Outdoor School for Youth*
Sign UpBook 2023 Autumn Classes here (Oct-Dec):
|
|
Safety, fun, and learning lifelong skills for ages 8-18 based in the Ossipee/Conway, N.H. area with additional wilderness trips all year!
Fridays 9 A.M - 2 P.M. (unless otherwise noted)
Fridays 9 A.M - 2 P.M. (unless otherwise noted)
|
These "get into nature" classes for homeschool families yearning to learn are brought to you by our seasoned, professional guide/instructors from Outdoor ESCAPES New Hampshire, LLC who share a love for people and living outdoors. Each of our lead guides has over 30 years of experience planning and leading outdoor adventures, as well as teaching families from around the world the ways of the wild here in New Hampshire. Our mission is to help participants become aware of and care about all things wild, and spark an interest for future learning, skill sharing, problem solving, and positive actions to benefit our natural world.
DESCRIPTION FOR YOUTH - IT'S FUN! Let's go play outside and get to know the real world! DESCRIPTION FOR PARENTS - EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION! This is an opportunity for participants to explore wild New Hampshire in a multi-age group while developing skills and personal responsibility, meeting challenges by choice, and expanding awareness of local history and natural surroundings throughout the four seasons. Each class is unique and may collectively tie in a wide range of relevant, age-appropriate subject matters, such as: science and ecology, backcountry living, low-impact trekking/camping skills, wilderness ethics, land stewardship, self-sufficiency--making useful tools and other things using primitive methods, technology and resources, social and environmental responsibility, geography, math, history, health and fitness, journaling, songs, games, survival skills, team building, leadership/followship skills, creativity, engineering/making/building, and outdoor recreation skills based on traditional modes of human-powered travel. With input from families, we aim to help youth reach their specific outdoor education goals. REGISTRATION OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR EACH CLASS (MIN. 4/MAX. 8 STUDENTS) $65 per day for ages 8-18. payable prior to/upon arrival in cash or by check, Venmo, or debit/credit card. Note: We are working on financial aid for families and will have a link here soon. * We also welcome requests for private lessons, day trips, and multi-day adventures in New Hampshire for your family or group all year. Please complete this form. |
|
|
WHAT TO EXPECT
Participants will be outdoors the entire time and are expected to be prepared for the weather, insects, peeing outdoors, carrying a backpack and moving things around, using developmentally appropriate hand tools such as sticks, rocks, saws, shovels, and folding knives, and adventuring under their own power through forests and waterways in every season. Please call Lucie if you have any questions or concerns about whether activities will be a good fit for your child/teen, as we try to accommodate for most needs. Outdoor School started in October of 2021 in Silver Lake (Madison), and has expanded into a program of trips throughout New Hampshire. Some of our opportunities include:
2023 SCHEDULE (Tentative)
ABOUT OUR GUIDE/INSTRUCTORS
Our guide/instructors (and occasional guest instructors) are excited to pass on their skills and wisdom through Outdoor School for Youth. A PSU graduate in childhood studies and environmental and outdoor education, Lucie Villeneuve started Outdoor ESCAPES New Hampshire, LLC in 2003 to help people get into nature with safety, fun, and learning. She has experience with people of all ages from around the world, sharing with them the unique natural wonders and history of New Hampshire through custom outdoor adventures, lessons, tours, van rides, and talks. Lucie and her husband Peter have two teens and are accustomed to adapting recreational activities and meals for different needs. Sonya Porter loves being active outdoors and has the perfect background of being a mom, a gym teacher, and a Scout leader. She always has team building activities in her back pocket which adds to the fun of our adventures. Tim Golden is a graduate of UNH in electrical engineering, but after working in the corporate world, came back to work the land of his father, doing his best to become as self-sufficient as possible while being an environmental steward. His simple lifestyle and complex vocabulary is admirable, and his inventions made from trees and scrap metal, without the use fossil fuels, are creative, purposeful, and even entertaining. Jeff Barrie has long taught primitive survival skills having gone through Tom Brown's School himself years ago. Families love learning from Jeff as he captures their attention and goes into interesting details of these useful skills. 
|
|
POSSIBLE TOPICS AT OUTDOOR SCHOOL -- Tell us what you want!
