Our
History
In 1972, Rappahannock Canoes (later Rappahannock Outdoors Educational Center) started renting aluminum canoes for trips on the Rappahannock River. After 20 years or so, Bill Micks and his Wife Denise moved their business to a beautiful wooded spot right below the Embry Dam along Fall Hill Avenue. In the mid eighties, local paddlers pitched in and built a wonderful two-story building as a gateway for enjoying the river.
In 1995 Mountain Skills was formed to bring certified river paddling instruction to the Fredericksburg area. John Garman created learning opportunities for folks going on mult-day trips in the backcountry on the Rappahannock and other rivers across the country.
In 2000, Rappahannock Outdoor Educational Center and Mountain Skills merged to become the Virginia Outdoor Center, a leader in the region for river tripping and outdoor education.
Today, the Virginia Outdoor Center (VOC) continues to provide canoe, kayak, stand up paddleboards and tube rentals along with outdoor instruction in canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing and outdoor first aid. The VOC also offers professional instructor and guide certification. In our next 50 years, the VOC looks forward to putting on another generation of outdoor enthusiasts.