**Registration for this program is individual - please make sure to register each person that will be attending separately.
The Open Outdoors program is designed to ignite a love of the outdoors by offering accessible outdoor activities to empower equity deserving communities to be comfortable in the outdoors. Equity deserving communities are those historically under-resourced and under-represented in outdoor education and includes Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA , and disabled communities. In addition to these groups, the program also aims to engage Indigenous youth and families recognizing the specific historical colonial inequities tied to land access and the outdoors that has led to Indigenous underrepresentation in outdoor education. Outdoor activities will vary based on the location and time of year, but could include canoeing, fire building, orienteering, outdoor cooking, and more. We encourage participation from individuals or families/extended families, but please note that youth must be 16 years old to participate without adult supervision.
May 10 at YMCA Camp Pine Crest – 10:30 am to 3:30 pm (busing available from the David Braley Vaughan YMCA). This experience will be focused on outdoor living skills – activities could include boating, fire building, map/compass use and more alongside our experienced instructors. We'll spend most of the day outside, so come prepared for the weather and don't forget your water bottle! All boating equipment like PFDs and paddles will be provided for all participants, but we recommend that you bring a bathing suit or change of clothes in case you choose to get a little wet! The bus will depart David Braley Vauaghan YMCA (corner of Apple Mill Rd. and Buttermill Ave.) at 8:00 am and return by 6:00 pm. Lunch will be provided at YMCA Camp Pine Crest (please be sure to indicate any dietary restrictions when you register).
* YMCA Pine Crest is not a fully accessible site. We have several accommodations in place to make our program more accessible and are continually working to improve in this area. If you have questions about how you can participate, please feel free to reach out to us.
If you have any questions about the program please don't hesitate to contact us at pinecrest.bookings@ymcagta.org.