Harpers Ferry, West Virginia whitewater rafting, zip line, and tubing at River Riders

Tacy visits with our business partners for the holidays

2011-12-19T16:12:00.002-05:00

Hi all,

I had a great time last week visiting with our business partners to wish them all a wonderful holiday season.

The Clarion in Shepherdstown

My first stop was The Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Shepherdstown. I spoke with our sales rep Jennifer and members of the friendly front desk staff. Jennifer is excited that we have the Canopy Tour and she can't wait to get out there and try it.

The Lobby @ The Holiday Inn Express

I headed to Holiday Inn Express in Ranson next. The front desk staff was nice as always and the lobby is beautifully decorated for Christmas. I then went down the street to Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, one of our newest partners. A big part of our local economy Hollywood Casino brings people from all over the east coast to enjoy table games and to watch the horses run. I stopped by Marcus enterprises who run The Quality Hotel Conference Center. The Quality Hotel is right next door to River Riders and has been a partner for quite a while. We offer a Stay and Play package with The Quality Hotel in which our guests benefit by receiving a great rate for booking a trip with us and staying with Quality Hotel.

Becky and smiling staff @ Brothers Pizza

My next stop was Brothers Pizza. A locally owned business with delicious pizza and italian choices. I met up with Becky the manager who is very welcoming and will always make sure your meal with them is a good one.

Debbie, Jessie, and Tacy @ The KOA

Our Assistant General Manager Amanda and I then stopped by the Harpers Ferry KOA. The KOA has a brand new General Manager and we were excited to meet her. Jessie just resently came here from up north although she is originally from this area. We are thrilled to work with her. Welcome back Jessie!

Ashley @ The Anvil Restaurant

I ran over to The Anvil Restuarant in Harpers Ferry. This family owned restuarant has been in business since 1985. A quaint casual family atmosphere surrounds you as you enjoy lunch and dinner options as well as offerings from the bar. The owner Danny was in and we had a nice conversation before I headed into the historic district.

Ron @ The Outfitter at Harpers Ferry

I next stopped at The Outfitters at Harpers Ferry and was lucky to run into one of the owners Ron. The Outfitters offers anything you might need for an outdoor hiking adventure. There is still time to stop by and find that perfect gift.

Potomac St in Historic Harpers Ferry

We love our community and being partners with other local businesses lets us share with you all that we have to offer in Jefferson County.

Matt and Amanda go to the ARVC Conference

2011-12-06T11:12:00.005-05:00

Matt and Amanda drove down to Savannah Georgia November 27th through December 2nd to join in on the ARVC annual conference and expo! We were excited to gain as much knowledge as possible in order to make improvements to our river side campground, Harpers Ferry Campground, for the upcoming season. We were specifically looking for information on developing electric and sewer for our RV sites, improving amenities, site assignment and check in, as well as campground landscaping. The conference put us in touch with a number of professionals who own campgrounds throughout the US, Canada, and even China!

After a long drive, we checked into the Mulberry Inn in the beautiful historic district for a good nights rest. Early the next morning we packed out bags again in preparation for the Spot Tour, which took us to a series of campgrounds between Savannah and just north of Myrtle Beach. We saw a recently purchased campground, a state run facility, 2 mega campgrounds, and a recently constructed campground with an abundance of amenities. They even had hot tubs at their RV sites!

A long bus ride returned us to Savannah where we promptly got down to business at the conference center. Once we got the ferry schedule down, we took several seminars on project management, campground ownership, emergency prevention and preparation, and more! We also looked at rustic cabins, yurts, family bikes, WiFi internet, and merchandise for the retail shop.

The classes were very informative, but lets not forget that the food was amazing! We enjoyed a guest speaker for lunch on Wednesday and an exciting auction on Thursday. Amanda appreciated the vegetarian options, and Matt attended a Low Country Boil with some of our new friends from Wisconsin.

We headed back to West Virginia Friday morning. Amanda owed Matt some driving time, so she took the wheel while he defined the details for a new vacation rental River Riders is working on. We made it home safely with several new ideas to bring back to Harpers Ferry Campground for the summer of 2012.

www.arvc.org

Professional Development in Orlando at the IAAPA Conference

2011-11-19T12:59:00.011-05:00

This past week Matt, Amanda M, Amanda G, Alex, Christy, Jessica, and Sheryl flew down to Orlando FL for the annual IAAPA convention. After meeting up at 3:30 am to catch our flight, our sleepy eyed crew headed to BWI to catch a plane to the sunshine state. Once we arrived in Orlando, we rented a car, turned up the air conditioning, and headed to the Orange County Convention Center.

Throughout the week we took several seminars that were geared specifically toward the theme park and attractions industry. Matt focused on learning more about water park development. Amanda M made sure to take plenty of seminars on marketing and social media. Sheryl and Christy learned more about group sales and management. Amanda G and Jessica studied safety regulations, employee development, and government compliance. Alex developed her knowledge of food and beverage trends and human resources.

We had a blast talking to vendors and trying out new products at the trade show. Amanda G tried out 2 zip lines and plenty of slushies! Jessica, Sheryl, and Christy got water proof glitter tattoos, checked out some cool new locking key carabiners, and tried out several midway games. Amanda and Alex spoke with international exchange student programs for staffing, researched rock wall modifications and food items, and look into ordering water proof watches, and floating water proof cell phone carriers for smart phones.

While we were in Orlando we ate delicious food, courtesy of Matt! We scarfed down some tasty Thia food on Tuesday night. On Wednesday we hit up the House of Blues in Downtown Disney, and on Thursday we ate at Margarita-ville with our silly hats from our favorite balloon girl! We also went to Pat O'Briens at City Walk and sang along with the awesome piano players (even though they didn't get to our request! Sorry Jess!).

Luckily we had to opportunity to work off all those extra calories at the Give Kids the World 5k. Matt and Amanda G finished with fantastic times. Alex learned that running isn't all the bad, as this was her first 5k. She did great! While running, Amanda M made a friend with a family visiting the park, and Jessica stopped to pet the neighborhood cat!

After an action packed week we landed in Baltimore and quickly realized we weren't in Orlando anymore. With record highs in the 80's all week, it took us a bit to acclimate to the chilly evening temperature.

We are beginning to type up and organize all of our notes from the conference, and are super inspired to bring positive change to River Riders with all of our new knowledge. We all feel as though next summer will be our most successful season ever with the help of all the experienced speakers from the IAAPA convention.

For more information on IAAPA or Give Kids the World, check out:
www.iaapa.org
www.gktw.org

Local river cleanup considered a success - journal-news.net | News, sports, jobs, community information for Martinsburg - The Journal

2011-11-09T10:48:00.000-05:00

Local river cleanup considered a success - journal-news.net | News, sports, jobs, community information for Martinsburg - The Journal

October Memories

2011-11-01T16:25:00.001-04:00

Wow, I can't believe it's November already! October went by way too fast but what fun. October brought us alittle of everything.

We met our brochure printers on a trip to Roanoke,Va just a few hours south of Harpers Ferry and had a wonderful afternoon touring the facility and meeting the staff. Thanks Chocklett Press we had a blast!

Our canopy tour and our NEW Halloween Haunting trip has been just thrilling. We had alot of guests go out on it Saturdays in October with the last weekend being exciting with the surprise winter weather we recently got. The Halloween Haunting trip left River Riders offices for the canopy tour in the evening so everyone that went out enjoyed the thrill of completing the course in the dark. With the moon light, headlamps, and a few rope lights on the course supplying the only light. This new trip gave guests a chance to experience our canopy tour and our local area while in a completely new environment.

Rafting has been beautiful this Fall with the trees all the colors of the rainbow. Some days were fabulously weather warm and sunny, other days were definitely wetsuit days but the nice water levels have made every trip great!

Our campground has been very popular this fall with weekends in October filling up with people ready to enjoy all that our beautiful area has to offer.

Team River Riders at Freedoms Run

Crossing the Burma Bridge
on the Canopy Tour

Staff all ready for Halloween

Nolan as Mario

Beth and Rob from Chocklett Press

Riverfront Fall camping at
Harpers Ferry Campground

Getting ready to head out on the Doah
for a Fall Faloiage Trip

Climbing the rockwall at
Jefferson Parks and Rec

Thanks for sharing your time with us here in Harpers Ferry and while we were out on the road at local events. Good Times!

