, a weight minimum of 50 pounds, and age minimum of 8 years old. Individuals will put on harnesses and helmets and head up to height for different team and individual obstacles. Participants will move through the course connected via a smart belay system that keeps them connected at height. Obstacles include traversing on beams and cables, climbing nets and logs, and swinging between platforms. Participants will have the option to culminate the expereince by exiting course via the swing, leap or zipline.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, we are here to help! Please contact Venture Out at ventureout@vt.edu at least five business days prior to the event with a request for accomodation. If you desire that a caretaker or personal aide accompany you during the event, please contact us so that we can plan for their attendance at no additional cost.
Dates: September 19th
Canoeing
Join us out for a day on the water in the beautiful southwest Virginia. Never canoed before? That's okay, no experience necessary! The New River has class one and two rapids that are perfect for learning the basics of canoeing. Our Venture Out staff will teach you different strokes, how to read a river, and help you experience the New River Valley in a whole new way. This trip will involve swimming with a life jacket, sitting and paddling in a canoe, and hanging out all day in the sunshine. Equipment, transportation, lunch, and instruction are all included in the price. We will meet at the Venture Out Center at 8:30am and return by 5pm.
Dates: September 21st
Cost: $35
Afternoon Standup Paddleboarding
Try out stand up paddleboarding! Enjoy a peaceful day paddling around on a calm section of water. Our staff will provide instruction on proper paddling technique.
This trip is beginner friendly. This trip will involve balancing while standing on the water, swimming with a life jacket, and hanging out in the sun.
Equipment, light snacks, and transportation are provided. We will meet at 1:30pm at the Venture Out Center and return by 6:30pm.
Dates: September 26th
Cost: $20
Rock Climbing
Spend a day outside with Venture Out while learning the basics of rock climbing. If you've ever been interested in climbing, this is the trip for you! Learn knot tying, belaying, and climbing skills in a beautiful outdoor setting. Our trip leaders will share their love of climbing and passion for the outdoors. This trip will involve hiking uphill over rocky terrain to the climbing site, long periods of standing, and of course climbing using hands and feet. Equipment, transportation, lunch, and instruction are provided. Plan to meet at the Venture Out Center at 8:30am and return by 5pm.
Dates: September 27th
Cost: $40
Canoeing
Join us out for a day on the water in the beautiful southwest Virginia. Never canoed before? That's okay, no experience necessary! The New River has class one and two rapids that are perfect for learning the basics of canoeing. Our Venture Out staff will teach you different strokes, how to read a river, and help you experience the New River Valley in a whole new way. This trip will involve swimming with a life jacket, sitting and paddling in a canoe, and hanging out all day in the sunshine. Equipment, transportation, lunch, and instruction are all included in the price. We will meet at the Venture Out Center at 8:30am and return by 5pm.
Dates: September 28th
Cost: $35
Afternoon Standup Paddleboarding
Try out stand up paddleboarding! Enjoy a peaceful day paddling around on a calm section of water. Our staff will provide instruction on proper paddling technique.
This trip is beginner friendly. This trip will involve balancing while standing on the water, swimming with a life jacket, and hanging out in the sun.
Equipment, light snacks, and transportation are provided. We will meet at 1:30pm at the Venture Out Center and return by 6:30pm.
Dates: October 3rd
Cost: $20
Challenge Course Open Registration
The Venture Out Challenge Course implements a "challenge-by-choice" principle so that individuals can choose their level of participation and difficulty throughout the course. This experience is open to the public and will last roughly 2 hours. Registration is required. The challenge course has a weight limit of 250 pounds, a weight minimum of 50 pounds, and age minimum of 8 years old. Individuals will put on harnesses and helmets and head up to height for different team and individual obstacles. Participants will move through the course connected via a smart belay system that keeps them connected at height. Obstacles include traversing on beams and cables, climbing nets and logs, and swinging between platforms. Participants will have the option to culminate the expereince by exiting course via the swing, leap or zipline.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, we are here to help! Please contact Venture Out at ventureout@vt.edu at least five business days prior to the event with a request for accomodation. If you desire that a caretaker or personal aide accompany you during the event, please contact us so that we can plan for their attendance at no additional cost.
Dates: October 3rd
Day Hike
Join us for a hike through lovely New River Gorge National Park!
During the trip, we will take in the scenery, learn about local plants and wildlife, and discuss how to care for the environment.
Transportation, lunch, and instruction are included. We will be meeting at the Venture Out Center at 8:30am and will return by 6:00pm.
