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Cheerio on the New River

Cheerio 2025 Registration Dates

Application Open For Summer 2025!!!

Nestled on 150 acres in Mouth of Wilson, VA, Cheerio on the New River is unique in that we offer a blend of onsite camp activities which fully utilize the New River and the property, while also continuing to offer off-site trip adventures.

Our goal is to expose campers to the natural beauty of the great outdoors in a challenging, fun, and memorable camp experience. We are dedicated to helping your camper build a lifetime of love for the outdoors.

Activities

The beauty of having 150 acres surrounded by a mile front on the New River, is it gives campers the opportunity to experience as much adventure as possible without having to leave the camp property!

Summer 2025 will introduce some advanced and new programming! With a combination of both traditional and adventure based activities, our team’s goal is to introduce campers to activities that they don’t usually get to do at home. Each session, the entire camp will take a trip down the New River as a group; exploring different areas, eating lunch on the river and increasing their skills (or just enjoying a dip in the rapids!).

Campers will select 10 activities and a schedule will be created for them including 8 activities. Each activity period lasts for one hour and they have 4 activities per day. They will have 4 activities on Monday and Tuesday and a different set of 4 activities on Thursday and Friday. Every cabin particaptes in a cabin time each day that acts as a 5th activity for the day.

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NEW FOR 2025 Advanced Fishing

Our Advanced Fishing Class will be limited to 6 campers (Rising 7th grade and up) per session at this time. This class will meet for 1 hour on Monday/Tuesday and for 2 hours on Thursday/Friday. Those participating in this class will also have the opportunity to take a kayak and fish during the Wednesday canoe trip!

Campers will have the opportunity to explore new fishing holes around camp, learn more about proper technique for both cast and fly fishing, learn how to tie their own fly, and other fun aspects of fishing.

We do ask that campers signing up for this class have prior experience and love for fishing, learning, and teaching others.

Please note that this will limit options for other classes.

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NEW FOR 2025 Advanced Mountain Biking

Our Advanced Mountain Biking Class will be limited to 6 campers (Rising 7th grade and up) per session at this time. This class will meet for 1 hour on Monday/Tuesday, and for 2 hours on Thursday/Friday. Our longer days will be spent exploring the gravel roads around camp, as well as the fields and trails on the back half of our property.

We ask that any campers signed up for this class be proficient in riding, changing gears, riding up and down hills, some experience on singletrack trails, and that they have the endurance to ride for a minimum of 30 minute increments.

Please note that this will limit options for other classes.

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NEW FOR 2025 Intro to Backpacking

Our Intro to Backpacking (Rising 7th grade and up) class will meet for 1 hour on Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday. This class will explore the basics of Backpacking and introduce campers to skills and techniques they can continue to build on throughout life.

Campers will learn basic land navigation (Orienteering and GPS), what to pack for a camping trip, how to pack a backpack, proper setup of a campsite, fire building 101, outdoor cooking, and basic site and trail maintenance.

Please note that this will limit options for other classes.

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Hatchet Throwing & Slingshot

Campers will get to try out two different target sports in this activity! Campers will spend one day at our slingshot range and shoot clay ammo at our range. Campers will then spend the next day at our hatchet throwing range and show off their skills!

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Outdoor Cooking

One of our newest activities offered! Campers will learn all about outdoor cooking and the safety that goes along with it. They can expect to cook different meals over an open fire, as well as learning to build fires strategically.

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Tree Climbing

Experience this very unique way of climbing! Pick from any of our 9 routes and enjoy exploring the canopy of trees on camp property. Campers can either race to the top or just enjoy a relaxing activity period hanging out in the tree!

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Arts & Crafts

This is a great activity for creative campers! Pick from various crafts offered such as clay molding, lanyards, friendship bracelets, paracord bracelets, and many more!

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Mountain Biking

Campers will get properly fitted for one of our mountain bikes to go explore camp property. They can test their skills on our pump track or spend time biking on our trails throughout the woods!

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Athletics

Enjoy various different field games in this activity. Play games from kickball, dodgeball, ultimate frisbee, disc golf, and many more! This activity is great for kids who want to spend time running around playing team games.

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Music

Campers can be of various skill levels to enjoy our music activity. Learn how to play guitar, ukulele or the keyboard. More experienced campers can practice their skills and learn new songs!

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Archery

Want to test your sharp shooting skills?! Campers will be instructed how to properly shoot a bow and arrow and practice at our archery range. There are 8 targets at varying distances.

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Neature Hikes

Campers will get to learn all about nature in this activity! Staff will lead campers around the camp property and learn how to identify plants, various wildlife/critters, and how to take care of hiking trails.

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Soccer

Campers will get to enjoy playing soccer on our field right next to the River! Campers can expect to scrimmage and play various games over the course of two days.

