CLOVER, Va., Jan. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Parents, teachers, and children in the mid-Atlantic region have exciting new options for summer camp and field trips in Virginia. Guided Discoveries, Inc., a California-based educational non-profit organization, announced today that it has acquired a 400-acre educational adventure center in Clover, Virginia and is redeveloping the site.

The facility, which is the current home of Camp Motorsport, will be the new home of AstroCamp Virginia, a unique outdoor science program that provides an exciting, hands-on educational experience for 4th through 12th grade students.

Guided Discoveries acquired the Camp Motorsport property from Harvey Siegel, former owner of Virginia International Raceway, earlier in 2016 and facility improvements are currently underway.

Similar to its AstroCamp program in Idyllwild, California, Guided Discoveries' AstroCamp Virginia will offer both school programs and summer camps. Guided Discoveries will offer its first series of three- and five-day school programs in spring 2017, followed by residential summer camps later in summer 2017.

While AstroCamp Virginia will be the flagship program for Guided Discoveries' Virginia facility, the organization will also operate a revamped version of the motorsports program at the location, as well as other expanded camp programs in the future.

"We are so excited for this opportunity to bring our unique, fun educational programs to kids in Virginia and throughout the east coast," said Craig Dietz Turner, Guided Discoveries' director of administration, research, and development. "Guided Discoveries really gives kids a hands-on opportunity to learn who they are, learn about our world, and experience new things."

Since its founding in 1979, more than 1.5 million students have attended Guided Discoveries' school programs and summer camps in southern California, where the organization also runs Catalina Sea Camp at its Catalina Island Marine Institute. Guided Discoveries currently serves about 55,000 students annually through its California programs.

"We started Guided Discoveries because we realized that STEM education is critically important for students, but it also needs to be engaging," said Ross Turner, Guided Discoveries' president, CEO and co-founder. "We take science and turn it into a hands-on, tactile, educational adventure that is really fun for students and teachers, and the kids just love it."

About Guided Discoveries

Guided Discoveries is an educational non-profit that has been offering specialized school programs and summer camps in Southern California since 1979. Founded by schoolteachers Ross and Kristi Turner, who saw a need for extracurricular science-related educational opportunities, Guided Discoveries' programs include AstroCamp and Catalina Sea Camp in California, as well as AstroCamp Virginia and Camp Motorsport in Clover, Virginia. Its programs are accredited by the American Camp Association and have served more than 1.5 million students. Learn more at http://www.astrocampva.com.

About Madison+Main

Madison+Main is an award-winning brand communications firm and, simply put, we believe that Bold Brands Win. Clients include the Better Business Bureau, CowanGates, Cudas, Dale Carnegie Training, The Dragas Companies, FC Richmond, Guided Discoveries, Lightning Protection Institute, Marketplace Events, Mavalério, The National MS Society, New Kent Winery, Richmond International Raceway, Swift Creek Mill Theatre, Swaders Sports Park, Synalloy, Virginia's Office of the Attorney General, Virginia Energy Sense, Yard Works, and many others. The firm is based in Richmond, Virginia, with an additional office in Blacksburg, Virginia. Learn more at madisonmain.com. 

SOURCE Guided Discoveries, Inc.