Outdoor Education | Great Miami Valley - Camp Campbell

Empowering children through their understanding of people, nature and history.

At YMCA Camp Campbell Gard's Outdoor Education Program, we believe that experiences through hands-on exploration and learning leads to lifelong awareness and understanding.

Students will learn more than just the concepts and vocabulary that are part of the curriculum. The experience of a trip to Camp will offer leads to learning on many academic and social levels.

We offer a variety of programming options including classes on teambuilding, natural sciences, local history, recreational activities and a new focus on Social Emotional Learning. For more information please see the following links.

Outdoor Education Class Offerings

SEL Curriculum at CCG

As part of your visit, our kitchen can provide meals to accomodate most dietary restrictions.

Our cabins are fully equipped with heating, air conditioning and bathroom facilities. For a layout of the cabins, please see the following link.

Please contact Dom Coffey with any questions about our programming or booking at dcoffey@gmvymca.org or 513-867-0600

Sample Schedules

Get a look at what your visit to camp might look like!

Learn More >>

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to questions from Teachers, Parents and Students!

Learn More >>

Class Offerings

Class 1

Activity 1

Class 1

Animal Encounters

Wildlife Adaptations

Children will learn about animal adaptations through games and interaction with the Discovery Center animals.

Reptile Round-Up

Students will explore the characteristics and adaptations of reptiles.

Ohio Wildlife

Students will get to know the environment right outside in their backyards.

Habitat Hospitality

Students will explore the characteristics of different animals from around the world and their habitats.

Furry Friends

Students will explore characteristics of mammals and compare different species.

Evening Programs

Alpha Beta

Students role-play to learn about celebrating, accepting and acknowledging differences in people, groups, and cultures.

Night Hike

Students explore their senses through hands-on activities and experiments.

Human Clue

Students in teams figure out those classic detective questions.

Folk Dancing

Students will learn and participate in some historical and several “old favorite” dances.

Campfire

Students participate in a fun, song and skit filled, campfire.

Cageball

Students will play soccer in a crab like fashion.

Quiz Show CCG

Students will participate in a game show YMCA Camp Campbell Gard style!

Field Activities

Test Event

Test

River Study

Students learn about the Great Miami River by exploring, discovering and observing.

Exploration Hike

Students will explore camp. Experience various activities based in the natural world .Create and direct their own hike.

Wilderness Survival

Students will discover everything a person needs to survive when placed in a sticky situation.

Walk Through Time

Students learn about fossils by exploration and identification

Unstructured Play

Students will have the opportunity to play in nature.

Power House

Students will explore energy sources through discussion and experimentation. We will focus on renewable energy sources.

Orienteering

A fun activity where students will discover how easy it is to orient themselves to the world around them using basic math skills and a compass

Map Making

Students learn cartographic skills while creating their own map.

Soil and Rock Study

Students explore the basic theories of geology by observing processes in action and learning identification and classification.

Endangered Species

Students will discover what is means to be endangered, threatened and rare while learning how they can help.

Digging Up the Past

Students will explore the concepts of archaeology while excavating a dig site.

Ecosystem Comparison

Children compare and contrast different areas of camp by exploring, discovering, observing, and testing.

Comparative Technologies

Students will compare, contrast and use various Native American, Pioneer and Meso-American tools and weapons.

City Planning

Students play town members and take part in a zoning and planning meeting to discuss development within their community and its side effects

Reading the Woods

Students interpret their environment as they follow a map and instructions around camp.

Forest Ecology

Activities, discussions and a hike exploring different forest communities and interactions on camp.

Animal Tracks and Signs

Students role-play to learn about celebrating, accepting and acknowledging differences in people, groups, and cultures.

Alpha Beta

Students role-play to learn about celebrating, accepting and acknowledging differences in people, groups, and cultures.

Living History

1794: Life on the Ohio Frontier

Students take on various roles as family members from pioneer times moving from the East to Ohio for the hope of a more prosperous life.

Native American Life Fair

Students will learn about Native American lifestyles by mimicking hunting techniques, playing games, and making pots.

Pioneer Activities

Weaving

Students create a bookmark or wristband by using a weaving technique.

Tracking

Students learn about different trail signals as they participate in extreme hide and seek game that pioneer children played to introduce them into

Pioneer Toys

Students will enjoy discovering the differences between their favorite games and those of the pioneer children.

Pioneer Tools

Students get to use and learn about the tools pioneers would have used.

Pioneer Tin Craft

Students will enjoy creating a tin punched candle holder like those of the pioneer times.

Pioneer Homesteading

Students play a game where they are a family of pioneers moving from the East to Ohio for the hope of a more prosperous life.

Tools and Weapons

Students will compare, contrast and use various Native American and Pioneer tools and weapons.

Native American Pottery

Students learn how Native Americans used clay to crate useful vessels and make their own clay pot.

Native American Games

Children learn and play several different Native American games.

Knots and Lashings

Students learn how pioneers used knot tying and lashing for daily living.

Ice Cream

Students work together to make hand-cranked ice cream.

Funnel Cakes

Children will learn about and make funnel cakes.

Candle Making

Students learn about and make hand-dipped candles.

Broom Making

Students learn about and make country whisk brooms.

Apple Crisp

Students work together to make apple crisp.

Recreational Activities

Canoeing

Participants will learn some basic water safety rules and why they exist and how to properly paddle and steer a canoe.

Zip Line/Giant Swing

Participants will climb up 35 feet in the air and choose between the zipline or the giant swing.

Rock Climbing Wall

Participants will have the opportunity to climb the rock wall which varies in height and difficulty, this activity can be belayed by trained staff

Archery

Students learn the ancient art of archery.

Team Building

Amazing Race

A wonderful teambuilding experience where students work together in order to complete challenges all over camp.

Co-Op

Students will be challenged to work effectively as a group. Understand themes of teamwork.

Total Team

Students work together as a group to overcome challenges.

Catapult

Students work together as a group to create a working catapult.

Bridge Building

Students work together as a group to create a two line bridge.

The Beast

A creative activity in group communication skills using an important premise of teamwork.