Outdoor School for Youth*

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Coming February 5, 2025
Safety, fun, and learning lifelong skills for ages 5-18 at various locations to discover wild New Hampshire, with with additional wilderness trips/camps, all year!
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*

Enrollment, pricing, and schedule will be available Feb. 5. Payment accepted by Cash, Check, Venmo, Debit/Credit Card, or NH EFA (Class Wallet). 

* 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 (unless it's an indoor topic such as map and compass in winter) 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, including the use of adaptive equipment. 

History: Outdoor School started in October of 2021 in Silver Lake (Madison), and has expanded into a program of offerings and trips throughout New Hampshire.

Some of our Outdoor School opportunities include:
  • fire building and camp cooking using various methods
  • experimental primitive woodworking
  • natural shelter building
  • gardening and preserving
  • making cordage, matting, baskets, and waterproof containers (perhaps a canoe!)
  • making snares and traps (for emergency food)
  • hiking, nature walks, winter hiking & snowshoeing
  • orienteering with map & compass
  • geocaching with GPS
  • trail blazing and maintenance
  • exploring streams and rivers & bushwhacking
  • fishing and ice fishing
  • canoeing and kayaking
  • bicycling (both touring and mountain biking)
  • ice skating
  • X-C skiing
  • making snow forts/igloos/quinzhees
  • identifying rocks, trees, animal tracks & signs, wild edibles, environmental hazards, weather, and emergencies
  • put together a first aid kit and emergency kit for day trips
  • build outdoor equipment and make outdoor gear
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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. Her gift of team building activities in her back pocket 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. 

Adam Leiser has hiked all of the 4,000 footers in New Hampshire and many of them twice, some of which with one or more of his own girls. 

2025 Outdoor School for Youth Schedule

The schedule will be announced on Feb. 5, 2025

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!
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