January - March: Winter Hiking, Winter Camp Cooking, Wildlife in Winter, Cross Country Skiing, Snow Shelters, Snowshoeing, Pequawket Winters, Maple Sugaring, Winter Trees
April - June: Spring Hiking, Waterfalls, Weather, Knife Safety, Knot-Tying, Shelters/Tents, Fire Skills, Campfire Cooking, Mountain Biking & Maintenance, Nature Hikes, Canoeing, Animal Tracks & Signs, Trail Maintenance Techniques
July - September: Hiking, The 10 Essentials of Survival, Fire Skills, Campfire Cooking, N.H. Geology, Canoeing/Kayaking & Wetland Habitats, Whitewater Kayaking, NH's River Systems, Target Archery & Basic Snare Traps, Mountain Biking Tour & Maintenance, Wild Edibles, Tree Identification, Mountain Biking Tour & Maintenance, Bird Migrations
October - December: Hiking & Landscape Painting, Outdoor Photography, Animal Tracks & Signs, Kayaking, Nature Hike, Primitive Shelters & Cordage, Map & Compass, Winter Hiking & Survival Basics, WMNF History
POSSIBLE TOPICS FOR OUTDOOR SCHOOL FIELD DAYS
January - Conway, NH - Winter Hiking & Winter Camp Cooking
January - Center Harbor, NH - Winter Hiking & Wildlife in Winter
February - Madison, NH - Cross Country Skiing & Snow Shelters
February - Conway, NH - Snowshoeing & Abenaki Winters
March - Moultonborough, NH - Snowshoeing & Maple Sugaring
March - North Conway, NH - X-Country Skiing & Winter Tree I.D.
April - Crawford Notch, NH - Spring Hiking, Waterfalls, & Weather
April - Madison, NH - Knife Safety, Knot-Tying, & Shelters/Tents
May - Tamworth, NH - Fire Skills and Campfire Cooking
May - North Conway, NH - Mountain Biking & Maintenance
May - Meredith, NH - Hiking & Animal Tracks & Signs
June - Chocorua, NH - Canoeing & Nature Hike
June - TBA - Hiking & Trail Maintenance Techniques
June - Eaton, NH - Hiking & The 10 Essentials of Survival
July - Dummer, NH - Kayaking: Moose, Loons, and Eagles
July - Gilmanton, NH) - Canoeing Precious Wetland Habitats
August - Sandwich, NH - Hiking & Geocaching
August - Errol, NH - Whitewater Kayaking & NH's River Systems
August - TBA - Target Archery & Basic Snare Traps
September - Franklin, NH - Mountain Biking Tour
September Plymouth, NH - Hiking and Wild Edibles
September - Dover, NH - Paddling & Tidal Wildlife Bellamy R.
October - Moultonborough, NH - Hiking and Landscape Painting
October - Gilford, NH - Foliage Hiking & Outdoor Photography
October - Meredith, NH - Hiking & Animal Tracks & Signs
October - Freedom, NH - Kayaking and Nature Hike
November - Tamworth, NH - Cordage & Primitive Shelters
November - Chocorua, NH - Hiking & Map & Compass
December - Warren, NH - Hiking & Winter Survival Basics
December - Stark, NH - Winter Hiking & Northern Forest History
January - March: Winter Hiking, Winter Camp Cooking, Wildlife in Winter, Cross Country Skiing, Snow Shelters, Snowshoeing, Pequawket Winters, Maple Sugaring, Winter Trees
April - June: Spring Hiking, Waterfalls, Weather, Knife Safety, Knot-Tying, Shelters/Tents, Fire Skills, Campfire Cooking, Mountain Biking & Maintenance, Nature Hikes, Canoeing, Animal Tracks & Signs, Trail Maintenance Techniques
July - September: Hiking, The 10 Essentials of Survival, Fire Skills, Campfire Cooking, N.H. Geology, Canoeing/Kayaking & Wetland Habitats, Whitewater Kayaking, NH's River Systems, Target Archery & Basic Snare Traps, Mountain Biking Tour & Maintenance, Wild Edibles, Tree Identification, Mountain Biking Tour & Maintenance, Bird Migrations
October - December: Hiking & Landscape Painting, Outdoor Photography, Animal Tracks & Signs, Kayaking, Nature Hike, Primitive Shelters & Cordage, Map & Compass, Winter Hiking & Survival Basics, WMNF History
POSSIBLE TOPICS FOR OUTDOOR SCHOOL FIELD DAYS
January - Conway, NH - Winter Hiking & Winter Camp Cooking
January - Center Harbor, NH - Winter Hiking & Wildlife in Winter
February - Madison, NH - Cross Country Skiing & Snow Shelters
February - Conway, NH - Snowshoeing & Abenaki Winters
March - Moultonborough, NH - Snowshoeing & Maple Sugaring
March - North Conway, NH - X-Country Skiing & Winter Tree I.D.