Peak Fall Colors will soon be in Harpers Ferry WV

2011-10-20T10:31:00.003-04:00

This weekend is going to start our peak week for fall colors in the Harpers Ferry area. As leaves begin to loose green chlorophyll, the bright green color of the summer begins to fade into yellow and orange colors. As more time passes, you'll begin to see bright reds and purples in trees like maples. Sunlight combined with cooler autumn nights cause the leaves to change the glucose inside of them into a red color. You'll notice more of a brown color in oaks is due to waste that is left in the leaves.

The best view by far of the foliage in Harpers Ferry is from the fall canopy itself! The picture above was taken from the Harpers Ferry Canopy Tour on October 13, 2011.
For more information on peak colors in WV, check out
www.wvstateparks.com/fallmap.html

For a better view of all the color, call River Riders today to book your canopy tour!

Adventure Inn to Adventure Inns!

2011-10-15T14:47:00.003-04:00

Today we are begining to work on our second vacation rental home! The home can be found on Alstadts Hill Rd, which is the same street where River Riders and our first vacation rental is located. The property needs a lot of work, but our general contractor, Smitty, and his crew are ready to do what it takes to give it a make over. We've got an exciting winter with a lot of work ahead of us!

Weekend Fun in the Panhandle

2011-10-14T14:02:00.002-04:00

For guests headed our way this beautiful, colorful weekend, the fun doesn't stop at River Riders (contrary to popular belief)!

Martinsburg is hosting the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival today, tomorrow, and Sunday. Celebrity guests Lisa LoCicero of General Hospital and NFL tight end Anthony Becht will be here enjoying all the fun like the grand feature parade, 5k Apple Trample, craft and food vendors, activities, and more!

Check out http://www.msahf.com/ for details.

Zombie Walk October 8th in Harpers Ferry

2011-10-04T14:04:00.002-04:00

This Saturday we will be offering a later departure for our Haunted Canopy Tour to Zombie Walk participants. We know you want to keep the creepy vibe alive...or dead!?! The Zombie Walk will begin at the Haunted Cottage at 42 Old Taylor Lane near the Harpers Ferry KOA, where our pal Vince will lead the dead on a walk that will end at River Riders. Participants are asked to bring a non perishable food item to donate to the local food bank. This is an effort to help hungry families for the holiday season. For more information, check out the link or give us a call at River Riders!

In other news, today Amanda G, Sheryl, and Christy have been working on data entry, while Tim and Robert repair tubes in the shop. Kenia and Josh got to go out on a zip trip for a group that walked in. We're all jealous they get to play outside!

Preparing for the Haunted Holiday!

2011-09-30T09:57:00.005-04:00

River Riders has been gearing up for our Halloween Canopy Tour special by enjoying some of our local haunts! Wednesday we enjoyed a ghost tour with Oh Be Joyful in Harpers Ferry. The guide was entertaining, informative, and fun! We are also planning to visit the Haunted Fairgrounds at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. They open for the season October 14th and 15th. For more information on the Oh Be Joyful ghost tour, check out http://www.obejoyfull.com/. More information on the Haunted Fair Grounds, visit http://www.thehauntedfairgrounds.com/. Also, this weekend we will be taking our rock wall to Home Depot for the Children’s Carnival in Ranson, WV. Smitty and Drew are going to be volunteering their time between 9 am and 12 pm so that local children can have fun climbing our 4 sided rock wall. Check the event out on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Ranson-WV-Home-Depot-Kids-Workshop/186278381438697

Harpers Ferry Canopy Tour Halloween Haunt

2011-09-25T11:08:00.000-04:00

It's just about that time of year again, Fall. A time of the year where we at River Riders traditionally start gearing down for the winter. We prepare each year for the summer season and the business of it all, rafting and tubing especially are our most popular attractions and tend to be warm weather favorites. However, this year we have The Harpers Ferry Canopy Tour and all that this offers us as a company for the fall season and beyond. A new venture this year is our Halloween Haunt. This is an October Saturday exclusive except for the Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday of Halloween Weekend. We are excited to have this new attraction for you to enjoy. This is also bringing us a new challenge too in creating a whole new event. With this comes decorating, manning this, as well as working out all of the logistics. Something completely new for us at this time of year. This begins on October 1st, that's in just one week! We have alot to do this week. We hope that you decide to join us during it's inaugural year.

150th anniversary of the Civil War in Harpers Ferry

2011-09-24T08:17:00.000-04:00

Event: In the Shadows of John Brown: The 1861 Battle of Bolivar Heights

Date:

October 15-16, 2011

Description:

Two years to the day after John Brown’s Raid, Union and Confederate troops clashed on Bolivar Heights.

The event will highlight the unique parallels between John Brown and participants of the battle. Activities will include,

living history, ranger conducted programs and family/youth activities.

Gay Day is Tomorrow!!!

2011-06-25T16:36:00.002-04:00

Hey there River Riders Friends,

River Riders Gay Day 2011 is tomorrow and we are so excited!!!
Come out and join us for a great day in the sun and meet new friends.
Organizations will be on hand throughout the day to share information including: PFLAG, The Lodge, ARE, and Fairness West Virginia!
In the Evening we will host a Variety/Drag Show starting at 5:30pm. You don't want to miss it!!!

Give us a call for more information...see you tomorrow!

Harpers Ferry Canopy Tour Grand Opening

2011-06-17T12:33:00.002-04:00

It's A BIG day here at River Riders! We are having our Grand Opening Celebration of our NEW Zip Line Canopy Tour! River Riders is bigger and better than ever!!
Come on out and see all that we have to offer in Beautiful Harpers Ferry, WV!

One more reason we are WILD and WONDERFUL West Virginia!!

Arbor Day in Historic Harpers Ferry

2011-04-25T12:28:00.004-04:00

Come celebrate Arbor Day in Historic Harpers Ferry on Saturday, April 30th at 12 noon. Head out to the historic district to explore and watch the tree planting on Washington Street across from Church Street. Free Landmark Tree maps! Take a walk and admire some of Harpers Ferry's biggest trees! There will be plenty of time to explore all that the historic district has to offer.

Stacie's tree we planted last year at River Riders in her memory....blooming for spring!

Check out the Harpers Ferry Tree Committee website for more information: http://hftrees.org/default.aspx

3rd annual Panhandle Earth Day Festival

2011-04-19T15:14:00.002-04:00

Stop by and visit River Riders as we share in the excitement of Earth Day!

Time: Saturday, April 23 · 12:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: Morgan's Grove Park - Shepherdstown, WV

More Info:

Music - Food - Arts - Crafts

$10 per car, walkers/ bicyclist Free

Visit with others in celebrating our beautiful Earth!
The event will feature vendors, environmental and conservation groups, non-profits and local artists, kids activities, local farm goods, and over 15 musical acts - including The Woodshedders, Andrew McKnight, Herb & Hanson, Ginada Pinata, Lucas & the Lovelies, Stoney Creek, Willie Barry and more!

For more information:
http://pedc.earthvibeproductions.com/

Rock Wall at The Egg Hunt at Crumland Farms - Tomorrow!

2011-04-15T15:41:00.006-04:00

Join River Riders at Crumland Farms annual Egg Hunt.

Saturday April 16th from 11am to 2pm.

We'll have our Rock Wall there, stop by and give it a go!

There will also be Special Eggs, Vendors, and Prizes.

We'll have information about all of our activities including our NEW Zip Line Canopy Tour!!!

Visit us!!!

The Amandas have IT! @ River Riders

2011-03-15T16:05:00.007-04:00

River Riders is excited to announce the promotion of Amanda Mullins! Amanda has been with River Riders for 9 years now and has just recently held court as Director of Sales and Service. Amanda's new position is Assistant General Manager/VP of Sales and Marketing.

We wish Amanda all the best and great success in her new position...
GOOD LUCK AMANDA!!!

River Riders is proud to announce the appointment of Amanda Grantham as our NEW Camp Director! We look forward to a fresh and exciting Outdoor Adventure Camp season.

Congratulations Amanda and welcome aboard!

Sunday at Liberty Mountain Resort

2011-02-14T12:00:00.004-05:00

River Riders was a sponser at Liberty Mountain Resort's Front 9 Competition on Sunday February 13th, 2011. We had a great day meeting Stultz Clothing Co. (another sponser) and introducing new people to River Riders!!!

www.skiliberty.com www.stultzclothing.com

2011-02-02T13:53:00.002-05:00

River Riders is excited to find that Phil did not see his shadow and Spring is just around the corner...time to think about getting out on the rivers and trails!!!

