Camp Y-Noah Outdoor Education

Expand the bounds of the classroom walls by coming to Camp Y-Noah for hands-on, outdoor environmental education classes encompassing science and nature. Children can learn to use a dichotomist’s key while identifying tree species, find a flag and punch while shooting a bearing on our orienteering course or discover the effects of a drought on a habitat in our ecosystems class. Teachers have many other options to choose from as well, such as horsemanship classes at the Ranch, canoeing on the lake and nature trail discovery hikes. A well-rounded program is always available, whether your group stays for a day or a week. The Camp Y-Noah staff is ready to tailor your group's experience to compliment any curriculum.

Goals of Camp Y-Noah’s Outdoor Education Program

• To present a safe outdoor environment for all who participate.
• To provide an environment that nurtures learning and growth.
• To teach awareness and about positive stewardship of the Earth:
  • Human impact on the natural environment.
  • How to better care and use the natural resources we have.
• To get the students into the outdoors to show the benefit of a healthy lifestyle.
• To teach the core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility

Building your team

Any group can become a team at Camp Y-Noah. Stay for a day or a week and your school class, athletic team, church group, community organization or corporation will explore a variety of team skills that they can implement, practice and evaluate.

Team skills include:

• Positive communication
• Creative problem solving methods
• Shared leadership
• Encouragement and support
• Adaptive management styles
• Giving and receiving feedback
• Cooperation and collaboration

Camp staff will assist you in identifying the needs of your group and will develop a customized program to meet those needs. The group's progression will be assessed throughout the stay and the program directed accordingly. Camp Y-Noah facilitators can use the climbing wall, high ropes course, low ropes elements, mobile initiatives and large and small group activities as tools to transform any group into an effective team.

However, if your group just needs a change of pace, the serenity of Camp Y-Noah along with a host of activities will meet your needs as well. Camp offers modern meeting spaces, comfortable lodging with spectacular views and a flexible schedule – either full of activities or free time. You can take advantage of one or a number of our recreational activities like horseback riding, archery, hiking and canoeing. Any group or organization can take advantage of a retreat at Camp Y-Noah, whether the goal is to celebrate the success of a job well done or work from an agenda.

Challenge Course

Join our staff of trained facilitators for Low or High Adventure on our Challenge Courses. Certain elements do have age limits but we may be able to modify certain aspects to fit your needs. Read on for descriptions of the courses!

Teambuilding

These games are done on the ground and teach students the advantage of working as a team. The staff starts simple and then work toward harder challenges to make the students think and use each other for help.

Low Ropes

Teamed with teambuilding, this course helps re-enforce the concepts of teamwork. Relying on ‘games with a purpose,’ our staff will lead the students through a variety of challenges that they must work together to solve. There is a possibility of being at most a foot off the ground. We ask that students are at least 8 years old to participate on the Low Challenge Course.

Rock Climbing Wall

A climbing challenge for any age group. The Wall is a wonderful introduction to High Adventure challenges for younger students. Or a celebratory experience for non-intensive teambuilding experiences.

High Ropes

This 7-element course stands 25 feet off the ground! The open design allows for several students to climb at one time. The challenge possibilities are great, even for High School students. We ask that the students be at least 11 years old to participate in the High Ropes Course.

Alpine Tower

Our newest addition to our high adventure courses. This structure is 50 feet tall and offers challenges to any climber. There are many different ways to climb the tower, and we can end the experience with our Giants Swing! We ask that students are at least 13 years old to participate in climbing the Tower.

Our Classes Participating Schools Goals Sample Schedule Teacher's Resource Center