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Gaga & 9-Square

Enjoy one of our most popular activities! Campers will get to play both Gaga Ball and 9-Square over the course of two activity periods.

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Volleyball

Enjoy playing volleyball on our grass volleyball field! Campers will split up into two teams and play games against each other over the two activity periods.

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Boating

Choose between one of our sit-on-top kayaks or use a canoe with one or two other campers. Explore the New River and learn different paddling skills. Campers will also learn about different features in the River in relation to paddling. Paddle boards are also available for campers.

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Fly Fishing / Fishing

Campers will get to venture into the New River during this unique activity. They can pick between learning how to fly fish or use a regular casting rod. Learn different facts about the fish in the New River.

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Snorkeling

Use our snorkeling masks to explore the New River! Campers will get to walk and swim around during this activity. Lots of campers enjoy pulling treasures out of the river, while some just enjoy the cool water on a hot day!

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Evening Programs

Everyone gets to enjoy camp wide activities every night after dinner together, it is a lot of campers favorite time of their day! Some activities include Duck Hunt, (cabins search for ducks around camp to earn points), River Fest (field games and music), Twilight Activities (an open activity period), Campfire (cabins plan skits to perform for camp), Movie Night (enjoy a movie under the stars outdoors), Castle Ball (the greatest game of dodgeball ever!)

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and more!

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COMING SOON! Rock Climbing

Campers of all different skill levels can enjoy our climbing wall! Rock climbing is a great challenge by choice activity that everyone can enjoy. Campers can also climb to the top of the wall with the Pixie Stick Tower! This is a future look at what our climbing wall will look like.

Meet Our Staff

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Jim Hussey, Director

Jim Hussey joined our Cheerio family in 2004 as a Senior Counselor and Lifeguard and loved it so much that he decided to make this his career. Since his start, Jim has taken on the roles of head counselor, events director, and trip leader prior to joining Cheerio in a full-time capacity. Having worked at both of Cheerios’ locations, Jim is excited to bring knowledge and traditions from both camps to the river as we gear up for the summer!

Outside of camp, you can find Jim out hiking on local trails, riding bikes with friends, Canoeing down various rivers, hanging out with his beautiful wife, or playing with their four dogs (Louise, Graham,Trout and Goose). At camp, you will be able to find Jim working alongside staff to ensure all activities are taught in a safe, fun manner and that each child learns something along the way.

Jim and the other staff work hard to ensure that camp will always be a special place as it allows kids to disconnect from the world of social media and find a connection (and hopefully a love) with the outdoors. They want camp to provide a place where they can be their authentic selves without the fear or worry of being judged.

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Weldon Hussey, Associate Director

Weldon Hussey joined the Cheerio year-round team in May 2021 as the Marketing and Communications Director transitioning to Associate Director for Cheerio New River in 2022. Known for her passion for a good event, Weldon was in the tradeshow and event industry before coming to Cheerio. She is a graduate of Meredith College earning a degree in Communication.

Splitting their time between Mouth of Wilson, VA and her hometown roots of High Point, NC, when not at the River, you can find Weldon chasing their daughter, Millie, around, dabbling in creating tablescapes or entertaining her family and friends.

She looks forward to the exciting challenge of giving campers lifelong memories on the New River and making each camp gathering a special event!

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Eric Orcutt, Program Director

Eric Orcutt has been a long-time camper and staff member here at Cheerio. Eric grew up in High Point and has always loved working with children. Originally beginning at the Hartley YMCA as a lifeguard, he quickly became fond of spending his summers throughout college working at Cheerio. After graduating, he spent 4 years being the full-time Activity Development and Training Director at Camp Cheerio. Beginning in January 2024, Eric will be moving into a new full-time role at Cheerio on the New River! He is excited for this new adventure, and hopes to spend many more years working for Cheerio.

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Kiran Orcutt, Personnel Director

Kiran Orcutt has been a staff member here at Cheerio since 2016. She has filled many different roles, from working with our CREW campers to hiring staff as the Personnel Director. As of January 2024 she has moved to work at Cheerio on the New River as the Personnel Director! Kiran is thrilled to have the opportunity to spend more time at one of her favorite places. She cannot wait to be at the River with her husband and their dogs, helping campers and staff create wonderful memories each summer!

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Millie Hussey, Director of Cuddles

Millie Hussey is our newest staff member! She joined our team (with her parent’s Jim and Weldon) in September 2023. Millie brings to the table lots of giggles, love and cuddle time. Her love for all things fun makes this the perfect fit and is excited to see what camp has to offer!

FAQs

“May you give us the strength to climb the highest mountains, the courage to raft the wildest rivers,the ability to overcome any climb or cave. May you protect us from harm throughout all of our adventures, And Keep our mind sound, our bodies healthy, and our spirit alive! Amen” - Adventure Prayer
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Join the adventure today!

Register Here