Explore
Enriching recreation programs to foster a love of learning and exploring the natural world.
Youth Outdoor workshops
— Learning starts with curiosity —
Empower communities with Educational opportunities
This project is all about providing quality education programs to communities throughout the Richmond area. There is an unnecessary and unacceptable barrier of entry for certain communities to explore and engage with the natural environment. Further, literacy rates and and quality writing development programs are not reaching many of our city’s students. Youth Outdoor Workshops is an organization dedicated to connecting educators with students to create a community of educational opportunity. We work to provide outdoor education programs to support literacy, mindfulness, artistic expression, and environmental awareness to students across the Richmond Area. We are working in our local parks and libraries, as well as partnering with schools and community centers. There are so many ways for you to support this work and make a difference in a student’s life today.
The Programs
Hikes and Heroes
Does your child love telling stories? We explore local parks around Richmond to inspire the settings for their epic tales. Every student will create characters, develop plots, and write their own story. At the end of every program, students go home with a copy of their adventure.
Young Naturalists
A program for students to learn about nature. Students identify native and invasive plants, conduct experiments, and learn about the local eco-system. Explorers create their own field guides by sketching and recording their findings, and build real wilderness skills to be stewards of the environment.
Power of Poetry
Find your voice and explore ways to express yourself through the power of poetry. In this workshop, writers will explore a variety of poetic genres, share their writing, and get feedback from peers. At the end of the program, students will publish their pieces and share their favorites to friends and family at a live poetry reading
Camping 101
Students and families learn the fundamentals of staying overnight in the outdoors. Build confidence in your wilderness skills by learning to set up a tent, build a fire, read a map, and cook a camping meal. We also provide helpful tips about gear and recommend activities the whole family will enjoy.
Outdoor Explorers
Play based, outdoor education for toddlers and preschool aged children. Encourage excitement, inspire imagination, and build confidence with weekly lessons and activities. With thematic units to discover more about the world and themselves, you’ll be amazed as your young student asks questions, explores possibilities, and creates solutions all on their own.
