Outings Program Ithaca

In the Outings Program, we believe that everyone learns best when they can actively participate in directing their learning process. Participants set out on an adventure and engage in activities that are challenging, rewarding, fun, and safe but with a perceived risk. They are asked to stretch beyond their preconceived limitations to succeed individually and as a team, fostering self-confidence and personal growth.

Parks and nature are proven to have a positive impact on mental health and well-being. Even in the colder months, it's important to get some fresh air and enjoy your natural surroundings! Bundle up and share with us your favorite cold weather activity. ❄️

The Outings Program, a division of the Ithaca Youth Bureau, provides opportunities for participants to develop and demonstrate leadership, problem-solving, and social skills.

Learn more about the benefits of our program components by visiting https://www.outingsprogramithaca.org/

It may feel like fall, but we’re still thinking about the awesome camping trips Outings Programs took over the summer! ⛺ We wrapped up one Trailblazers program with a 4-day, 3-night camping trip to Darien Lake State Park, onboarded a new Trailblazers group with a 3-day, 2-night camping trip to the Fingerlakes National Forest Potomac Campground, and our Explorers group experienced a 5-day remote camping trip in Schoharie County. That's a lot of camping and a lot of fun!

We're a fan of the recumbents, the tandems, the treks, and the tricycles. 🤦🤣

Ithaca Bike Rental offers a wide variety of equipment, including Trek bikes, recumbents, tandems, and adult tricycles. Which of these do you prefer to rent and ride?

In every Outings Program component, students learn an appreciation and respect for nature. One of the most important things we teach them about is the notion of “Leave No Trace” which includes simple acts like picking up all your trash, staying on marked trails, and respecting wildlife.

Every step we take to Leave No Trace helps preserve our parks, forests, and beaches for future generations. Check out these fun activities to help implement this important practice with your family.

Activities - Leave No Trace Today's Leave No Trace is best taught by incorporating movement and play, allowing youth to better understand their relationship to the values of Leave No Trace. These activities include themes from experiential education as well as positive youth development

Nature Awaits is wrapping up this month, and we’re so proud of our participants! The program is a five-week outdoor survival course for youth ages 5 - 11. Activities include food chain discussions, water filtration, wild edibles conversation, map reading, shelter building, fire building, and more. After completing the program, youth gain new skills, a deeper appreciation for nature, and greater self-confidence.

The Ithaca Youth Bureau is committed to fostering a community and workforce that values, respects, and includes all people. We celebrate differences and promote mutual respect, cultural diversity, and inclusion in all of our programs. It is our hope that our programs will assist participants and their families in developing new relationships that will strengthen and unite our community.

One of our most popular classes is Airborne Adventures, a 5-week tree climbing program for participants aged 5 - 11, where they learn the ins and outs of tree climbing. Using harnesses, helmets, and ropes to climb trees youth love seeing the world from a higher point of view!

Did you know we offer Outdoor Adventure Programs through Community Pass? All youth in Tompkins County can participate in these fun and exploratory programs, like ARTventure, Tree Climbing, Wildfire, and Into the Woods. These programs primarily focus on learning program basics, techniques, and leadership development while creating a culture of belonging and acceptance.

Our Explorers Program is a year-round program for youth in 6th grade through high school who attend a school within ICSD. This program allows students to participate in activities that encourage and promote team building, communication skills, and personal growth. Some participant favorites include hiking, rope activities, climbing, canoeing, and camping trips. The long-term nature of this program, also allows staff and participants and famililes to develop strong relationships with one another.

The Recreation Partnership (RP) is just one of the ways that our programs are able to be offered at a more affordable price to families. The RP is a collaboration of 10 municipalities in Tompkins County and through its support, YB Rec programs are accessible to more families in Ithaca and Tompkins County. You can find out more about the Recreation Partnership on our website at https://www.iybrec.org/recreation-partnership--city-discount.html