Blog about Kids Activities

Kim Chappell is a graduate from the Realtor Institute and is an agent with Wintergreen Resort Premier Properties, the official real estate office of Wintergreen Resort.  Kim also lists and sells property in beautiful Nelson County.  Contact Kim Chappell at kim@ExperienceNelsonCounty.com or 434-238-2430.  The Free Daily Blog is posted on both www.ExperienceNelsonCounty.com and www.ExperienceWintergreen.com

The Treehouse has programs for kids from ages 2 ½ to 12 years old and will be open daily from June 9^th-September 3^rd.  (weekends only April 7-June 3)  They offer the popular Kids in Action Program.   Children ages 6-12 can explore nature, swim, do crafts, play field games and enjoy scavenger hunts.  Saturdays in July and August have tubing trips on the James River for kids aged 8-14 years old.  The young visitors aged 2 ½ to 5 will enjoy easy nature walks, playground, games, stories and pool time.  Full day hours are 9AM-4PM and half day camps are 9AM-Noon and 1PM-4PM

Kids Play in the Snow at the Tree House

Want to teach your 3 year old how to ski?  The Wintergreen Tree House is the solution.   I have heard rave reviews from many of my clients about this program.  The kids love the program and all the special instructors. 

The Tree House is a popular year-round program at Wintergreen Resort.  The actual Tree House building is located just behind the Mountain Inn.  During Winter, the Tree House turns into a kid’s snow fun center. 

Here are just two of the snow options at the Tree House for the 08/09 Season:

Snow Play (Age 3)
Children will spend one hour in the morning and a second hour in the afternoon playing boot games in the snow, learning the parts of a ski and getting comfortable on skis. All first time three year olds will begin in the Snow Play program. Children showing proficient ski skills may advance to Mogul Monkeys.

Ridgely's Rippers (Ages 4 - 12)
Ski lessons AND indoor camp activities! A great way to spend the day with new friends who have the same skiing ability. Full day program includes lift access, up to four hours of ski lesson time, ski equipment, lunch, snacks, hot chocolate and parent/child ski time (time permitting).

Indoor activities include arts & crafts, movies, “cooking” snacks and story time.  All the Tree House activities are so popular, that I highly suggest reservations.  Call 434-325-8180 for reservations and information about the program that fits your child’s needs.  

Kids in Wintergreen & Nelson County

A lot of my blog topics come from questions from my real estate clients.  One of the questions that I receive often is, “What can my kids do after ski season ends?”  Don’t worry, there is still a lot for your kids to do in Wintergreen and Nelson County.  Some families even plan an entire Spring Break or extended Summer visit full of activities in or near the resort. 

About thirty years ago, I was a kid in Wintergreen…riding my bike on Black Rock Circle, walking from my Uncle’s house to The Mountain Inn to spend my allowance and swimming for hours at the pool.  (there was only one pool)  I learned to ski at Wintergreen, and I thought that the Summer vacation was also great.  Well, now there is an abundant list of activities to entertain kids of all ages.  I am going to post a list now, but will blog about activities over the coming weeks.

Tennis & Tennis Lessons from Wintergreen’s nationally-known program

Swimming in indoor and outdoor pools

45 holes of golf and golf lessons for all ability levels

Horseback riding and lessons for all ability levels

Hiking on marked trails

The Tree House is open year-round for crafts and adventures

The new Adventure Dome with many games, including Wii

Miniature golf at the Adventure Center

Rock climbing wall

Mountain biking on marked trails

Lake Monocan with its beach and boats

Paint ball sessions

Music and fireworks

Camping at Crabtree Falls

Fishing Nelson County’s many rivers and streams

Tubing on the James River

Day trips to many interesting sites in Charlottesville, Staunton and Waynesboro

The Blue Ridge Parkway

Farmers Markets and Apple Festivals 

And many more…

 Summer Camp Reservations

Children's Programs: Kids will love Wintergreen's state-of-the-art Treehouse children's facility, featuring programs for all age groups and a playground.

Another playground is located at Lake Monocan in the valley.

During the summer months, Camp Wintergreen programming includes Kids In Action for ages 2 1/2-12, Junior Explorer for ages 9-14; Kids Night Out for children ages 6-12, the Treehouse Athletes for children ages 6-12 and QUEST Nature Camp for children ages 6-14. The Kids in Action program is also available weekends in the spring and fall.