April - Crawford Notch, NH - Spring Hiking, Waterfalls, & Weather
April - Madison, NH - Knife Safety, Knot-Tying, & Shelters/Tents
May - Tamworth, NH - Fire Skills and Campfire Cooking
May - North Conway, NH - Mountain Biking & Maintenance
May - Meredith, NH - Hiking & Animal Tracks & Signs
June - Chocorua, NH - Canoeing & Nature Hike
June - TBA - Hiking & Trail Maintenance Techniques
June - Eaton, NH - Hiking & The 10 Essentials of Survival
July - Dummer, NH - Kayaking: Moose, Loons, and Eagles
July - Gilmanton, NH) - Canoeing Precious Wetland Habitats
August - Sandwich, NH - Hiking & Geocaching
August - Errol, NH - Whitewater Kayaking & NH's River Systems
August - TBA - Target Archery & Basic Snare Traps
September - Franklin, NH - Mountain Biking Tour
September Plymouth, NH - Hiking and Wild Edibles
September - Dover, NH - Paddling & Tidal Wildlife Bellamy R.
October - Moultonborough, NH - Hiking and Landscape Painting
October - Gilford, NH - Foliage Hiking & Outdoor Photography
October - Meredith, NH - Hiking & Animal Tracks & Signs
October - Freedom, NH - Kayaking and Nature Hike
November - Tamworth, NH - Cordage & Primitive Shelters
November - Chocorua, NH - Hiking & Map & Compass
December - Warren, NH - Hiking & Winter Survival Basics
December - Stark, NH - Winter Hiking & Northern Forest History
Overnight Family Adventures (camping available all year)
The longer you spend time outdoors with a professional guide/instructor, the more you get out of it. Your safety-conscious leader(s) will help you with practical skills propelling yourself over land, water, and snow while experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells of the deep wilderness areas of New Hampshire's Great North Woods, Lakes Region, and Seacoast areas. Families tell us the biggest benefit of an overnight adventure with Outdoor ESCAPES New Hampshire, LLC is that they can learn survival tips and camping skills for their own future family adventures. Others tell us they simply like the fact that it's a guided trip, and they can relax and have fun with their kids by leaving all the chores and logistical hassles to the guides.
STARTS/ENDS: Day 1 (Sat. 10:00 A.M.) - Day 2 (Sun. 4:00 P.M.). Dates to be arranged with guide by appointment.
RESERVATIONS: Call Lucie Villeneuve to book your dates: (603) 528-0136.
Min. 4 / Max. 16 Participants: Youth (ages 8-18) with their responsible adult(s). Everyone must be in good health and be willing to participate.
RATE: Overnight Family Adventure: $150 per person.
INCLUDES: Guided adventure, equipment rentals, 4 meals (prepared by group with provided food & cooking gear), campsite/parking fees.
EDUCATIONAL TOPICS: May include recreation skills instruction such as paddling or x-c skiing, camping skills such as cooking and setting up a tent, survival skills such as fire building, building a primitive shelter, and making water safe, nature topics such as bird identification and animal tracking, and other things as we go such as low-impact camping practices and studying the night sky or local geology.
Possible Overnight Activities
January - Dixville Notch, NH - Snowshoe Cohos Trail and Winter Camping
February - Freedom, NH - Ice Fishing & Snowshoeing Danforth Bay and Winter Camping
March - Milan, NH - Cross-Country Ski Touring Great North Woods and Winter Camping
May - Warren, NH - Survival Skills High Meadow Farm and Spring Camping
June - TBA - Backpacking Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway
July - Newfields, NH - Kayak Camping Great Bay Estuary
August - Woodsville, NH - Canoe Camping Connecticut River
September - Gilford, NH - Mountain Biking Lakes Region and Camping
October - Warren, NH - Primitive Survival Skills at High Meadow Farm and Camping
November - Pittsburg - Backpacking Cohos Trail Section and Winter Camping
Possible Overnight Activities
January - Holderness, NH - Snowshoe Squam Range and Winter Camping
February - Errol, NH - Ice Fishing, Snowshoeing, and Winter Camping
March - Tamworth, NH - Cross-Country Ski Touring and Winter Camping
May - Gorham, NH - Spring Hiking, Survival Skills and Camping
June - Shelburn, NH - Backpacking Cohos Trail Section
July - Stark, NH - Backpacking Cohos Trail Section
August - Errol, NH - Canoe Camping Umbagog Nat'l Wildlife Refuge
September - Errol, NH - Mountain Biking Great North Woods and Camping
October - Warren, NH - Survival Skills High Meadow Farm and Camping
November - Littleton, NH - Tipi Nature Camp
STARTS/ENDS: Day 1 (Sat. 10:00 A.M.) - Day 2 (Sun. 4:00 P.M.). Dates to be arranged with guide by appointment.
