Salamander Middleburg Group Activities Brochure

Meetings with Meaning

Unique Meeting Spaces

Create the perfect itinerary of activities around our Forbes Five-Star resort to help your group improve teamwork, maximize potential and grow as individuals. Ready, set…go!

–Sheila Johnson Founder & CEO, Salamander Hotels & Resorts

Indoor

From the 5,000-square-foot Middleburg Ballroom to the intimate setting of the Marshall Boardroom, Salamander Resort & Spa has spacious beautiful indoor event and meetings facilities, much of which opens to outdoor terraces. Unique indoor settings include the Aldie room, located in the resort’s world-class Equestrian Center and the Stallion Barn which is a 100+ year old stone building adjacent to the Grand Lawn which may be reserved by groups for private events.

Outdoor

Our outdoor spaces have been purpose-designed to accommodate groups including the 110,000-squarefoot Grand Lawn, an ideal venue for outdoor dining and social functions. The 7,000-square-foot stone and grass terrace extending from the Middleburg Ballroom’s foyer provides spectacular views of the equestrian center, culinary gardens and the mountains. Ideal for receptions and cocktail parties, it is a wonderful setting for a breakfast gathering in Spring-Summer-Fall.

Surrounded by acres of meadows and fields, there are a wealth of outdoor venue options that our Virginia event team is pleased to review with you for your group activities and team building adventures.

EMERGE Program

Golf

Salamander Resort & Spa offers unparalleled golf experiences at four highly acclaimed courses in the region: Creighton Farms Golf Club, Evergreen Country Club, Bull Run Golf Club and Raspberry Falls Golf & Hunt Club. Located less than 30 minutes away

Spa

Relax and renew with our holistic and result-driven therapies, perfectly suited for all guests. Salamander Spa offers a unique health and wellness journey tailored to your groups specific well-being needs. Our luxurious, nature-inspired Forbes Five-Star spa location seamlessly balances both your mind and body through spectacular spatial offerings including stunning aromatic steam rooms, luxurious changing areas, sun-lit relaxation spaces, a remarkable couple’s suite, and a secluded spa courtyard with elegant infinity-edge pool and seasonal cabanas.

Empower Adventures

Treetop Zip Tour

When your group takes a step off the platform and zip through the tree top canopy, it will be an experience they will truly never forget. Gliding from tree to tree, they’ll traverse five different zip lines (from 270 feet to 670 feet long) and two suspension sky bridges (70 feet and 90 feet long). The course spans 20 acres and is over a half mile long.

SOAR Package

For a truly unique team building and bonding session, combine our exciting Treetop Zip Tour with our powerful Emerge program.

Providing a challenging yet uplifting team bonding experience is what EMERGE is all about. With all “Teaming Up” activities based on the ground, this interactive process allows teams to explore how they organize and communicate their goals, roles, interactions and planning processes. additionally, these initiatives invite teams to think creatively to solve problems and challenges. It is this process and these lessons learned that provide the “Aha!” moments--many times during the debrief which follows each of the ground-based challenges. The “Teaming Up” activities are on the ground and considered “challenge by choice” in that participants can opt out of anything that is outside their physical abilities.

Rappelling

Feeling extreme? Try our rappelling adventures on for size! This guided experience teaches guests how to rappel down distances of 30 feet to 50 feet! Available as an add-on to the Treetop Zip Tour or as a stand-alone adventure.

Survival Deluxe

A completely unique experience. This venture will truly get your hands dirty as your team learns critical survival skills such as compass navigation, shelter building, snare trapping, and water filtration. 2 hours in the beauty of the wilderness with nothing but a few basic supplies and one goal: Survive. Does your team have what it takes?

Zip & Sip Deluxe

Following the Treetop Zip Tour, Empower will provide celebratory beverages for your group debrief upon conclusion of your experience. Choose from an assortment of beer, wine and house-made seasonal beverages.

Adventure Trifecta

Experience our most popular adventures in one day with this Deluxe package. You’ll enjoy the thrill of the Treetop Zip Tour, the introduction to rappelling and then hit the ground to experience the Intro to Survival excursion. Ideal for our outdoor enthusiasts with a love of eco-adventures.