Ah..That's the life!

Valentine Vacation Temptations

2011-02-01T12:54:00.004-05:00

River Riders February Newsletter is here!

Check out what we have going on.

Valentine's Day Rafting Special

North Branch Spring Dam Release Dates

and

Our NEW Vacation Rental !

Spring will be here before you know it...start planning now...to be a part of all of the excitement at River Riders!!

Happy New Year!!!

2011-01-03T11:17:00.005-05:00

2011 is upon us and everyone at River Riders is already excited about this coming season!
We can't wait for the new things we have in the works and to once again head out on the rivers and trails.

We want to thank everyone for being a part of The River Riders family.

We look forward to seeing you this year!

Chinquapin Rec Center 25th Anniversary

2010-12-06T12:53:00.002-05:00

Chinquapin Rec Centers 25th Anniversary was a good time. Jessica our guide manager and Amanda our sales and service manager enjoyed a fun day in Northern Virginia sharing with the local Alexandria community information about River Riders and all we have to offer.

The Mayor of Alexandria was on hand to congratulate Chinquapin on it's years of serving the community.
In the afternoon we offered an orienteering course for guests to try out on Chinquapins Nature Trail area.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and spent some time with us.
We look forward to a great new season in 2011' working with Alexandria Parks and Rec!

Shepherdstown and Charles Town Christmas Parades 2010'

2010-12-06T11:39:00.003-05:00

This past weekend we had a blast joining in on all of the excitement in our own backyard. The annual Holiday Parades were so much fun. We are thrilled to be able to go out and visit in our own community.

Anita our trip coordinator pops out to say Happy Christmas to all!
While Laura our go to gal and Wendy our Admin precede the bus as is rolls down German St. in Shepherdstown, WV.

Our Outdoor Adventure Camp kids, Kaitlyn, Sam, Alijah, and Sarah are joined by Maintainance Manager Tony for a rafting ride on top! Our roll through Ranson and Charles Town was headed by our fearless leader Matt!

River Riders at Chinquapin Rec Center Saturday Dec 4th

2010-12-02T15:35:00.003-05:00

Join River Riders this Saturday December 4th as we head out to Alexandria VA and Chinquapin Rec Centers 25th Anniversary Celebration. We will have a booth set up to share information on all we have to offer...including Outdoor adventure Camp, Team Building, Tubing, Rafting and more!
We will also be running an orienteering course. This is an exciting activity for individuals and families and an all ages activity. Come out and visit us. The celebration is from Noon until 5pm.

Journey Back Fall Gala

2010-12-02T13:29:00.005-05:00

River Riders recently attended the Annual Journey Back Fall Gala held in Harpers Ferry in Mid-November . The gala's mission is the preserve, protect, and celebrate the regions rich history.

The Gala showcased some of the best that our local businesses have to offer. River Riders had a table set up to share our offerings with attendees.

Anita has a blast sharing information about River Riders and meeting other local business owners and mingling. Her favorite was this little guy...looks like he's going to be a future Outdoor Adventure Camper!

2010-11-28T21:17:00.000-05:00

http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?chs=200x200&cht=qr&chl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.riverriders.com

2010-11-28T21:15:00.002-05:00

http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?chs=200x200&cht=qr&chl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.riverriders.com

QR code for River Riders website

2010-11-28T21:12:00.002-05:00

Give Kids The World

2010-11-22T12:37:00.002-05:00

Give Kids The World is a non-profit organization that brings kids with life theatning illnesses and their families to Orlando who wish to visit Central Florida's best loved theme parks.

River Riders participated in their annual 5k run on the grounds of their brightly colored fairytale themed village. A great way to start the day and fun way to help a wonderful organization! We commend them on their efforts and thank them for letting us help with their mission!

IAAPA Orlando - The future is here!

2010-11-22T12:01:00.004-05:00

The Annual IAAPA Attractions Expo was held this past week in Orlando and River Riders was there to partake in all of the excitement!

This conference was a wealth of information. We participated in seminars and roundtables, gaining valuable knowledge. The industry is always changing and River Riders is changing right along with it...the future is here. River Riders is expanding. We can't wait to continue with current projects and begin new and exciting ones. Check back with us to see what we have in store for you!

Top Ten Raft Guides of the 2010 Season

2010-10-21T14:35:00.005-04:00

River Riders is proud to announce
The Top Ten Raft Guides of the 2010 Season!

These Guides were chosen based on quality of service, teamwork, professionalism, and their sense of community. They showed a desire to learn new skills and to be a role model for newer guides.

We want to congratulate them on a job well done!

Zach Philpott

Nick Bonneau

Chris Goddell

Mike Mayo

Albert Rubio

Stacie Farmer

Keith Bropst

Matt Hardester

Matt Polonchek

Mike Polonchek

Freedom's Run

2010-10-02T19:45:00.006-04:00

River Riders enjoyed a wonderful day in Shepherdstown, WV. today as a sponsor of Freedom's Run. Freedom's Run is the largest running event in the state of West Virginia.

Starting first thing this morning we filled River Riders buses with Marathon runners heading to the start. Throughout the day we shuttled runners including, 5k, 10k, and fun runners to and from each race location.

We enjoyed spending the day at the sponsor location at The Bavarian Inn where the runners gathered after the race to relax and savor the day. We had many visitors stop by our booth to say HI and gather information on all that River Riders has to offer.

River Riders had 12 team members running the race as well. With a great finish by both Ed and Keith, finishing 2nd and 3rd in their division in the 5K...way to go guys!!!

Spring water levels have returned !!

2010-09-30T11:46:00.004-04:00

Join River Riders in a late season white water raft or duckie trip and enjoy Spring-like water levels! Recent rains afford us this special treat. Don't miss out on getting out on the water this year. River Riders has trips departing daily in both the morning and the afternoon... Join us!

Remembering Stacie Farmer

2010-09-24T15:39:00.009-04:00

Stacie spent this past Spring and Summer here at River Riders as a river guide and camp counselor. Her work and dedication with Outdoor Adventure Camp was well received and appreciated by both her campers and her co workers. In fact so well received that Stacie was recently promoted to Camp Director. This was quite an accomplishment for her first year with Outdoor Adventure Camp.

Stacie Farmer will be remembered for her friendship, Adventurous Spirit and love of the outdoors.

She will truly be missed.

~Do the things you’ve always wanted to do. Let people know exactly what they mean to you. Take risks. Explore. Quit anything that makes you feel unhappy or empty. Have fresh experiences. Redefine your limits. Expand your horizons. Challenge yourself. Respect your potential. Never settle.~

September Special

2010-09-22T14:24:00.003-04:00

September Special: Pedal/Paddle Camping Package
September is the perfect time to get outdoors. Why not enjoy a wonderful couple of days in Scenic West Virginia. Our Pedal/Paddle package starts with a 1/2 day Canoe trip down the beautiful Potomac River. Your Flat Water canoe trip ends at River Riders' own waterfront campground where you trade your canoe for a bike and hit the road towards the historic district of Harpers Ferry. Peddle around this quaint village before heading back to the campground. Later, set up your tent at the Campground for the evening. All of our campsites are primitive and enjoy deep water access.

Not into camping?
Check out our Pedal/Paddle Hotel package option.
Enjoy the same great canoe and bike(Pedal/Paddle Package)outing with River Riders and enjoy a restful night's stay at one of our partner hotels. All for a great low price.
*Pedal/Paddle can be divided into two days for a more relaxed stay.

Check out our Specials page for more information on this trip as well as other great River Riders offers!

Avoid Hurricane Earl...Come to the Mountains

2010-09-03T08:31:00.004-04:00

Hurricane Earl is battering the East and heading north along the coastline from North Carolina towards New England. Get out of Earl's path... River Riders has just what you need for this Labor Day Weekend. With NO rain in the forecast and water to enjoy.... your weekend in the sun is right here!

Swift Water Rescue Training 2010'

2010-06-30T14:53:00.002-04:00

BIG news here at River Riders!!!

We have been working hard improving our swift water rescue skills and our already high standard of care. River Riders now has a total of 18 guides certified in Swift Water Rescue including 6 that are also certified in Swift Water Rescue Training Intruction!!!

Our guides have got the skills!!!

Father's Day Special

2010-06-16T11:20:00.003-04:00

Come celebrate Father's Day with River Riders on Sunday, June 20th!!! Dads go 1/2 price with a full paying adult on our WhiteWater rafting trips. Call to reserve your trip today!

