Hands-On Learning in the Great Outdoors!

“Each year, I am so impressed with the dedicated, caring staff members who consistently demonstrate their patience and desire to help kids achieve success. I really feel my students excel through your program.”

- Teacher, Fountain Woods School

At YMCA of the Pines, school trips focus on education, communication, teamwork and trust. Our staff will help you design and conduct programs that meet the goals and standards of your district’s curriculum. We serve more than 12,000 students annually and offer more than 60 different programs and courses that give students an experience that complements and enhances their lessons back in the classroom.

A school trip based on our YMCA programming is built around nationally recognized lesson plans. Each outdoor education class and team-building program is designed to, in a cross-curricular approach, meet Common Core Standards. Our outdoor education courses use cooperative learning and hands-on experiences to develop an atmosphere that increases focus and retention. Pair our outdoor education classes with our team-building program, and give your students an experience that educates while developing leadership, effective communication, commitment and cooperation.

Outdoor Center Brochure

Or, you could opt for your own teacher-driven curriculum; schools are encouraged to take advantage of our natural setting to include traditional academic offerings of their choice.

Your adventure also includes the opportunity to choose from a wide range of fun and rewarding recreational opportunities, including our famous 50-foot Climbing Tower and our challenging Swamp Course, along with hiking, archery, orienteering, pond ecology, canoeing, kayaking, hayrides, campfires and much more.

Throughout the program, you and your students will be treated to well-balanced, excellent meals, a comfortable, clean environment and staff members committed to giving you an experience that will leave a lifelong impression. And, as with all of our programming, we incorporate the values of the YMCA: Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, Courage and Inclusion.