Experience the outdoors from the inside
Help your child connect to the benefits of the outdoors
Our range of virtual summer camp options will help your child engage in the outdoors so they can grow into happy, healthy young adults. Registration includes:
Live online teaching for 1.5 hours each day for a week
Kit with activity materials
Rewards to celebrate the end of camp
“Offline” activities to complete as a family
Find the Perfect Camp For Your Child
Explorer Series
Does your child love the outdoors and want to learn it all? Register them for our Button Series to explore introductory topics like animal camouflage, outdoor yoga, first aid, and more!
STEM Series
Does your child love the outdoors and STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math)? We’ll combine the two and try some outdoor science experiments! Your child will learn about what makes water so special, small particles in our air, and more!
Survival Series
Does your child like to imagine what it’s like to be stranded in the woods? Help them fine-tune their survival skills as we practice navigation, knot tying, first aid and more!
Leadership Series
Does your child show signs of true leadership? In this camp, aspiring leaders (and outdoor enthusiasts) will learn about what leadership means to them and work to achieve their full potential as an outdoor leader in their community.
Keep reading to learn more about each camp
Explorer Series
For rising 3rd-5th grade
August 10-14 from 11:00am to 12:30pm EST
August 24-28 from 11:00am to 12:30pm EST
Activities include: animal camouflage, shelter building, first aid, mindfulness/yoga
Inside the Kit: first aid kit (gloves, band-aids, gauze), yarn, nature BINGO set
Award: Certificate, sticker, explorer buttons (8)
STEM Series
For rising 5th-7th grade
August 10-14 from 1:30pm to 3:00pm EST
For rising 6th-12th grade
August 24-28 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm EST
Activities include: Chromatography, heat/light experiments, air quality, parachutes
Inside the Kit: cups, coffee filter, light saver, tape, CD, construction paper, yarn
Award: Certificate, sticker, magnifying glass
Survival Series
For rising 5th-7th grade
August 17-21 from 11:00am – 12:30pm EST
Activities: shelter building, Leave No Trace, navigation, knot tying, species ID, first aid
Inside the Kit: compass, construction paper, Leave No Trace and species ID worksheets, first aid kit (gloves, band-aids, gauze)
Award: Certificate, sticker, carabiner
Leadership Series
For rising 6th-12th grade
August 17-21 from 1:30pm to 3:00pm EST
Activities: learning styles, personality quiz, what leadership means, action plan, stewardship, first aid
Inside the Kit: first aid bag (gloves, band-aids, gauze), leadership series workbook (20+ pages),
Award: Certificate, sticker
Enrolling your child in a virtual summer camp will inspire them to:
Move
We incorporate nature yoga and movement into the virtual lessons. The lessons will also encourage your child to be more active outside.
Play
Our virtual lessons build in time to play, be silly, and have fun, with the goal of encouraging your child to take that love of play into the outdoors.
Be Curious
From STEM experiments to plant ID, your child will have an opportunity to hypothesize, test, and ask questions about the world around them.
Explore
The virtual lessons will encourage campers to build shelters in their own backyard, search for critters and bugs, and plant their own seeds and watch them grow.
We are Venture Outdoors
Our mission: Inspire. Educate. Equip. We remove barriers and create access to outdoor experiences.
We have almost 20 years of experience connecting people to the benefits of the outdoors, working with over 1,000 youth annually.
Check out some of the activities your child will do in virtual summer camp
Virtual Summer Camp FAQs
What is a virtual summer camp?
Your child will join other kids from all over the country to engage in outdoor activities from the comfort of your own home. Third-12th grade kids will explore the outdoors by participating in various activities, including STEM experiments, outdoor educational activities, nature crafts, and more! Venture Outdoors staff will log on each day on Zoom (Mon-Fri) for 1.5 hours to lead campers through activities and help campers through “offline” activities.
What virtual platform will we use?
All camps will use Zoom and are accessible via a computer, laptop, tablet or phone.
Will my child receive materials?
Participants will receive an activity toolkit with materials for camp activities. The kit will include items such as a compass, STEM experiment materials, a field notebook, species ID guides, and more. Toolkit pick-up days will be scheduled for Pittsburgh participants or can be shipped to your address for an additional charge.
How much does it cost?
All programs cost $85 per week. Cost includes 1.5 hours of online teaching each day, a materials kit, and “offline” activities. Invoices will be sent for payment. Information regarding material delivery will be distributed at least one week prior to the start of camp. All programs are subject to a minimum and maximum number of participants.
What is my time commitment as a parent?
We teach youth in a live online session for 1.5 hours each day for five days (Mon-Fri). We will encourage kids to try an activity at home with family members after each lesson (can you teach Mom how to build a shelter?) so you may spend a half hour learning from and talking to your child about what they did in their session each day. We will also provide optional “offline” resources that you and your family can participate in.
What is included in the parent kit?
All activity kits will include a manila folder labeled as a “parent kit” just for you. Inside, you will find an information letter about the summer camp, any prizes and certificates that your child will earn, and a list of educational resources for continued learning after camp ends.
Who are the teachers leading the camps?
Kelly Sarkis, Youth Education and Training Coordinator, has been with Venture Outdoors for two years. She has been a camp counselor for eight years at resident summer camps with the Girl Scouts and has taught virtual lessons with kids since April.
Lo Zemanek, Youth Program Manager, has been with Venture Outdoors for over five years. Prior to her role at Venture Outdoors, she joined Teach for America and taught middle school math and science for 3.5 years. Lo is a Leave No Trace Master Educator.
I have more questions. Who can I contact?
E-mail kelly@ventureoutdoors.org or call 412-255-0564 x227 with any questions.
We would like to thank NOVA Chemicals for sponsoring our Virtual Summer Camps. Their generous donation makes giving children outdoor experiences possible.