Country Roads Tour 2025: A Weekend of Connection and Adventure

First Ascent member Michael Oliverio won the Biggest Fish award during CRT 2025.

During a fly-fishing class led by Eastern Panhandle Coordinator Travis Hines, two Ascend members celebrate catching their first fish on a fly rod. Meanwhile, under the shade of a tree on the back lawn, a group of members try their hand at weaving for the first time, some swapping memories of watching their grandmothers crochet and knit. In the distance, riders from the mountain biking lesson zip past, adding to the peaceful yet vibrant energy of the first morning of Ascend’s annual Country Roads Tour: an action-packed weekend that brought together members of Ascend, First Ascent, Teachers Ascend, and Vantage Ventures.

Now in its fourth year, the event just keeps getting bigger and better. This year’s gathering at Canaan Valley Resort State Park featured everything from beekeeping and horseback riding to clay shooting and scenic hikes. And the theme of the weekend seemed to be just say yes—to new experiences, new friendships, and new ways of enjoying the beauty of West Virginia together, as part of the growing Ascend family.

More than 150 members and guests made the scenic drive to Canaan Valley Resort on Thursday evening, kicking off the weekend with a welcome reception and a lively board game night. By morning, with itineraries in hand, they were ready to dive into a weekend full of shared outdoor adventures.

See the photos here.

For many members, the magic of the weekend was in the mix of the place and the people.

“What I enjoyed most about the Country Roads Tour was being able to experience a new and beautiful place with friends old and new,” said Eastern Panhandle member Cara Conover. “Experiencing activities like horseback riding and falconry for the first time made the weekend very memorable and enjoyable.”

After a day of activities, Ascend members gathered Friday evening for a picnic and live music by a local band. As the sun dipped behind the mountains, they chatted with each other and mingled with locals enjoying the show. Even after the picnic wrapped up, some members weren’t quite ready to return to their cozy rooms at the lodge just yet. Instead, they made their way to the lawn for a glowing bonfire and joined in the obligatory singalong of—what else—“Country Roads.”

“Someone said, ‘Call everyone over,’”  Greenbrier Valley Coordinator Callie Isenberg recalled. “I said, ‘If you sing it, they will come!’”

On Saturday evening, guests gathered for the annual banquet, where Ascend Director Emily Huguenin and Danny Twilley, Assistant Vice President of Economic, Community, and Asset Development for the Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative, spoke about the many ways Ascend continues to carry out its mission. ( See the slideshow here.) One clear example: The Country Roads Tour itself, and the many Mountain State connections that were formed at the Canaan Valley Resort.

“I was just sitting outside on the deck and was invited into conversation with complete strangers,” Emma Crow-Willard, who moved to Morgantown from Colorado. “CRT establishes the type of open and friendly environment that enables new connections to blossom.”

Something else that blossomed that weekend: Emma’s weaving skills. She received the Van Gogh Art Award during our Sunday morning superlatives presentation. It was a fun nod to her standout first attempt on the loom during the Natural Art class, and a great example of the unexpected joys that members often uncover during the Country Roads Tour.