Rock Climbing, Kayaking and More

Rock climbing, kayaking, caving, and instructor certification programs offered in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Piedmont of Virginia. The Outdoor Wilderness Leadership School, OWLS, was founded in 1996 in Wyoming. The school then re-located it's headquarters to Central Virginia.

In 2002 The Outdoor Wilderness Leadership School opened an Office in Bozeman, Montana to serve it's clients with Winter based educational programs. In 2006 OWLS launched is nationally acclaimed Guide Training School.

Today OWLS operates in all 50 states, Patagonia South America, and Kenya Africa. The Eastern United States is run out of the Charlottesville location with a national staff of over 45 lead and assistant instructors.

Our Promise

At OWLS, adventurers will be taught proper land ethics in order to insure protection of the federal lands. The idea of utilizing nature’s resources without impacting the environment will be the basis of all excursions, thereby maintaining the land for the benefit of all. OWLS will teach practical methods of reducing human impact on the environment while mountain biking, backpacking, camping, rock climbing, and kayaking. We are members of "Leave No Trace' and "Tread Lightly" and adhere to a strict environmental code. Our courses are conducted under AMGA, ACA, and ACCT Standards. The school also runs a "Community Give Back Program" that allows underprivileged youth to participate in OWLS programs at a low cost.