800-326-RAFT

Harpers Ferry Outdoor Festival

2010-06-16T10:59:00.003-04:00

It's a great weekend to book a trip with River Riders. Temperatures are going to be in the upper 90's, which means that it is time to be out on the river!!!

Harpers Ferry Outdoor Festival

After your trip, head on over to the KOA, located within 1 mile of our outfitter, for the Harpers Ferry Outdoor Festival. Activities start at Noon at the Harpers Ferry KOA campground. LOTS OF KID FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES! Live Music from Noon ’til 10pm. Plenty of Good Food, have a bite to eat while you listen to live music, vegetarian friendly!!!!! Huge Silent Auction - Bid on hundreds of items from Kokatat, Teva,Confluence Watersports, IR, and many more! See the Sponsors page to see who has provided stuff to bid on. Camping - Discounted rates (20% off) for race participants and fest goers at the KOA. Just call 304-535-6895 & tell ‘em you need to camp for the festival - cabin, tent, and RV sites (with hookup) are available.

Amatuer Raft Race

The 3nd Annual Harpers Ferry Cup Amateur Raft Race @ 10:00am. Teams of 4 computer matched with a Shenandoah River guide, vying for the coveted Harpers Ferry Cup, and bragging rights! Please pre-register with us as soon as possibe since space is limited, so please don’t delay! The price per racer is only $75.50 per person and up to 4 people per team is required **NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! Does your team have what it takes?!?! Price includes: Professional Guide ACA Racer Insurance Shuttle: To and from the river Race Gear: Life Jacket, helmet, paddle, and race bib, Entry to the Harpers Ferry Outdoor Festival that afternoon, 2010 Festival T-shirt, Dinner at the Festival, 20% off camping at the KOA, and a chance to compete for the Second Annual Harpers Ferry Cup

Call 800-326-RAFT to register today!

Tim Gavin Downriver Race

2010 Outdoor Adventure Camp

2010-05-21T12:03:00.003-04:00

We are currently accepting applications for our 2010 Outdoor Adventure Camp!

Outdoor Adventure Camp is a family-owned and operated day camp based in beautiful, history rich Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The camp will give your children amazing weeks that they’ll never forget! The weeks are fun and educational. Goals for your child include: increased confidence, learning, building character, sense of accomplishment, fun, and friendship.On Adventure weeks, children will have the opportunity to participate in all of the activities that we offer at River Riders. On Specialty weeks, children will have the options of Adventure Road Trip, Kayak Intensive, Junior Guide, and Outdoor Living Skills. Certain weeks have an overnight option, as well as trips to the New River Gorge National Park, the Youghiogheny River, and the Maryland Science Center.

Memorial Day Weekend Tubing!

2010-05-21T11:34:00.001-04:00

It's almost Memorial Day Weekend! The weather has been warming up which means tubing season has arrived!!! Be sure to reserve a tubing trip along the Shenandoah and/or Potomac Rivers for May 29th or 30th.

Remember, pre-season 2010 Tubing Season Gold Passes are still available.
http://www.riverriders.com/RRMain.asp?Option=Detail&Activity=Tubing&TripID=28

2010-05-13T15:15:00.001-04:00

This seasons Sales Reps are looking incredible! They have been training to be the best and so far its working! Good Job you all!

National Bike Month Special

2010-05-11T15:33:00.001-04:00

Celebrate National Bike month with a special guided half day bicycle trip and cookout with River Riders. An experienced guide will accompany you as you bike 14 miles along the scenic C & O Canal, one of America’s great bike routes and a national park and end at River Riders Potomac river waterfront location. After your ride you’ll head back to River Riders in time for a hamburger and hotdog afternoon cookout.
$60.00 per person
Check in 8:30am
Trip departs at 9:30 am
*Minimum of 4 guests required for trip to go
As an addition to this trip you can add a night of camping for only $10.00 (*up to a family of 4 per site) at our primitive Potomac waterfront campground.

Armed Forces Day

2010-05-11T15:29:00.001-04:00

In appreciation to our military service personal we are offering half price rafting for active duty military members and their families on Armed Forces Day May 15, 2010. This trip incorporates 7 miles of beginner to intermediate (class I-III) rapids, complete with a guide. Treat your military family member to River Riders PT with an exciting day of rafting.

• Active duty military members and families with valid military ID.
• Trips depart at 10am and 2pm
• Cannot be combined with package.

2010-05-11T12:38:00.003-04:00

Hey Everyone! last week we ventured the North Branch and it was awesome! The wind didn't damper anyone's spirits and there were long stretches of white water as well as a bit of flat water to make our trip have a nice variety. we also had some daredevils that went cliff jumping! Come on out May 22-23rd for the last Dam Release of the Spring it will be a fun experience!!! Also visit our website to see our pictures!

http://www.riverriders.com/raftphotos.htm

2010 Season Trainees!!

2010-05-06T17:14:00.001-04:00

Our 2010 Season Trainees are looking amazing! They are coming from all over to have an incredible experience with us!

2010-05-06T17:12:00.001-04:00

North Branch Rafting Trip May 8th and 9th at Noon.Ready to pass the Shenandoah on our patented River Riders Fun-o-Meter? Then join us on a raft trip down the renowned North Branch of the Potomac River. The high water volumes and steeper gradient of the North Branch create waves up to 6 ft. high, and continuous cla...ss... II to III+ action keeps your heart pounding and your raft moving. Brief sections of calm water between rapids allow relaxing, swimming, and cliff jumping.A North Branch Trip package with a C&O Canal biking tour in scenic Cumberland, MD and tent camping is available or upgrade to a rustic cabin.

We Want to Hear From You!

2010-05-06T17:10:00.001-04:00

hey fans! we would love to hear about your trip and the experience you had with us on YELP and Trip Adviser!!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/river-riders-inc-harpers-ferry

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60722-d1382428-Reviews-River_Riders-Harpers_Ferry_West_Virginia.html

It's Getting Warm Again!

2010-05-01T10:39:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone!!! The weather is starting to become warmer again so come on out to River Riders for some awesome bikes and have an adventure on the canal or enjoy an exciting time on the river with our rafting, kayaking and canoeing trips. The water temperature is still alittle chilly but the sunshine will be here to add warmth!

New Kayak Experience!

2010-05-01T10:38:00.001-04:00

River Riders is offering a unique Kayak experience. This boat allows the guide and the indiviual to be in the boat at the same time while heading down the rapids!

Brian Hazlett Throws Home Pitch!

2010-05-01T10:28:00.000-04:00

River Riders had a wonderful opportunity to be honorees of the day at Jefferson High School's home baseball game against Washington last Tuesday. Guide Manager, Brian Hazlett, threw the starting pitch, though the pitch was high and inside his presense alone wowed everyone's socks off... Good Job Brian!

Brain Hazlett Plans To Speaks For Carrer Day!

2010-05-01T10:23:00.001-04:00

Brian Hazlett will be out and about again this Monday as he travels to Berkeley Heights Middle School. Brian will give career advise to 6th graders about the exciting opportunites available in the Recreation Industry!

Earth Day River Clean Up!

2010-04-16T14:41:00.000-04:00

Because of the popularity, we've made it a 2 day event! Officially it's the 22nd, but we're taking it to the weekend. Raft the Shenandoah for 1/2 price if you float the river with us and help us scout for and pick up litter along the way. This is a great opportunity for Scout and other community civic organizations to ...incorporate their mission into a fun outing. This special trip departs at Noon!

North Branch Rafting Trip April 24th and 25th

2010-04-16T14:27:00.000-04:00

River Riders North Branch Rafting Trip April 24th and 25th at Noon.

Ready to pass the Shenandoah on our patented River Riders Fun-o-Meter? Then join us on a raft trip down the renowned North Branch of the Potomac River. The high water volumes and steeper gradient of the North Branch create waves up to 6 ft. high, and continuous cla...ss II to III+ action keeps your heart pounding and your raft moving. Brief sections of calm water between rapids allow relaxing, swimming, and cliff jumping.

A North Branch Trip package with a C&O Canal biking tour in scenic Cumberland, MD and tent camping is available or upgrade to a rustic cabin.

Our New Mascot!!

2010-04-16T14:21:00.000-04:00

River Riders has a NEW mascot...We hope his cute and loving face will surround you with happiness!!! We know his presence will inspire everyone's love of the river and encourage you to join us this season!! Look for his adorable face when you check out all things River Riders!

