At Passages Adventure Camp, we believe growth happens outside comfort zones — but never beyond responsible limits. We design structured challenges supported by trained staff, well-defined protocols, and thoughtful planning.

How we manage Risk

  • River level- checked every morning prior to check in to determine river levels. If the river is over 6 feet, we will not be able to run the river trip as planned and will make alternate options https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/rmdv2

  • River quality- water quality is checked once a week by the park system, typically on Fridays. This allows us to determine river conditions for the upcoming week and plan accordingly. If the bacteria levels are outside of swimmable conditions, we will not have the campers swim in the river or kayak and alternative plans will be made https://thejamesriver.org/james-river-watch/

  • Swift water rescue training- we conduct a comprehensive swift water rescue training for all our kayaking site directors and all staff are trained on basic swift water rescue techniques

  • First aid/CPR- all site directors are fully first aid and CPR certified and all other staff receive a comprehensive first aid training applicable to situations they will encounter at camp 

  • MAT training- several of our site directors are trained in medication administration, the only staff who will be administering medication (provided by parents) are certified to do so. 

  • Regular gear and equipment inspection- all of our gear is regularly inspected and taken out of rotation if they aren’t up to our standards

  • All our campers wear life jackets whenever they are swimming or kayaking, helmets are required for our campers while kayaking

  • We maintain a 1-4 staff to camper ratio, higher than most every other camp in virginia! 

  • In case of emergency weather conditions, we have two locations on belle isle that are covered to take shelter in. In case of severe weather, we have protocols to get all campers out of the water and to shelter as soon as possible. We check weather conditions every morning before check in. activities will be moved into Peak Experiences Richmond if weather conditions become too severe. 

  • We work with the local park system rangers and local law enforcement in cases of emergency