Dates: October 5th
Cost: $20
Rock Climbing
Spend a day outside with Venture Out while learning the basics of rock climbing. If you've ever been interested in climbing, this is the trip for you! Learn knot tying, belaying, and climbing skills in a beautiful outdoor setting. Our trip leaders will share their love of climbing and passion for the outdoors. This trip will involve hiking uphill over rocky terrain to the climbing site, long periods of standing, and of course climbing using hands and feet. Equipment, transportation, lunch, and instruction are provided. Plan to meet at the Venture Out Center at 8:30am and return by 5pm.
Dates: October 12th
Cost: $40
Backpacking
Come backpacking with us and explore the beautiful Appalachian Mountains!
This trip is perfect for beginners and people with experience alike. We will provide instruction and tips on what to bring, how to pack, campsite selection, tent set up, navigation, cooking, water filtration, and how to be happy and comfortable in the outdoors.
Expect to spend quality time outdoors getting to know the people in your group. This trip will involve walking on uneven trails with a ~35 lb backpack for 4-6 miles each day.
Transportation, food, and equipment are included. Plan to meet at Venture Out at 8:30am on Friday and return in the afternoon on Sunday.
There will be a pre-trip meeting on Wed, 10/15 at 8pm.
Dates: October 17th-19th
Cost: $80
Mountain Biking
Bike the trails with us to experience the thrill of mountain biking with staff who are ready to teach you everything you need to know on the trail. Trust us, it's a wheelie good time. This trip will involve riding a bike for up to 30 minutes at a time over uneven terrain on narrow trails. Bikes, transportation, and light snacks are provided, just bring your energy and plenty of water! This trip will meet at the Venture Out Center at 10:00am and return by 5:30pm.
Dates: October 18th
Cost: $30
Queer Adventure Series: Queer Campout
This trip is part of our Queer Adventure Series. The Queer Adventure Series is a partnership with the Pride Center that offers the opportunity to explore the experiences and contributions of LGBTQ+ people in the great outdoors. During these programs, we aim to have a good time outside and build community while we learn about queer and trans perspectives on nature and our relationship with it.
Join us for a campout this October as part of LGBTQ+ History month! On this trip, we will drive to a campsite where we will teach camp set up and the principles of Leave No Trace. Additionally, all participants on October’s trip will receive a free copy of the book Been Outside: Adventures of Black Women, Nonbinary, and Gender Nonconforming People in Nature. Be prepared for some excellent campsite cooking, engaging conversation about this month’s text, stories around the campfire, and games designed to make your brain hurt.
We will be camping at a local state park. The campsite will have a firepit and picnic tables. We will sleep in tents with a bathhouse with toilets and showers close by. There will be time to chill in nature as well as explore the state park.
We will be meeting at the Venture Out Center at 2pm on Saturday and will be finished by 4pm on Sunday. There will be a pre-trip meeting for this trip on Wed, 10/22 at 8pm.
This trip is beginner-friendly, and registration is open to all. Sign up is managed on a first come first served basis.
Dates: October 25th & 26th
Caving
Escape the cold and join us on an underground adventure! Caves stay 55 degrees all year round.
Learn about the hidden complexities of caves: including cave ecosystems, bats, formations, how caves are formed and more!
This trip is meant for beginners. Expect to walk on mud and uneven terrain, scramble over rocks, and go through sections that are tight enough to require crawling.
Equipment, transportation, lunch, and instruction are provided. Plan to meet at the Venture Out Center at 8:30am and return by 5pm.
Dates: October 25th
Cost: $40
Rock Climbing
Spend a day outside with Venture Out while learning the basics of rock climbing. If you've ever been interested in climbing, this is the trip for you! Learn knot tying, belaying, and climbing skills in a beautiful outdoor setting. Our trip leaders will share their love of climbing and passion for the outdoors. This trip will involve hiking uphill over rocky terrain to the climbing site, long periods of standing, and of course climbing using hands and feet. Equipment, transportation, lunch, and instruction are provided. Plan to meet at the Venture Out Center at 8:30am and return by 5pm.
Dates: October 26th
Cost: $40
Challenge Course Open Registration
The Venture Out Challenge Course implements a "challenge-by-choice" principle so that individuals can choose their level of participation and difficulty throughout the course. This experience is open to the public and will last roughly 2 hours. Registration is required. The challenge course has a weight limit of 250 pounds, a weight minimum of 50 pounds, and age minimum of 8 years old. Individuals will put on harnesses and helmets and head up to height for different team and individual obstacles. Participants will move through the course connected via a smart belay system that keeps them connected at height. Obstacles include traversing on beams and cables, climbing nets and logs, and swinging between platforms. Participants will have the option to culminate the expereince by exiting course via the swing, leap or zipline.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, we are here to help! Please contact Venture Out at ventureout@vt.edu at least five business days prior to the event with a request for accomodation. If you desire that a caretaker or personal aide accompany you during the event, please contact us so that we can plan for their attendance at no additional cost.
