Leadership and Outdoor Education Programs
Y Camp’s Outdoor Education Programs are used to enrich the classroom curriculum as well as reinforce literacy, math, speech, music, art and physical education. The overnight program has the greatest impact on retention with students spending 2 days or more at camp. Teachers can look at the programs offered and choose classes that fit their curriculum.
Overnight Programs
The hallmark of our program offerings the overnight experience immerses students in nature and provides time for them to “declutter” their minds and take in the growth opportunities present at camp. Your day begins when the bus drives down the hill into eh beautiful Des Moines River Valley. Our trained staff will be waving you in as we meet for Arrival and Expectations at the Outdoor Stage. After a short meeting students and teachers move into the cabins. Our modern cabins feature heat and air conditioning with over half containing their own bathroom and shower facility. Our class periods are two hours long, giving students time to engage in an active learning environment under the guidance of the Naturalists. Meals are served in our dining hall where our fantastic team provides warm meals, big smiles, and live music. Truly unique to the overnight experience are our night programs. Night hikes are a popular choice. Students learn about nocturnal adaptations while Naturalists lead them through the woods calling for owls and listening for deer, all with no flashlights on!
Day Programs
Designed to fit within the confines of the school day our Day Programs offer a chance for your students to get into nature and explore, while still making it back to school in time for the bus. Teachers pick from our variety of classes to customize the day for their students and curriculum. Schools can have lunch prepared for them at camp, or have the students bring their own sack lunches for a picnic.
