Outdoor Education

Through our Outdoor Education (OE) program, we strive to develop in youth an awareness and appreciation of themselves and the environment through hands-on educational sessions, cooperative exercises, recreational activities, and small-group living situations. The natural setting for our outdoor classroom includes river and lake habitats, areas of wetland, and the flora and fauna of northern Wisconsin. Additionally, Camp Pepin also features heated cabins that can lodge up to 110 students and adults, a full-service dining hall, a recreation hall, outdoor and indoor class/meeting areas, a team-building course with low/high ropes elements and a climbing wall, a waterfront with a campfire circle overlooking the lake, and trails for hiking or snowshoeing.

We provide instructors that will teach on-site classes and lead all scheduled activities throughout each day. However, we invite school groups to lead any classes or activities that they would like to add as a supplement to our curriculum, if they so choose. The Camp Director will create a schedule based on your class requests and, with your input, determine a schedule that works well for your group. All of our classes have been aligned with the most current national educational standards for elementary and middle school-aged students, and these standards are outlined in the Teacher Packets that each group receives before arrival.

We can accommodate school groups for one-day, two-day, or three-day experiences at camp (see our sample schedule below); however, we also can bring our traveling program to a school or location that is convenient for you.

To register your school group, contact either YMCA Camp Pepin or the Red Wing YMCA for your free Outdoor Education Planning Guide, or download the Outdoor Education Planning Guide from our website. Please let us know if you would additionally like to schedule an on-site tour with the Camp Director. Photos and capacities of our accommodations, meeting rooms, dining hall, and outdoor facilities can be viewed by clicking their locations on the Camp Map. For current Outdoor Education program rates, click here.