Dates: November 1st
Day Hike
Join us for a hike around Pandapas!
During the trip, we will take in the scenery, learn about local plants and wildlife, and discuss how to care for the environment.
Transportation, lunch, and instruction are included. We will be meeting at the Venture Out Center at 10:00am and will return by 5:00pm.
Dates: November 2nd
Cost: $20
Caving
Escape the cold and join us on an underground adventure! Caves stay 55 degrees all year round.
Learn about the hidden complexities of caves: including cave ecosystems, bats, formations, how caves are formed and more!
This trip is meant for beginners. Expect to walk on mud and uneven terrain, scramble over rocks, and go through sections that are tight enough to require crawling.
Equipment, transportation, lunch, and instruction are provided. Plan to meet at the Venture Out Center at 8:30am and return by 5pm.
Dates: November 8th
Cost: $40
Mountain Biking
Bike the trails with us to experience the thrill of mountain biking with staff who are ready to teach you everything you need to know on the trail. Trust us, it's a wheelie good time. This trip will involve riding a bike for up to 30 minutes at a time over uneven terrain on narrow trails. Bikes, transportation, and light snacks are provided, just bring your energy and plenty of water! This trip will meet at the Venture Out Center at 10:00am and return by 5:30pm.
Dates: November 9th
Cost: $30
Sunset Hike
Join us for a sunset hike! We will meet at 3:30 pm at the Venture Out Center and drive together to a local trail for a short hike to watch the sunset. We will provide light snacks, necessary equipment, and transportation.
Dates: November 14th
Cost: $10
Horseback Riding
Swing into the saddle and take a ride with Venture Out on horseback.
Learn the basics of working with a horse, learn riding technique and go for a short trail ride.
This trip is beginner-friendly. All needed gear, instruction, transportation, and, of course, your horse will be provided. This trip meets at 11:30am at the Venture Out Center.
Dates: November 15th
Cost: $70
Caving
Escape the cold and join us on an underground adventure! Caves stay 55 degrees all year round.
Learn about the hidden complexities of caves: including cave ecosystems, bats, formations, how caves are formed and more!
This trip is meant for beginners. Expect to walk on mud and uneven terrain, scramble over rocks, and go through sections that are tight enough to require crawling.
Equipment, transportation, lunch, and instruction are provided. Plan to meet at the Venture Out Center at 8:30am and return by 5pm.
Dates: November 16th
Cost: $40
Caving
"Escape the cold and join us on an underground adventure! Caves stay 55 degrees all year round.
Learn about the hidden complexities of caves: including cave ecosystems, bats, formations, how caves are formed and more!
This trip is meant for beginners. Expect to walk on mud and uneven terrain, scramble over rocks, and go through sections that are tight enough to require crawling.
Equipment, transportation, lunch, and instruction are provided. Plan to meet at the Venture Out Center at 8:30am and return by 5pm."
Dates: December 6th
Cost: $40
Important Venture Out Information
If for some reason you have to cancel your registration, the following are our refund policies. Please notify ventureout@vt.edu as soon as possible if you need to cancel.
Cancelation more than 14 days in advance: 80% refund, spot trade, and fee transfers are allowed.
Cancellation 7-13 days in advance: NO refund, spot trading and fee transfers are allowed.
Cancellation less than 7 days in advance: NO refund, spot trading is allowed.
For an expedition more than 4 days in length including travel, there will be no refunds within 3 weeks of the start of the trip and no spot trades allowed within 10 days of departure.
- *A fee transfer is when you transfer a credit to a different trip within the same semester. Spot trading is when you have a friend attend under your registration.
- Participants have the duty to act in a reasonable and prudent manner when engaging in recreational activities offered by Venture Out.
- Participants may not participate in any Venture Out adventure related activity while under the influence of alcoholic beverages and/or controlled substances.
- Participants may not engage in harmful conduct or willfully and/or negligently engage in any type of conduct which contributes to or causes injury to any person or personal property.
- Participants may no interfere with the safe running and operation of the expedition, including failure to use safety equipment provided by Venture Out or failure to follow the trip leader(s) instructions in regard to safety or conduct.
- Participants must inform or notify trip leader(s) of any incident or accident involving personal injury or illness experienced during the course of a Venture Out related activity. If such injury or illness occurs, the participant shall leave personal identification, including name and address with the Venture Out center.
- Participants must advise trip leader(s) of any known health problems or medical conditions along with prescription medication(s) that may be used in the treatment of such health during the course of Venture Out activity.
- I, the participant, agree to abide by all Venture Out, Department of Recreational Sports, and University policies/procedures. I agree that I will support an alcohol/drug free environment by not consuming alcohol or drugs during this event. I also agree to follow the instruction and guidance of the university sponsor.