RESERVATIONS: Call Lucie Villeneuve to book your dates: (603) 528-0136.
Min. 4 / Max. 16 Participants: Youth (ages 8-18) with their responsible adult(s). Everyone must be in good health and be willing to participate.
RATE: Overnight Family Adventure: $150 per person.
INCLUDES: Guided adventure, equipment rentals, 4 meals (prepared by group with provided food & cooking gear), campsite/parking fees.
EDUCATIONAL TOPICS: May include recreation skills instruction such as paddling or x-c skiing, camping skills such as cooking and setting up a tent, survival skills such as fire building, building a primitive shelter, and making water safe, nature topics such as bird identification and animal tracking, and other things as we go such as low-impact camping practices and studying the night sky or local geology.
Possible Overnight Activities
January - Dixville Notch, NH - Snowshoe Cohos Trail and Winter Camping
February - Freedom, NH - Ice Fishing & Snowshoeing Danforth Bay and Winter Camping
March - Milan, NH - Cross-Country Ski Touring Great North Woods and Winter Camping
May - Warren, NH - Survival Skills High Meadow Farm and Spring Camping
June - TBA - Backpacking Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway
July - Newfields, NH - Kayak Camping Great Bay Estuary
August - Woodsville, NH - Canoe Camping Connecticut River
September - Gilford, NH - Mountain Biking Lakes Region and Camping
October - Warren, NH - Primitive Survival Skills at High Meadow Farm and Camping
November - Pittsburg - Backpacking Cohos Trail Section and Winter Camping
Possible Overnight Activities
January - Holderness, NH - Snowshoe Squam Range and Winter Camping
February - Errol, NH - Ice Fishing, Snowshoeing, and Winter Camping
March - Tamworth, NH - Cross-Country Ski Touring and Winter Camping
May - Gorham, NH - Spring Hiking, Survival Skills and Camping
June - Shelburn, NH - Backpacking Cohos Trail Section
July - Stark, NH - Backpacking Cohos Trail Section
August - Errol, NH - Canoe Camping Umbagog Nat'l Wildlife Refuge
September - Errol, NH - Mountain Biking Great North Woods and Camping
October - Warren, NH - Survival Skills High Meadow Farm and Camping
November - Littleton, NH - Tipi Nature Camp
Bring/Wear
Sample list--a detailed pack list will be provided for each class.
- Daypack, backpack, or drybags (depending on trip), lined with plastic bags to protect personal gear. We may have some to lend.
- Layers of synthetic clothing appropriate for the activity, weather and season, including weatherproof outerwear.
- Proper footwear (hiking boots, sneakers for biking, water shoes/full-strap sandals for paddling, insulated/waterproof winter hiking boots or cross country ski boots to wear with snowshoes and skis, camp shoes, etc.).
- Personal first aid kit, tissues, prescriptions, glasses/contacts, diabetic supplies, allergy meds, etc.
- Favorite snacks.
- 1-liter/1-quart water bottle, filled.
- Camera equipment for photography courses.
- Binoculars or monocular for wildlife spotting.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, hat with visor, other protective clothing.
- Rent or bring own mountain bike, canoe, kayak, X-C skis, snowshoes, etc.
- For overnights: Sleeping bag rated for the season's temperatures, sleeping pad, and tent (some rentals available). Headlamp/flashlight, extra clothes and snacks, and another 1-liter/1-quart water bottle, filled.
- Other items, if needed, will be listed on the detailed pack list.
- Not appropriate: Jewelry, alcoholic beverages and controlled substances, tobacco/similar products, firearms, and electronics. We are tech-free to promote socialization and awareness of the environment and safety hazards. Awareness is a survival tool!
|
|