Tribal Challenge

Our most audacious offering ever!! For high-functioning teams that are looking to be challenged, this all-encompassing challenge will test your team in every way possible combining elements of EMERGE, Survival, and scavenger hunt-style clue finding. Can your team overcome the odds and be crowned the Tribal Champion? Lay it all on the line and find out what you’re made of.

Equestrian Experiences

All Trails Lead Here

A rider’s paradise and easy introduction for beginners — the equestrian center is the most unique and authentic feature of the Salamander Resort & Spa. Set on 25 acres, our dedicated equestrian facility features a 14,000-square-foot stable complete with 22 stalls, 9 beautiful paddocks, an outdoor riding arena with ThorTurf footing and a classroom/meeting space. The objective of our Equestrian programs is to develop complete equestrians according to each rider’s individual goals and capabilities, while fostering a close relationship between horse and rider in a fun, nurturing environment. Choose from a wide range of programs and trail rides designed for the beginner to the experienced.

Equine Communication

An innovative personal discovery program with the goal of unveiling authentic communication, leadership and relationship style by connecting with horses. Participants gain valuable tools to carry into other aspects of their lives.This unique program partners horse and human to enlighten on the topics of leadership, authenticity, clear communication and the impact of body language & energy. Explore the world of “horse whispering” and experience an interaction like none other. 1-2 hour program depending on group size. Each participant receives a keepsake photo of their horse.

Countryside Trail Rides

Discover the natural beauty of our countryside while riding our gentle trail horses. Your guide will take you through the wooded trails for a one hour leisurely walk to explore the resort grounds and picturesque countryside.

Riding Lessons

Enjoy a private, one-hour session on one of our seasoned lesson horses. All lessons are conducted by our experienced staff and focus on balanced seat, centered riding, hunt seat on the flat, basic dressage and stock seat. Lessons may include grooming, leading, ground safety and riding

Essential Horsemanship

Whether you are new to horses or wanting to add to your equestrian skills, this program can cover anything from grooming and handling techniques to braiding, bandaging, tacking (English or Western) and everything in between. One hour in the Stable.

Cupcake the Miniature Horse

Meet the sweetest member of our team, Cupcake! Our resident miniature horse may be little in size but has big personality and is available to greet your team at a dinner event, reception or meeting. Take photos, meet & greet and bring the Equestrian theme to life with a visit from our tiny friend!

Equi-Power

This combines two powerful team activities into one –Equine Communication and Empower’s Tree Top Zip Tour. This innovative discovery program gives individuals and teams an opportunity to uncover their authentic communication, leadership and relationship style by connecting with horses and zipping through the trees. (This activity does not involve horseback riding.)

Group Tours

Countryside Trail Rides

Experience the natural beauty of Middleburg’s famed hunt country astride docile trail horses as we meander through the woods and fields at a leisurely walk. 1 hour ride Minimum of 3 weeks notice for reservation of up to 4 horses | No prior riding experience required, weight limit is 220lbs

Guided Nature Hike

Join an area naturalist and learn about the beautiful flora and fauna of the midAtlantic in every season – including fall foliage and winterwonderland. Bring your camera so you don’t miss one picture-perfect moment.

Middleburg History Walking Tour

Enjoy a historic tour of Middleburg showcasing the National Sporting Museum and Library, America’s oldest running Inn, the Jacquelyn Kennedy Pavilion and other landmarks while learning about the area’s history dating back to the 1700s.

Hike & Brew

Join a recreation team member for a 1.5 mile hike on our property to Lost Barrel Brewing! Once we reach our destination, enjoy a flight of Lost Barrel beer.

Winery Tours with Osborne Events

Enjoy guided tastings at your choice of more than 80 wineries throughout Northern Virginia’s Wine Country, a region renowned for its Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Mandolin, Merlot, Norton, Petit Verdot, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Seyval, Vidal Blanc, Traminette and Zinfandel as well as many fruit wines.

Foraging Hike

Learn from the experts at Ashby Gap Adventures how to forage for wild edibles that form the basis of our regional cuisine in the Virginia landscape. Part classroom part hands-on field experience, learn the proper foraging techniques and different recipes to create with your findings. Sample oils, vinegars, sauces, ferments and spices and take home your bounty and use what you learned to create delicious recipes at home!