Gold's Gym and WV Visitor Center

2010-04-16T14:04:00.000-04:00

Hey Guys!!

Come out and visit us as we promote River Riders in the town. This Saturday April 17th we will be at Gold's Gym in Charlestown and the WV Visitor Center in Falling Waters on I-81. Stop by and see Rebecca and Sheryl and see what we have going on this season!!!

2009-09-08T18:39:00.001-04:00

North Branch Dam Release this weekend September 12 & 13

Harpers Ferry Guide Raft Race

2009-05-28T17:49:00.009-04:00

Last Thursday May 21st, 2009 - 12 raft teams gathered along the banks of the Shenandoah River to race for The Coveted Doah Cup. The level was 3.8 on the Millville gauge. ASCI was coming down in an attempt to hijack the Cup, but had to decline @ the last moment, causing quite a stir among the local teams. Our independent team from the US Coast Guard was in stealth mode, sneaking in a practice run and long time Shenenadoah guide Doug Spindle Krutsinger at the helm, they looked serious from the sign in to the finish line.At the finish line 1st though was Team Struggle from River & Trail at 37:04. This was River & Trails first ever Doah Cup victory, congratulations! 2nd was the Coast Guard in 37:55, followed closely by Team Analog from River & Trail at 37:57 There was a new rule in place this year, the bib wearer in each raft had to exit the raft as it touched shore at Potomac Wayside and run to the bottom of the big hill, hand over the bib and stop time!Thank you to CROCS for sponsoring the race, Team Struggle walks away with the new shoes!Congratulations to all of the racers, you raised $600.00 towards river conservation! Awesome job.Thanks to our local outfitters Butts, River Riders, and River & Trail for supporting the Harpers Ferry Outdoor Festival and Tim Gavin Downriver Race, Butts for hosting the after race party!Don't forget: JUNE 20TH THE SHENANDOAH RIVER WILL BE RELEASING FROM THE MILLVILLE HYDRO STATION, WE ARE EXPECTING TO HAVE 3-3.5' ON THE MILLVILLE GAUGE THAT DAY FROM 9A-3P, ALL DEPENDENT ON NATURAL FLOWS

Here is a list of the results of the 5th Annual Quest for the Coveted Doah Cup.1]Team Struggle- River and Trail 37:04Kyle GagnonAustin RussellAndy MollohanJermiah CarrollJake Rakowski2]Coast Guard- 37:55Chuck DavisErich KrueckBen DurrantDoug Spindle KrutsingerBill Rogers3] Team Analog- River and Trail 37:57Dave HubbardSam HubbardMark HillJason OneilEZ Everett RuppertChris CarmanShane Labrush4] Team Ram Rod- Butts Tubes 38:13Brendan LinggJeff IsaksonJohn KeeneyJohn MarstanWilliam "Fatman" Stubbs5] Team Catfish- River Riders 38:23Isaac KernsAlex KernsBuckwheatMeghan Williams6] Mauve Avengers- River Riders 38:49Chris GoodellCliff RylandJoe MartinGenelle BotjeTanner Haid7]Gitbox revenge, AKA Red Rockets- Butts 39:12Eric Crash VanceEric Mojo MorrisonMike Metro McCauleyKevin Tsunami TsuneishiJohn Sickenburger8]Unguided Missle- Butts 40:15Rhett ColwellRyan ColwellChris McMunnTom HaroskyBen KirkendallMichael Clevencer9]Haz Beens- River & Trail 40:39Moose Terry MilliganRobert McimteerMargaret Schill10] Team Vag- River& Trail 43:01Alyson WhitacreEmily ReeseMaddie VidmarSarah MaxleySarah Bidinger11] Lanky Pants- River Riders 53:47Nikk BonneauBen Case12] Blue Ridge Representin'Mitch Grove, Richard, Artie, Ciera Boggs, Tanya Hapgood
They were slow but set new course record with 30 beers consumed supposedly!Prepare for next years race, more independents coming into town in an attempt to hijack the Cup, will River & Trail repeat? Will ASCI show, or the Coast Guard improve slightly to take the Cup???Awesome race folks, we will see you all again next May for the paddlin' of The 6th Annual Quest for the Coveted Doah Cup!

Written by Lisa

Thanks to all the HFOF volunteers for putting on another great race!

And a special shout out to all the River Riders guides who put in a hard paddle, especially the "We paddled so hard we broke the oar" Ben Case and Nik Bonneau Team :)

The New River Adventure of the Year - High Water Road Trip

2009-05-06T18:33:00.009-04:00

Tuesday May 5th 7AM - The Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers are pretty high right now and we knew that other tributaries to the Potomac Basin would be up, too. So, we decided to head West with plans to run the North Branch of the Potomac. The subject of Stony and Abram Creeks came up, and since I was the only person on the trip that had done the Stony before, and no one had ever run Abram, we decided to take the route less traveled. Besides, none of us wanted to set shuttle all the way out on the Kitzmiller which was another hour away.
So with Matt in the captain’s seat and Ed as co-pilot, we proceeded to find where Abram Creek meets the North Branch. Amazingly, we were able to get there without any wrong turns. When the road became the equivalent of an ATV trail, Matt took a survey of everyone in the van to see if we should continue. We decided that we had enough pushing power to get us out of almost anything, so we shoved on. Along our way, we were able to road scout the majority of the creek, paying close attention to bends in the river and large trees that might be across our path. We were fairly confident that we would be able to navigate through the creek without any problem. After moving from the van to the truck and changing into our river clothes, we headed back out toward the put-in.
Rob was now behind the wheel with Ben C. riding shotgun. We finally made it back to paved road and soon realized that it was a poor decision to ride in the bed of a truck when we had an enclosed van that we could have taken, instead. Man, was it cold! We quickly warmed up by inflating boats with a hand pump, though, and off we went. Within the first quarter-mile, the creek was choked up with boulders and strainers making it impassable by raft, resulting in our first portage of the day. Luckily, it was a short one of only about 10 feet.
Catfish and Ben manned the first boat, with Rob, Anthony, and me following behind in boat #2, leaving Matt and Ed to run sweep. The creek mellowed after the first mile and by mile 4 I started to think that we should have picked the Kitzmiller or Stoney for a more exciting ride. The scenery was beautiful, though, and it gave you the feeling that you were in a truly remote area of the state. We came to a second portage of the day and we could tell by the huge amount of debris

that the recent rain had taken the water level to at least 100 feet wide in that spot. It was a cool spot to stop because we could see evidence of beavers and the trees they had chopped down.
After that, the creek’s pace picked up substantially and it was now comparable to the Savage, maybe even a little more intense. Matt and Ed took the lead at that point, followed by Fish and Ben, with my boat bringing up the rear. The river was rockin’ and rollin’ and steadily dropped. Everything was moving so fast that it was hard to keep track of the miles.
After awhile, we hit a third portage where the width of the creek was blocked by a giant evergreen tree. Beyond that, the river was littered with passable pathways that we aggressively paddled through. The R3 boat was a little heavier than the R2, so we did get stuck on a few rocks along the way. But nothing that a trio of Shenandoah guides can’t handle. Who knows rocks better than us?!?
Finally, we started to notice a few landmarks that we’d seen while setting shuttle. We thought that we would paddle under two bridges, but actually passed under four before reaching the take-out. At this point, the gradient was higher than it had been earlier making for a very speedy ending to our trip.
It was great to have an opportunity to try a new run and it was even better to have had a swim-free day. A swim on the Abrams would have probably been a pretty painful dip, so we were happy that everyone made it through safely. All in all, it was a great start to the season. And boy were we glad that we left the van at the take-out. Dry clothes and a heater were the icing on the cake of our day!
Written by Bill

The Road might be closed, but the River is wide open!

PBs Rock and Run

2009-05-06T18:22:00.005-04:00

Adam and I set up our River Riders' booth at PB's Rock and Run Festival Saturday April 25th. The weather was absolutely fabulous and everyone had a great time. There was live music, a petting farm, and lots of other offerings. Too bad we couldn't bring the river with us! WHEW!

All in all, it was a great day for a great cause!

~Kym and Adam~

RIVER RIDERS' 2 day RIVER CLEAN UP in celebration of EARTH DAY

2009-04-21T14:16:00.005-04:00

Press Release:

Harpers Ferry, WV Saturday April 18th and Sunday April 19th. River Riders launched their second annual 2 day river clean up combined with a white water rafting adventure in order to unite volunteer service and fun in celebration of Earth Day.

