School break is upon us, and summer plans are in full swing. Discover cool things for young adults to do this summer at Virginia State Parks. Here are a few fun ideas for teenagers, ages 13 to 18, in this three-part series. Be sure to check out the other two blog articles for tweens and younger kids, coming soon. 

1. Rent a stand-up paddleboard (SUP).

Stand-up paddleboarding at Lake Anna State Park

Stand-up paddleboarding offers a unique flat water paddling adventure. This easy-to-learn, core-muscles-building experience is a fun way to explore lakes, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Many Virginia State Parks provide boat rentals, including SUPs, or you can bring your own. 

Find a SUP rental by clicking here, and don’t forget to sign up and log your paddle adventures in the Wandering Waters Paddle Quest program. 

2. Take a shot at archery

Basic archery at Bear Creek Lake State Park

 

Archery can be a fun and useful skill, and summertime is a great time to learn. Bear Creek Lake, Widewater and Staunton River state parks offer programs throughout the summer to help safely develop those skills. Target ranges can be found at Bear Creek Lake, with equipment rentals if needed, and Occoneechee, for visitors with their own equipment. 

Click here to find an archery event. 

3. Explore a park after dark. 

Night sky at Natural Bridge State Park

Virginia State Parks feature a great lineup of ranger-led nighttime activities for those night owls with energy to burn. Join a moonlit hike, such as Twilight Trek at York River State Park, Twilight Hikes at Sky Meadows State Park, Park After Dark: Night Hike at Natural Bridge State Park and False Cape After Dark. Learn about the mysterious owls in an Owl Prowl at Douthat State Park or enjoy a Movie Under the Stars at Staunton River State Park. The fun doesn’t have to end when the sun goes down. Book a campsite, cabin or yurt and extend your stay. 

4. Go on a caving adventure.

Inside a cave at Natural Tunnel State Park

Be prepared to get dirty as you learn what makes cave ecosystems so delicate and special in this unique underground adventure. In both the Lone Ash Cave Adventures at New River Trail State Park and the Wild Cave Tours: Bolling Cave at Natural Tunnel State Park, participants must be at least 10 years old, wear appropriate clothing and footwear and use provided gear. Registration and fees are required and space is limited. 

5. Channel your inner artist. 

A nature journal at Machicomoco State Park

Art and nature go hand-in-hand, and summer often provides many opportunities to try your hand at creating a masterpiece. Build a Batteau at James River State Park allows you to learn about this historically significant boat while crafting your mini model. Repurpose a glass bottle at Upcycling – Paint Your Own Vase at Staunton River State Park. Or simply pack a sketchbook or nature journal during a visit to one of Virginia’s state parks and let those creative juices flow. 

6. Go mountain biking. 

Mountain biking at Pocahontas State Park

More than 55 miles of biking and mountain biking trails make Virginia State Parks ideal for bikers of all skill levels. This outdoor sport is especially popular at Pocahontas State Park, with more than 44 miles of directional mountain bike trails, including traditional single-track, machine-built flow and hand-cycle friendly trails.  

For an organized ride, check out programs like Bike Meet-up events at New River Trail State Park and Nighttime Adventure: Explore High Bridge Trail Under the Moon. Want more of a challenge? Virginia State Parks Adventure Series offers several bike races in its lineup of events.  

For biking information at Virginia State Parks, with descriptions of challenging, moderate and easy trails, go to www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/biking. 

7. Learn survival skills. 

Campfire at Claytor Lake State Park

Fun and practical skills for older kids to learn are the steps to take in an outdoor emergency situation. Several parks hold ranger-led programs to help hone these life-saving skills.  

Check out Poisonous and Palatable at Machicomoco State Park on June 13, Summer Wild Edible Plants: Advanced Survival Training at Sky Meadows State Park on June 14, Survival 101 – Fire Starting at Claytor Lake State Park on June 27, as well as Survival Skills Basics and Outdoor Survival School at Hungry Mother State Park and Survival Bracelets programs at Claytor Lake and Hungry Mother. 

8. Try bouldering. 

Bouldering at Grayson Highlands State Park 

Grayson Highlands State Park’s geology, which is unique in the Southeast, makes it well-suited to bouldering for climbers of all skill levels. On the park’s mountainous slopes are four main boulder fields and three smaller fields with more than 700 named climbing routes, also known as problems.  

Climbing is inherently dangerous; all safety precautions should be taken. Visit the contact station or office to register as a climber in case of an emergency. The park has crash pads for rent and sells chalk, chalk bags and the Grayson Highlands Bouldering Guidebook. 

For more information about the bouldering opportunities at Grayson Highlands, visit the Mountain Project. 

9. Play disc golf. 

Disc golf at Natural Bridge State Park

Playing disc golf is a fun way to explore a park, and two of Virginia's state parks provide courses designed for all skill levels. Learn more about these recreation opportunities offered at Staunton River State Park and Natural Bridge State Park in our blog post, “Where to play disc golf at Virginia State Parks.” 

10. Swim at the beach. 

Beach volleyball at Smith Mountain Lake State Park

Whether you choose to lounge on the sand or play volleyball in it, cooling off in the water afterwards at one of Virginia State Parks’ swimming beaches is a great way to enjoy summer. Between the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, guarded beach swimming is available for a fee within the designated areas. Swimming opportunities can be found at smaller lakes, like Holliday Lake, and larger lakes, such as Claytor Lake. Swimmers can also swim at their own risk in the Chesapeake Bay at First Landing and Kiptopeke state parks, where guarded swimming is unavailable.  

Click here to search for swimming at Virginia State Parks. 

What else can they do? 

Volunteering can be cool too! Discover volunteer opportunities here. Visit the events webpage to find more fun events for your teen and the whole family. Make a trip of it by staying a few nights in a campground, yurt or cabin. Learn more about overnight lodging here.