Team Events

Amazing Nature Race

This competition takes advantage of Middleburg’s historic and outdoor traditions, challenging teams to flex their physical, mental and creative strengths by solving clues, discovering locations and completing contests to earn points on the quest for a victory.

Blades & Bows

Experience both archery & axe throwing for an exhilarating outdoor experience. Learn the fundamentals, marksmanship and safety of archery and learn the sport and technique of axe throwing that will help you cultivate a skill that is useful in many survival and sporting situations.

Lawn Olympics

Choose from a wide variety of lawn games to be part of your Lawn Olympics. Teams will each partake in theses game and compete for the victory! Games will be set up on the Grand Lawn. A great group activity to do during a long lunch break.

1.5 hours For groups 12 or more

Private Fitness Instruction

In addition to personal training sessions, the Fitness Center offers classes in Stressburner Yoga: An Executive Program, Zumba, Boot Camp and Pilates as well as other styles of yoga, water-based programming and nature hikes.

1 hour 10 participant minimum

Back Pack Buddies

The Recreation Department teams up with the local Backpack Buddies organization to put together food items for food insecure children in Loudoun County. The program provides weekend and holiday meal packs to help meet the nutritional needs of children when they are not in school. We program the event into a scavenger hunt to find clues to figure out what items are needed at the “grocery store” to put together the bags.

Table Top Escape

For the Table Top Escape, we would break down the group into teams of approximately 8 to 10 people. Each team would be located at one banquet table. All tables/teams would be given the same clues to solve in a similar manner as traditional “Escape Rooms”. Instead of escaping, the first team to unlock a treasure chest wins! This activity takes approximately 1 hour.

Wickets & Wine

Whether you’d like an instructional session as a planned meeting break, an organized tournament or just a causal add-on to your outdoor event, croquet is an enjoyable way to bring the team together. You can add to the fun by introducing Piedmont wine favorites to the group. Choose from 6-wicket tournament croquet, backyard 9-wicket croquet or golf croquet

What Was I Drinking?

Think you have the most keen palate in your group? Put it to the test! Relax with your team as you taste and rate wines. The winner is determined by the closest totals to the Wine Spectator ratings, but the fun really begins as you share your commentary with the team. 90 minutes

Bicycle Building

Teams will be challenged with a serious of trivia questions. Each correct answer grants a new tool or part necessary to complete children’s bicycle. After the event these bicycles will be donated to a local community or school.

Pay It Forward

This is a group service project that can result in something that will be donated to a worthy designated recipient such as a senior living or special needs living environment. The client may select the donation destination or it will be established for them by Mary Jennings. Coordination of donation delivery included. Sensory Boards are created in teams of 5 people for each board completed. This project involves some game time, some assembly with tools and pyrography. It requires 1-1.5 hours inside or outside. Room With A View is a landscape painting activity where individuals or teams create a finished painting of a beautiful landscape. 2 hours, inside. Make A Mural is a collaborative abstract painting activity that will result in a large work of art for donation.

Game Rentals

Choose from a variety of rental games like corn hole, giant Jenga, Kan Jam, lawn bowling, croquet and bocce ball to enhance your group’s reception indoors or outdoors.

Culinary Demonstrations

Opening directly into the resort’s kitchen, our Cooking Studio will give you the opportunity to interact with the chefs of Salamander Resort & Spa.

Themed Cooking Studio Experience Examples

Sushi 101

Work side-by-side with our Sushi Chef, Seuong Seo, and learn the art of hand-rolling sushi and how to select fish to best present its freshness.

Pasta Perfection

Learn the art of making pasta and say arrivederci to store bought noodles! Our chefs will walk you through all of the steps in rolling pasta, using a pasta maker, and the difference between several types of noodles and gnocchi.

Secrets of Ceviche

Dive into the world of this citrus-filled Latin American classic dish, utilizing ingredients such as bass, tuna and shellfish to make your very own, lightly cured ceviche.

Backyard BBQ Fusion

Put a new twist on your favorite backyard BBQ dishes after this class! Our chefs will show you how to incorporate ingredients from different cultures and cuisines such as Thai, Korean BBQ and Cajun.