Each day River Riders launched two trips, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The groups were loaded up with gloves, trash bags, and plenty of room to gather any unsightly garbage along the way. In all four trips, the clean up effort brought in a total of over 16 bags of garbage from 8 1/2 miles of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, from the Millville Dam to Potomac Wayside. Ed Shelley, a Trip Leader for River Riders said “It was so refreshing to see the enthusiasm and effort everyone put into our clean-up this year! From those of us that spend our days on the river we would like to thank everyone who has helped to keep it beautiful.” from the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, stretching from Millville Dam to Wayside on the Potomac.

For additional information on other service projects or philanthropic events, please contact Kym Grove e: kym@riverriders.com p: 304-535-2663 or check out our website at http://www.riverriders.com/.

About River Riders: River Riders is a family owned and operated, licensed professional outfitter in Harpers Ferry, WV. We are committed to provide safe, affordable, quality recreation through exceptional guest service, offering white water rafting, tubing, kayaking, canoeing, biking, fishing, teambuilding, Outdoor Adventure Camp, orienteering, rock climbing, ropes course, shuttle services, and more!

River Riders at I 81 Welcome Center

2009-04-21T13:57:00.004-04:00

Because we had a beautiful day full of sunshine, there were numerous travelers visiting the I-81 South Visitor Center. Many folks were headed to the Shenandoah Valley to visit the caverns and Skyline Drive but I made sure they knew all about River Riders and what we had to offer. Several people had our raft trips confused with those in southern WV, they said they heard the waters in WV were very dangerous and were definitely out of their comfort zone. I reassured them that our trips were on the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers with Class I to III rapids...great for playful family "daycations". There were several tweens that were excited about our camp adventures and eagerly took the brochures and ran them to their parents. I was greeted with open arms by Wanda and Canza, the guest services specialists at the center. They were very friendly and willing to help promote the fact that I was there to all their guests. Overall, I had a great day and was grateful to have met many different personalities traveling through our great state of WV. ~ Sarah L. Knott

King Abdullah of Jordan visits Harpers Ferry

2009-04-21T13:44:00.003-04:00

King Abdullah II from Jordan and more than ten other diplomats visited Harpers Ferry on Saturday the 18th. The group was out for a motorcycle trip through Jefferson County and parts of Virginia. It was certainly a beautiful weekend to enjoy the country side. As residents of this great town, we are proud to have received his visit, and hope he and his fellow travelers enjoyed their stay.

Lisa Edel, owner of "The Country Cafe" in Harpers Ferry poses with her husband, several relatives, and King Abdullah of Jordan who stopped by Saturday for a visit during a bike ride

Teambuilding - Staff - Spring Event

2009-04-14T17:04:00.013-04:00

Friday April 3, 2009 ten of us traveled to our friends at For Love of Children's Outdoor Education Center. FLOC is situated on over 350 acres of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where we had the opportunity to take part in one of their many outdoor vertical challenge courses! We were lead by their outstanding facilitators, and one of our current part time outstanding staff members, Shane Hovatter (commonly known 'round here as Buckwheat) and Todd McKinney.

We began our morning with 3 activities- Sword Fight, Trust Circle, and Magic Carpet. Sword Fight was a competitive match similar to thumb wrestling, only you lock hands, stick out your index finger, and try to "sword" your opponent on the leg, without being "sworded" first! Next we circled up, and "passed" each team member around a circle of hands, while the person in the middle completely let go of his/her own balance. Lastly, we embarked on the "Magic Carpet"

challenge, where we vertically lifted each team member from lying on the floor to lying on our hands over our heads!

Next we traveled to the Climbing Wall where we were faced with the challenge to get all team members over a 16ft wall. If that doesn't sound "easy" enough, we were also given several limitations to make the task at hand even more difficult. With a little brainstorming, strategic thinking, and a lot of muscle, not only did we succeed, but were applauded by our facilitators for successfully completely a challenge which would traditionally defeat many teams.

LAST, but certainly not least, we found ourselves high about the forest floor in the canopy of the ropes course! Team members surpassed personal goals and fears, as well as supported one another in individual challenges. At the end of the day, we were all a little sore, and mildly exhausted, but walked away with a sense of accomplishment as well as new camaraderie found among the rain, mud, tree tops, and Sword Fights of our Spring Event.

A HUGE THANKS GOES OUT TO: Our friends at FLOC for hosting and facilitating our event. Angela "Mama Hen" Cogle for the "special" lunch (I owe ya big tyme). Our Office and Administrative staff for making it possible for us to leave home and take the day "out". And to everyone who came out to make the event possible: Matt, Ben, Kym, Bill, Ed, Catfish, Anthony (I need a reminder) Dumps, Gennell, Nick Fridge C., and Frinfrock.

I'm sure I can speak on behalf of each one of us when I say it was nice to sit back and be the guest for the day:) In exchange for our team building program with FLOC, we will be hosting their staff for a development program on our Shenandoah white water rafting trip. Check back after Friday May 8th for the story to come. More pictures coming soon!

Staff Welcome Back Day

2009-04-14T16:06:00.021-04:00

Each year we have an opening meeting to welcome back returning River Riders' staff. This year the opening date was set for Saturday March 28th, and each year our family gets bigger
and bigger! Our itinerary

included: catching up with friends (it's been a long 6 months away from our fellow Riders!), filling out 2009 paperwork, and reviewing new and re-fresher trainings. Our staff favorite is our customer and leadership training program called - "Give em the pickle" by Bob Farrell! Certainly a quirky name for an excellent philosophy!

In addition to the business side of things, we exercised a couple fun team building scenarios, and then kicked off our Staff Physical Fitness Program by running 2 miles, as well as other strength based challenges.
Coming in first place for the 2 mile challenge was our Bicycle Manager, Ed Shelly, finishing in a few seconds over 15 minutes! That's 7.5 minutes/mile! He certainly doesn't need a bike to make excellent enviro-friendly travel time! With over 35 staffers taking the challenge, everyone did an excellent job showing we're ready to shape up for the summer fun!

We're gearing up for the season! Are you? Be sure to ask us for "your pickle" when you visit River Riders in summer 2009! Until then, Your Friends, The Staff at River Riders

Delayed but with lots to Say

2009-04-14T15:30:00.003-04:00

Has it really been over a month since our last post?!? Shame on us! Well, don't let our delayed blogging fool you. We've been up to lots of exciting stuff, preparing for the coming season! Read on for more info!

River Riders in Timonium, MD and Shepherdstown, WV

2009-03-04T10:48:00.003-05:00

The second and third weekends in February, River Riders was well represented as we traveled to Timonium for the RV show. Alongside our long time friends, the Harper’s Ferry KOA, we greeted new faces and made new friends that we hope to see in the warmer months this season. There was great food, numerous palatial RV’s, and enthusiastic adventurers. Everyone was gearing up for another exciting summer to see where the road would take them. To all of those wandering across the country this summer, we hope you’ll find time to stop by and say hello to the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers with us!

Also on Wednesday the 18th, River Riders ventured just across the county to Shepherd University for the Recreation and Wellness Expo sponsored by the Intramural Department. Sleet, snow, and freezing rain could not stop the fitness focused Shepherd students from coming out to see us! The expo featured a fashion show of antioxidants, a firefighter relay from the volunteer fire department of Shepherdstown, and a sample of the Ab Attack class held at the Shepherd Wellness Center. It was wonderful meeting some of this summer’s up incoming first year raft guides, who eagerly filled out guide applications. We thank all of the recreation fanatics that came out to support us and our cause for wellness awareness!

WVRC fundrasing

2009-02-20T14:50:00.004-05:00

This last week a number of the River Riders crew got together to volunteer for the West Virginia Rivers Coalition annual raffle drive. The WVRC works tirelessly to promote good stewardship of WV's rivers and streams through education, research, and grassroots programs. Each year they cover their operating costs through donations and the annual raffle is a large part of that. Bill Ward, Kym Grove and I all gave some time to man the phones, making calls and asking for support. We were all impressed with the amount of support people were willing to give. Despite these tough economic times people still value the headwaters, we do all live downstream! The drawing will take place @ Cheat Fest, May 2nd, with twenty five thank you prizes to be handed out. I enjoyed my time on the phones, I even knew some of the people I called. It feels good to volunteer your time to a worthy cause, and our rivers and streams are definitly worthy!

