“Venture Out was my first time being in a stay-away camp and it was a great experience.”

— Participant

“A few highlights of this program for me was walking in the moonlight with a participant after looking at the full moon and the stars on a cloudless night. He couldn’t believe he could see his shadow at night! And watching the kids explore the stream on a beautiful, sunny day and marveling at the variety of critters in the bottom of their buckets.”

— Facilitator

“This is my 30th year teaching science and I have had many opportunities to engage in other outdoor, wilderness programs. I can say without a shred of doubt that your program surpasses each and every one. The educational aspects of the program were outstanding and exceeded my expectations. The curriculum seamlessly integrated STEM concepts with the wonders of the wilderness, providing our scholars with a unique learning experience. The hands-on activities not only fostered a deeper understanding of the ecosystem but also instilled a genuine appreciation for our scholars’ natural world. The grounds where the program took place were nothing short of breathtaking. The forest provided the perfect backdrop for the activities, creating a stimulating environment that enhanced the overall learning experience. The well-maintained facilities, trails, and outdoor spaces showcased a commitment to creating a safe learning environment.”

— STEM Teacher

Venture Out

Venture Out is our new environmental education initiative. This high-quality outdoor education program, offered free to middle school students in the Trenton Public School District, is a 30-hour residential program that provides students with inquiry-based, hands-on environmental education and social-emotional learning sessions that aim to help students engage more deeply with science and the scientific method, understand that science is fun, and provide opportunities to explore future STEM careers. Research from Stanford University has found that students experienced a 90% increase in social-emotional and academic skills after outdoor education opportunities.

The Center’s curriculum is aligned to the State of New Jersey’s middle school science curriculum standards. This program is led by experienced Sr. Facilitators who have been carefully trained on the Center’s environmental, SEL, and adventure-based curriculum.

Sessions include two team building blocks and eight environmental education sessions including:

Forest Ecology Exploration: Wildlife – Students will learn which animals live in our forests as they hike, explore, and learn about habitats, predator-prey relationships, animal adaptations, and ecosystem factors, which together determine species’ survival.
Oh Deer! – Students will learn about the essential things that animals need in order to survive through a simulation game that demonstrates carrying capacity, how animal populations increase and decrease from year to year, and what limiting factors are the cause of the population change.
Coyote Call – Students will learn how elements of any ecological system live in an intricate web of interdependence including, what a symbiotic relationship is, as well as the three main forms of symbiotic relationships: commensalisms, mutualism, and parasitism through a simulation.
Symbiosis Survey – Students will learn and examine how different parts of the ecosystem live in an intricate web of interdependence.
Stream Study – By studying the macroinvertebrates in Blair Creek, students will learn about the chemistry of the water and the physical environment, thereby determining the health of the creek.
Phenology Exploration & Climate Change – Through a hike and exploration students will learn what the life cycle of plants tells us about the seasons and how this intricate cycle is being upended by climate change.
Wildlife Explorations: Owls – Students will take a deep dive into the life of an owl and dissect an owl pellet to discern their diet, learn about their digestive process, and the predator-prey process.
Nighttime Adventure – Students will learn about adaptations of nocturnal animals and explore the majesty of the night sky.

Some outcomes from our 2023 Venture Out Program include: