We Teach . . .

. . .practical outdoor skills, environmental awareness, and real-world resilience. The program blends hands-on learning with reflection, creativity, and collaboration -- giving students a rare opportunity to step outside their routines and engage more fully with each other and the natural world.

Students will:

Acquire knowledge and skills through creative activities (e.g., map and compass reading, animal and plant identification, tent assembly (where and how), wilderness cooking, fire building, water purification, camping rules (e.g.,“leave no trace”));
Build grit, confidence, and independence;
Strengthen critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability;
Collaborate meaningfully with peers;
Develop respect for nature and sustainability;
Engage with nature through writing and visual expression.

This is both an outdoor education program and a personal growth experience.

Building a Fire

Pitching Tents

Food in Nature

Animals & Birds

Navigation

Tree Identification

First Aid & Safety

Nature Activities

We teach am array of additional nature activities that may include: whittling, archery, kayaking, and water purification, depending on the comfort level of the parents and teens.

Dos & Don'ts of Camping

We will learn how to 'leave no trace', and other rules of camping.

WHAT MAKES OUR PROGRAM UNIQUE?

Each Teen Trailblazer lesson begins with a discussion

about nature-inspired work, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Walden Pond and photographs by Ansel Adams, connecting nature with creative expression.

Safety

We make sure your camper is safe

The safety of our campers is our top priority. We teach campers first aid, risk management, and the dos & don'ts of camping. One or more adults are present during all sessions with the students, and trained instructors accompany students on our optional overnight camping trip.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE
YOU DECIDE

Cohort Size: Up to 16 students;
Curriculum: Up to six lessons;
Six, one-hour sessions will complete all core modules;
Lessons can be mixed and matched or combined to meet your school’s goals;
Location: On-campus or a nearby park, in partnership with a school administrator;
Optional Overnight: trip to upstate New York -- fully immersive, phone-free;
Application of skills and reflection exercises.