Camp and Summer Activities Fair

2009-02-10T13:50:00.013-05:00

River Riders: On the Road Again to Dulles, VA

This weekend we made another road trip to Dulles, VA for a Camp and Summer Activities Fair at the Dulles Town Center Mall. While at the expo we had the opportunity to meet lots of families and children and chat about all the fun summer activities and camps that we're offering for our 2009 season. We did a raffle drawing to give away 2 free tubing trips, and passed out coupons a plenty!

To top off the excitement, our booth was recognized as the "Best Display" and we were rewarded with a basket full of tasty goodies!

If you would like to come see us in a town near you, we will be at the following locations:

2/13-15&2/20-22 44th Annual RV Expo Timonium, MD

3/7 Chesapeake Family Camp Fair Annapolis, MD

3/7-3/8 Camp & Summer Activities Expo Manassas, VA

4/8 Shepherd University Career Fair Shepherdstown, WV

If you would like to check out other shows, sign up for our newsletter for calendar updates or visit our website at http://www.riverriders.com/ and we will keep you up to date!

River Riders' staff: Art and Music debut

2009-02-10T12:25:00.054-05:00

What does the staff at River Riders do in their "off-time"?

At River Riders we often boast about our eclectic staff, and here's our opportunity to wave our creative paddle.
Friday February 6th was an evening abound with creative juju! An artistic collaboration of River Riders staff showcased their talent at Jumpin Java, a coffee shop in Charles Town, WV. Amanda and I displayed our creative visuals on the walls, while Rootless filled the air with funky rhythms. Rootless is a band showcasing two stellar River Riders' staff, Adam our Camp Director, and Ben our Operations Director.

So you wonder what we're up to? Well we four at River Riders are making the atmospheres beautiful and rhythms catchy until next time!

Rootless

Special thanks:

The show was a great success, and an entertaining evening for all. Amanda and I want to thank everyone who stopped by to support us, and a special thanks to Rootless for complimenting our artsy atmosphere!

Amanda and Kym

If you'd like to check out our work, it's not too late! Our collages and paintings will be on display through the month of February!

Visit Jumpin Java at: 109 W. Washington St Charles Town, WV

Expo Weekend in Dulles

2009-01-19T13:05:00.007-05:00

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I traveled to the Washington Camping RV Expo with our partners over at the Harpers Ferry KOA. The first day was a little slow and I was a bit disappointed that I did not get to meet and chat with more people. However, Saturday and Sunday overwhelmingly made up for any disappointment! I met many new faces, talked to seasoned Harpers Ferry guests, and I was able to share all the things I love about Harpers Ferry with lots of campers and their families. Working with Dale the HF KOA General Manager, and Tammy the Activities Coordinator was a ton of fun too. We shared ideas for the coming season and thought about lots of ways we can continue to combine our resources and offerings for our guests. As neighbors, we have a unique opportunity to provide great activities and accommodations for families and groups visiting Harpers Ferry, as well as providing many conveniences for our guests since our facilities are so close. Stuff like shuttles between us and other attractions throughout the area, and a path to walk between our properties. This ties in well with our continued efforts to become more GREEN! :)
Also, being at the show opened my eyes to the interesting world of camping, which I until now was not familiar with. I'm not talking about your traditional tent and woods camping, but RV camping. At the show, I met campers who are and have been traveling across the country in their RVs for years, I met new campers who were looking to venture into the world of camping, and I learned that RV camping is a thing of its own, a lifestyle and a culture of people living life one moment and one place to the next! People were so friendly and excited to share their traveling experiences. After spending the weekend at the expo, I'm ready to get on the road in my own traveling home! But for now, I'll wait, and save up, while I head back to River Riders to continue to share all the Wild and Wonderful with as many people as I can!

Buckhannon Trip

2008-04-23T15:27:00.002-04:00

We headed out "west" on April 4th to Buckhannon, WV for Bill Ward's Annual Spring Time trip. Bill's family owns a "holler" just and they always graciously allow us to stay in his Grandparent's old place. We had a great weekend. It was sunny and warm during the day and rained every night. The last couple years there had been a shortage in the rainfall category making many of these smaller volume streams hard to catch running. This year was quite the change. We got a different run in every day. Friday we caught the Middle Fork of the Tygart at bare minimum. It was a good time none the less. Everyone's run was uneventful.
Saturday we headed to Webster Springs to "Shred" the Elk. We cruised up the road to Bergoo and took several hours to get back. We happened to be there the same day as the Webster Wildwater Weekend. We hadn't planned for it, were running a little late, and missed most of the festivities. The Elk is a beautiful class II-III (IV) run. It had plenty of water on Saturday the 5th, and we all had a great time shredding. Shayne was the only swimmer, during a moment of inattention.
Sunday was the day we had all been waiting for though. The 4 mile run on the Buckhannon River down to Sago was perfect. The level was 8 feet and the weather was beautiful. The class III-IV run was a great time, and we had a few minor mishaps. This is a very unique and beautiful run in total seclusion in the heart of West Virginia. We stopped and saw the Sago Church featured so often on the news and went to the memorial for the miners that lost their lives in the collapse January 2, 2006. It was very touching.
There were about 15 of us on the trip, and everyone has been talking about it since we got back. 3 days of good paddling and a great time by all.

Lost River Trip 3/9/08

2008-03-10T10:33:00.021-04:00

It was originally planned as a trip to the Kitzmiller Section of the North Branch of the Potomac, but when we got to River Riders Sunday morning, the level was 4.2 and dropping, and we weren't really wanting to scrape down the river when it was about 25 degrees and 25 mph winds. We checked out the gauge and saw that the Lost and the South Fork of the South Branch (the Moorefield) were running so we decided to head that way. Amanda, Lauren, Melissa, Bill, Ed and I loaded up the gear and hit the road.

When we got to the put-in for the Lost, it was running although low, about 3 inches on the bridge gauge, and we decided to check it out. Bill and I had done it before and it was the first time down for everyone else.

It was cold when we started blowing up the rafts - new 12 ft self bailers that we purchased from NRS last season and wanted to try out. The weather warmed up quickly and with all the gear everyone had on, I don't think anyone got cold on the river.

The trip was a blast. Although it was a bit boney and we had alot of rocks to go around, everything went smoothly except when I fell out it the only class IV on the trip and we broached on the two rocks in the main drop. Ed and Bill and I hooked some webbing and a throwbag to it and were able to pull it off pretty easily. Ed and I then dragged the raft back up and ran it again for redemption and had a clean run. The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful. We all enjoyed getting back on the water and are looking for spring to be here soon.

Matt, Ed, Melissa, Amanda, Rob, Lauren, and Bill

2008-03-01T12:11:00.002-05:00

All of the staff River Riders have been working extra hard in the past few months on summer preparations. The boys in the shop, as you can see, have been working on finishing the upstairs area which we are planning on utilizing as an extra check in area for the summer. Ben, Ed, Bill, and Adam under the pressure of deadlines, finished the upstairs in time for inspection, which went very well. Ed has been working on finishing the counter (which looks amazing) while Ben, Bill, and Adam moved on to repairing rafts and duckies for next summer.

The girls in the office have been working hard as well. Angie, our administrative assistant, has been doing a great job working with vendors, paying bills, sending out tax information, setting up employee incentives, and working as Matt's right hand woMan!

The office girls Meredith and Rebecca, have been pounding away at their keyboards entering in important information to our database. When they aren't in front of their computers they are doing a wonderful job cleaning the retail area and getting it ready to display our new merchandise.

Lauren and Amanda are working on setting up summer programs and booking reservations for larger groups with special requests. Lauren has been doing a great job updating our website and processing summer camp applications. Amanda is working with applications for employment, promoting the company at trade shows, ordering merchandise, and developing relationships with different parks and recs in the area. Amanda is also working on getting musicians to play for us on Saturdays during the summer time.

We are all working very hard on getting everything just right for you, our guests and employee's! Here is to thoughts of warmth and the longer lasting sunshine of spring!

River Riders Christmas

2008-01-05T13:20:00.000-05:00

The holiday season is coming to an end & things around here are getting back to normal. I hope everyone had a nice, relaxing vacation this year. Winter is still here - I can tell this because it's still cold, but where's the snow? I had to travel all the way to Utah 2 weeks ago just to see some. It was great though, snowboarding for a few days! Here in Harpers Ferry it seems that we've been having some great river levels for those extreme white water enthusiasts. The Potomac was up close to 7.5 feet & the Shenandoah was around 3.3 feet this month.

