Custom Adventures

Rock Climbing at Pilot Mountain
Canoeing on the Mayo or Dan Rivers

Backpacking a Section of the Appalachian Trail

Incorporating High Ropes Courses at Other 4H Centers

If you'd like to take your students or your group on a local North Carolina adventure, but don’t have either the equipment or the necessary expertise to do it safely and confidently, the Betsy-Jeff Penn 4H Educational Center may have the solution. 

We have been taking summer and school-based groups canoeing on local rivers, climbing on local crags, and generally exploring the foothills and mountains of North Carolina for over a decade.  We combine the risk management knowledge, the specific training and expertise for outdoor adventures, and the kid-friendly attitudes of professional staff.   Trip length, focus and goals can all be determined through careful planning with the Education Director.

Trips can be run using the Penn Center as a physical basecamp, returning each night to the warmth and cleanliness of showers, solid beds and the homecooking of our dining hall.   Or, various group camping facilities can be utilized nearer to the natural areas we’ll be exploring. 

Betsy-Jeff Penn has the recreational equipment to supply most trips of reasonable size, so  participants need only bring the more personal items such as sleeping bags, clothing and toiletries.

As they are "custom adventures", the best way to start planning an event is to talk to the Education Director at 336-349-9445.