Kids In Action
For ages 2 1/2 through 12. Kids spend their day engaged in activities such as "Kids in the Kitchen," creative crafts, storytime, group games, and making friends. Available weekends in the spring and fall, and daily during ski season and summer.

Teen Adventure Camp
For ages 13 through 17. Challenge white water in an open canoe; climb a cliff and descend on a rope; camp out under the stars in this once a year camp. Personal growth through personal challenge...Learn and test outdoor skills on our overnight camp while having the most awesome fun of the summer!

Teen Conn-X-Tion
For ages 13 through 17. Great evening and daytime programs for teens on Easter weekend, Memorial Day weekend and every weekend mid June-Labor Day. Kids Night Out-(Ages 6-12) Parents enjoy a quiet evening out while the children have fun. Children are invited to come and party every Friday and Saturday night in July and August. Kids Night Out.
 

Treehouse Athletes
For ages 6 through 12. During the summer, children who are participating in Kids In Action may also participate in either golf or tennis on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

QUEST Nature Camp
For ages 6 through 12. QUEST (Unique Environmental Studies Training) is our exciting new weekend nature program for children.

Nature Camps:

For eight summers, I went to Nature Camp in Rockbridge County, Virginia.  (just one county over from Nelson County)  I will say that some of my favorite childhood memories were from summers at this camp.  I checked their web site, and they are still taking applications for Summer 2008.  This is a two week, overnight camp for boys and girls grades 5-12.  Their web site is:  www.NatureCamp.net  I will also say that these camp sessions helped with my Natural Science classes in high school.  Didn’t look bad on the college entry resume either.  

The Wintergreen Nature Foundation also has summer camps.  Here is the blurb from their web site, www.twnf.org:

Don't miss this year's WILD! Summer Nature Camp June 23rd - 27th 1 - 4 PM daily. New friends, crafts, games, and scientific experiments in the great outdoors will make these summer afternoons fun and exciting!

For Explorers just finishing 2nd through 5th grade. Cost: $110 TWNF members, $120 nonmembers. Space is limited so don't be slow, reserve your space today! 

Tennis Camp

Did you know that Wintergreen’s annual tennis camp is known nationally to be one of the best?  This year, the Nike Tennis Camp is June 15-20 and June 22-27 for ages 9-18yo.  There are day camps, extended day camps and overnight camp.  You can register on line at www.usssportscamps.com or call 800-645-3226.

Favorite Fishing with Kids

Both the fish hatchery and the Montebello Camping and Fishing Resort are located on Rt. 56 in Nelson County.  Rt 56 can be reached either from Rt. 151 or from the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Be alert on this winding mountain road.  The drive is worth the fun that your whole family can have in the Montebello area.  This blog is about fishing, but I will be posting about other attractions to Montebello through all of the seasons.  Montebello means “Beautiful Mountain”.  This area is one of my favorites in the entire county and worth a visit during any season.

The Montebello State Fish Hatchery

I will admit that this is one of my favorites because my grandfather used to take me to the Montebello fish hatchery when I was a kid.  It is a memory that sticks with me, and I often stop by the hatchery when in Montebello.  It is fun (even for adults) to see the fish at each stage of their growth.  The fish hatchery is managed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fishery.  Additional information can be found at www.stateparks.com/montebello.  Although it is the smallest hatchery managed by this department, it gets the most public visitors.  (remember…”Beautiful Mountain”)

Trout are reared in 33 outdoor raceways with water from on-site springs and also nearby Mill Creek.  Trout raised are brook, rainbow and brown trout.

Parking is free and there is a picnic shelter with tables.  Although the hatchery does not have a full time “visitor’s center” staff are always available to answer questions.  The hatchery is open daily from 8:30AM-3:30PM.  For information, call 540-377-2418.

Fishing with Kids in Montebello, VA

After you stop by and tour the hatchery, go by the fishing pond at the Montebello Camping and Fishing Resort.  (www.montebellova.com)  I am going to blog on camping in Nelson County later in the Spring, but check out the Montebello Camping web site.  This resort has fee fishing—or you keep everything that you catch and then pay for the fish by the pound.  All of their ponds are stocked with rainbow trout between 12-15 inches long.  This is a great way for a beginner to start with fishing.  All of the fishing gear that you will need can be purchased across the street at the Montebello country store.  (The country store is also well worth a visit)  The ponds are open the same hours as the country store.  (Since this is private property, no state license is required)