River Riders had it's annual Christmas Dinner on Thursday, Dec 19th. That was a night of fun times & heartfelt sharing of memories over the past years. This past season was my first season at River Riders, but it's great to be part of such an awesome family. And that's what River Riders is - a family. Everyone is always there for each other & work just doesn't feel like work. A lot of people, once they start working at River Riders, stay here for many years - who would want to leave?

Well other than that, we're doing a lot of planning for next season at River Riders. There's going to be a lot of great things coming soon! I can't wait for the season to start up... I miss the busy summer days here as well as getting to go kayking. Well, that's it for now!

Choosing the right river trip

2007-12-16T13:31:00.000-05:00

Choosing the right river trip for you and your companions is important in making sure you have a good time on your outing. You need to plan your trip around the most timid person in your group. Trying to convince group members to take part in a trip they don't feel comfortable with can lead to a bad day for them and you.

Things to keep in mind when choosing a trip include:

1. Desire of group members

2. Age, Experience, Ability and Medical Conditions of Participants

3. Difficulty of rapids

4. Weather on the day of your trip (remember it can be different than the day you are planning or booking a trip)

5. River level (can vary depending on rainfall and time of year)

Activities can include whitewater rafting, tubing, kayaking, canoeing, and biking. Beginner level rafting trips are suitable for most people during normal weather and water levels. Intermediate and advanced level rapids are great for some people especially those desiring a challenge and thrill during their adventure.

Tubing trips can involve beginner to intermediate level rapids and/ or flat water. Tubing can sometimes be more challenging than a guided rafting trip because each participant is in their own tube versus having someone steer for them. Flat water tubing is often suitable even for young guests. Our minimum age is 4 and 30 pounds. Whitewater tubing is generally 10 to 12 years of age.

Flatwater canoe and kayak outings are also suitable for most guests who are comfortable around the water. Although participants need to keep in mind when renting equipment that they will be on their own during the outing and they will need to be able to manuver their craft on the own and may need to rescue themselves or other group member in the event of a capsize.

Biking in the C and O Canal National Park is an ever popular activity. Those who are able to competently ride a bike will find this to be a beautiful and relatively easy ride along the Potomac River. Trips range from a half day to 5 days along this 185 mile long course.

Many river users will enjoy an easier level trip and remember that wet suits are a good idea in colder air and water temperatures.

Guide Olympics Winter special

2007-02-15T19:16:00.000-05:00

Just a note, The 2007 Winter Guide Olympics went off without a hitch! Meghan the Floating Turtle and Justin the Aerial Kayaker put on quite a show indeed! After many runs they wound up finishing with the same score......pains!

OK it's 5 deg f wind chill, here is what we saw!

Outch!!!!

Compact What???

Until our next no Brain' er, see ya out there. -Simon

Snow photos

2007-02-13T19:45:00.000-05:00

Well it looks like the blizzard of '07 turned into 2 inches of snow and a bunch of ice in Harpers Ferry. We decided to take advantage of it, so we did a little ATV ridin' in the snow and rode to the river to check it out.

The Shenandoah River had a thin sheet of ice all the way accross. It was beautiful. Reminded me that summer's a ways off.

2007-02-02T19:49:00.000-05:00

Hey this is Simon,I have been working at River Riders for 6 years and I am in charge of all the things that require a Drivers License! I am also a White Water Kayaker who paddles a ton on the Potomac and Shenendoah River. I will chime in when something cool is happning, like high water or play spots and such so stay tuned. Post as many comments as you want if you need specific info. Be in touch:)

Roadtrip to Texas

2007-01-29T06:35:00.000-05:00

5 of us, including Junior, Ed, Ben, Simon, and Matt took a road trip to New Braunfels, Texas, self proclaimed tubing capital of the world, last week to check out there operations. We took one of our newly acquired E-450 bus/vans for its break-in run. We put about 3500 miles on it in 5 days. Although the 30 or so outfitters there are closed this time of year, it gave us ample opportunity to check out their bases, storage, and equipment hauling methods. About 250,000 guests tube the Guadalupe and Comal Rivers outside of San Antonio annually. This means that the outfitters must be very efficient to get the guests to and from the river in a timely manner.

Pat and Denise Gattuso of Gattuso Distributing gave us an in depth tour of the river areas and introduced us to several of the outfitters. They also graciously (and bravely) put us up in their home for two nights. We spent a whole day touring the outfitter operations and looking the their equipment. We were interested in how the outfitters haul their tubes and got lots of good ideas on how they had modified their trailers to meet their needs.

We were able to give the outfitters some details about how we ran our operations as well. We all came away from the experience feeling that we had learned some valuable details that we'll be able to put into practice this season. It worked out for Pat as well because we picked up some new items from him that we saw in his warehouse.

As a side note we drove through New Orleans on the way back and were all amazed at the devastation in the Slidell area of the City. It was worse than any of us had imagined. We saw miles and miles of homes, malls, and businesses that we severely damaged and abandoned. It was shocking to see it in person. The French Quarter seemed amazingly unscathed and businesspeople all commented on how they wished the press would give them some positive publicity because they were all open 100% for business. Vast disparities were seen among the various parishes of New Orleans.

season is near

2006-03-09T14:43:00.000-05:00

we've been working hard here at River Riders preparing for the summer season. we are in the process of hiring, so if anyone is interested please check our website out. also, we have been fine tuning our summer camp program, which can be found on the site as well. all of our summer merchandise is slowly streaming in. we have everything from t-shirts, to water socks. if you are in need of any summer gear, feel free to stop by! www.riverriders.com

snowflakes and t-shirts

2006-01-14T12:15:00.000-05:00

This past week has been absolutely gorgeous. It has been sunny in the sixties almost every day. I think we all have a taste of spring fever now, thanks mother nature! The boys all got a chance to get out on the river in their kayaks yesterday. The water has been a little bit above 12 feet, which makes for a pretty good trip.
We are beginning to get all of our new merchandise for next summer in, which makes us girls in the office very excited for things to start picking up. Yesterday we checked in our new bathing suits, swim trunks, t-shirts, cowgirl hats, and aqua socks. Today we have been working on cleaning the shop so we can work on new displays for our products. Hopefully by Monday we will have the Kayak Shack ready for spring…even if we really haven’t made it through the winter yet.

Welcome 2006

2006-01-02T13:04:00.000-05:00

So we've made it safe and sane through the holidays, although, some still might be recovering from New Years Eve. It's a bit dreary outside today, but it is not as cold as it could be, which we are thankful for. Things are pretty quite in the area in January, but if anyone is interested, we've heard that Harpers Ferry national park is offering ranger guided tours January through February at 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays. If anyone is interested there is more information on the Harpers Ferry National Park website. http://www.nps.gov/hafe/home.htm

Wintery Mix

2005-12-15T13:56:00.000-05:00

We had to post pone our Holiday lunch today due to bad weather. It was sleeting by the time we all arrived for work so we had to reschedule for next week. All day it has been switching from snow, to sleet, and back to snow again. We could look out of our office windows and see the vehicles sliding down the highway; therefore, most of us left early to avoid the potentially bad situations on the road. Although, the bad weather didn't stop Santa from making an early visit! Thanks Matt! We all really appreciate it.

Holiday Happenings

2005-12-14T16:46:00.000-05:00

Monday we sent out our very first e-mail newsletter. We are very excited to see what comes of our new endeavor. If you are interested in receiving our new newsletter, please visit our website at www.riverriders.com and sign up. We will be sending it out once a month. In this newsletter we will be reporting any sales and promotions, new offerings, and seasonal updates.

Tomorrow is our River Rider family Holiday lunch. At noon the entire off-season staff will be going out to share a food and stories from the past season. The most important part for us is the food, though, of course! Angie, the administrative assistant, and I will be bringing stockings to hang in the shop for all of us to add a little holiday cheer and color. We've all been very good this year! Hint hint, Santa!

River Riders plans for the new year

2005-12-10T12:16:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! We've had a wonderful 2005 season thanks to you! We are currently working on preperations for the 2006 season. Next summer look for a 10:30 raft trip departure time, summer camp shuttle pick ups for the surrounding area, evening kayak workshops and roll classes, and a second hand gear selection in our retail shop, The Kayak Shack. We are really excited about all the changes and additions we are making to our company, so make sure you stop by next summer to check us out!