Be Adventurous Clay Shooting

Here’s a chance to try your hand at “golf with a shotgun.” You and your team will take dead aim at sporting clay targets thrown in a variety of trajectories, angles, speeds, elevations and distances.

Trek Mountain Bike and E-Bike Rentals

Whether you’d like to hit the trails for a cardiovascular workout or guided ride or just take a leisurely cruise into the quaint village of Middleburg for an afternoon of shopping, Salamander’s bike rentals are the way to travel.

Ashby Gap Adventures

Hop in your raft, grab your paddle and navigate Class I-II+/III rapids on this seven-mile stretch of water where the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers as well as Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia come together. Kayaking and tubing also available. Half day event approximately 45 minutes away. No previous experience required

Paintball

Feel the adrenaline rush of the pursuit as you participate in one of the fastest growing sports in America. Each participant will receive a semi-automatic paintball gun, paintballs, a face shield and professional instruction for an exciting–and safe–outing.

Art Exploration

Mary Jennings holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Moore College of Art in Philadelphia, PA. and also a graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Washington, D.C. Her professional art career spans several decades and includes work as a designer, muralist and fine artist. Her work has been featured on several episodes of HGTV’s “Bed and Bath Design” and her fine art has been accepted in local and national juried exhibitions. She has lead experiences with many notable brands as well as, National Sporting Library and Museum’s Sunday Sketch program. Mary enjoys teaching art to any skill level using a variety of materials as well as incorporating her knowledge as a Master Gardener and Master Naturalist in Virginia. maryjenningsart.com Instagram: @mary.jennings.art

Drawing

Drawing art offerings include, Nature Journal (sketchbook making by using observations made in nature) and Sip and Sketch (a time to create a sketchbook with prompts provided). The materials used are paper, colored pencils and colored markers. Both offerings are best suited for an inside setting, but can be adapted to accommodate an outside setting. These activities last 1.5 hours long and result in a completed sketchbook.

Painting

Painting art offerings include, The Art of Nature (all nature inspired acrylic painting on canvas unless otherwise specified by client), Wine and Paint, Brushes and Bellinis, Color Stories (an activity that teaches how to mix favorite colors and learn the origin story behind each color). Both offerings are best suited for an inside setting. These activities last 2 hours long and will result in a finished painting on canvas using acrylic paints. Food and Beverages are not included.

Pyrography

Pyrography is basically, when the term is translated, fire writing. It is also known as wood burning. In this case, there are two ways to experience pyrography as a safe and exciting art activity. One is Painting with Fire; an activity that uses a medium that can be applied to wood or paper to create an image. When heat is applied, the image appears burnt in. Painting with Fire can be offered in an indoor or outdoor setting and may or may not need access to electricity. The second pyrography offering is Drawing with Fire; an activity using heated tools to draw on a small piece of prepared wood.

Birds of Prey Interaction

Raptor Hill falconry and wildlife sanctuary invites Salamander Resort & Spa guests to experience the world of raptors up close. The birds of prey, or raptors, are well trained ambassadors that will allow you to create lifelong memories and spark a lasting appreciation for these majestic hunters of the sky.

Ultimate Falconry

For the person who really wants a more involved experience, select this interactive encounter into the world of falconry. Incorporating falconry first hand, this takes it to the next level. With nature as our classroom, experience the thrill of partnering with a raptor! Start off in the classroom and get exposed to the equipment, field training techniques and care of these magnificent raptors. Then we take the experience outside for the thrill of a lifetime as each participant has the opportunity to have a bird of prey fly to their gloved arm. Imagine the bird dropping from 20 feet high or approaching from 100 feet away as it is called to your glove!

Raptor Walk Around

This unique interactive raptor experience will be the highlight of your event. A master falconer will stroll through with various raptors on her arm as she interacts with your guests. Bring a camera to capture your guests’ thrilling experience with birds of prey.

Varying times Excellent for groups of all sizes Optional flight demonstration available

Whether you’re achieving goals in a meeting room or surpassing your wildest expectations on a one-of-a-kind adventure, I want every member of your group to feel right at home here at Salamander.

–Sheila Johnson