Outdoor Education
Spring Season: April – May
Fall Season: August – October
Learning Through Connection
At Y Camp, we believe the best learning happens through meaningful connections. Our outdoor education program creates powerful opportunities for youth to:
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Connect with their peers and educators
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Connect with the natural world
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Connect hands-on outdoor experiences with classroom learning
Our outdoor science and STEM curriculum is developed by a licensed Idaho educator and aligns with state and national standards. It also integrates essential grade-level skills in math, language arts, physical education, and the arts.
Bring your class or grade level for one of our 3-day outdoor education packages—or combine two for an extended 5-day experience. Want something custom? Our program director can help design a program tailored to your students’ developmental and academic goals. Contact us today!
Activity Classes
In addition to academic, outdoor, and personal growth classes, all 3-Day programs include your choice of up to 3 Staff Facilitated Activity classes.
Academic-Focused Packages
Creatures and Critters
- Recommended for grades 3-5
- Topics Include: Scats & Tracks, Macro-Invertebrate study, Adaptations, bird and wildlife identification, Animals’ place in the ecosystem
- Your choice of up to 3 activity classes
- Your choice of up to 3 evening programs
Earth to Space
- Recommended for grades 3-8
- Investigate gravity in earth and space systems
- Observe stars and planets using telescopes and/or indoor planetarium
- Create models to investigate moon phases and seasons
- Your choice of up to 3 activity classes
- Your choice of up to 3 evening programs
Physical Science on the Challenge Course
- Recommended for grades 6-12
- Choose 3 Challenge Course elements
- Use models and measurement instruments to investigate the forces and motion involved in the challenges
Trees and Plants
- Recommended for grades 3-5
- Learn about forest ecosystems
- Examine tree rings to understand changes in weather and climate in the area
- Identify local trees and plants
- Learn historical and current uses for local plants and trees
Water Science
- Recommended for grades 3-8
- Learn about the local watershed
- Investigate aquatic ecosystems
- Learn about aquatic life
- Test water quality in a variety of locations
Outdoor Skill-Focused Packages
Safety in the Outdoors
- Recommended for grades K-3
- Focuses on fire safety, planning for food, shelter, and water, and leave no trace principles.
Navigating the Outdoors
- Recommended for grades 3-8
- Focuses on skills with map reading, compass navigation, GPS navigation, as well as a more in-depth exploration of food, shelter, and water, and leave no trace.
Thriving Outdoors
- Recommended for 5-12
- Goes beyond basic safety into advanced skills in backcountry navigation, outdoor cooking, planning multi-day outdoor excursions, and primitive and modern outdoor skills
Personal Growth-Focused Packages
Teen Success program
- Recommended for grades 6-10
- Excellent way to begin a school year and/or navigate the transition to a new school
- Topics include: maintaining mental wellness, friendship and peer conflict, time management, introductory study skills, etc.
- Includes team and personal challenges on the ropes course elements
Community Building
- Recommended for all ages
- Use teambuilding activities and challenges to develop cohesive community
Teen Leadership
- Recommended for grades 5-12
- Excellent for student leaders of all types, or those who aspire to leadership
- Special focus on development of peer leadership skills
- Uses Challenge Course activities to encourage deep discussion and problem solving strategies
Values and Character development
- Recommended for all ages
- Focuses on identifying core personal values
- Uses activities to identify important character traits for your school/group
Evening Programs
Campfire
- Led by Y Staff
- Skits
- Songs
- Games
- Fire (S’mores upon request)
Skit & Talent Night
- Skits, songs & talents by campers & teachers
- Hosted by Y Staff
- Fire (S’mores upon request)
STEM Challenge
- Teamwork challenge
- Developing engineering skills
- Incorporating Scientific understanding
Village Campfires
- Slower paced
- Small Groups (10-20 people)
- Discussion questions led by Y Staff
- Great for small group bonding and friendship
- S’mores recommended
Cookout
- Choose your own menu
- Cook over a fire
- Small Groups (10-20 people)
- Time to enjoy casual conversation around the fire
All-Camp Game
- High activity
- Outdoor Game
- Led by Y staff
Indoor Game night
- Bingo
- Trivia
- Dutch auction
- Great for rainy or cold evenings
Night Hike
- Later night activity
- Can be after another evening activity
- Explore nocturnal adaptations
- Recommended for “Critters and Creatures” program
Astronomy
- Later night activity
- Can be after another evening activity
- Use Telescopes or indoor Planetarium
- Learn about stars, planets, comets, etc.
- Recommended for “Earth to Space” program
Guest Presentation led by a local expert on topics such as:
- Forestry
- Fish & Game
- Local Native Tribe(s)
- Entomology
- Birds of Prey
- Forest Fires
- Geology
- Meteorology
- Outdoor Survival
- Storytelling
Outdoor Education at Home
If a trip to camp does not work for your school, we will bring the YMCA Outdoor Education experience to you. Our instructors will scope out a location within a short walk or easy bus ride from your school and can teach many of the same lessons you would receive at camp within your normal school day.
To book your school’s trip, please fill out the form below or contact us at:
Debi Bean (she/her)
Program Director: 301 Horsethief Rd.
Cascade, ID 83611
(P) 208 344 5502 ext 857
(E) debi.bean@ymcatvidaho.org
Reference Materials
