Where every great adventure starts!
Our after school classes, daytrips, and weekly programs challenge campers to make a more meaningful connection with the outdoors and each other while treading lightly on the planet.
Each program, no matter the level, length, or difficulty works to build character, confidence, wilderness survival skills, environmental stewardship, a respect for others and the outdoors.
OUTDOOR SUMMER TRIPS!
Registration Opens Now!
MINI MT. LEMMON
WEEK 1
JUNE 5 - 9, 2023
This week is for the beginner hiker and outdoor adventurer! Get to know Tucson’s fun summer escape with day hikes on Mt. Lemmon. Receive an introduction to Leave No Trace principles, basic survival skills, map reading and plant & animal identification as you become more comfortable with the natural world! Hike different trails each morning, make fire-starters, paracord bracelets and build your own first aid kit each afternoon! Friday lunch will be a campfire cookout complete with Smores’! A pack list will be emailed prior to the start of camp.
Grades: 3 - 5
Time: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Guide: Polly Tanner & Claire Yarrington
Fee: $350
DIFFICULTY LEVEL:
MT. LEMMON BOUND W/ OVERNIGHT
WEEK 2
JUNE 12 - 16, 2023
Join us for a week of adventure as we escape the Tucson heat & head up to Mt. Lemmon. Hike different trails each day ranging from 3-6 miles on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday with day trips up the mountain. Thursday will be our overnight campout.
Learn outdoor survival skills, knot tying, map reading skills, observe wildlife & keep a detailed journal of your discoveries.
Please bring a sack lunch, snacks & a sturdy hiking backpack with the ability to carry at least 2 liters of water each day. A pack list will be emailed prior to the start of camp for the overnight.
Grades: 4 - 8
Time: 9:00AM - 4:00PM (Monday - Wednesday)
OVERNIGHT CAMP:
Arrive - Thursday at 9:00AM
Return - Friday at 4:00PM
Guide: Mary Grodman, Polly Tanner, Claire Yarrington
Fee: $400
DIFFICULTY LEVEL:
ADVENTURES IN FLAGSTAFF
WEEK 3
JUNE 19 - 23, 2023
Discover the wonders of the pinelands in Flagstaff, AZ! Peer through telescopes at Lowell Observatory, hike through lava fields to ancient Native American ruins, journey into a cave & fish at beautiful Mary Lake. Who knew Flagstaff had so much to offer! Sleep under the stars & wake up in the cool, clean air to prepare for day after day of fun & adventure! A scenic drive through the red rocks of Sedona on the way home will end our week of exploration!
All food, equipment, entrance fees and transportation will be provided. A detailed trip pack list will be provided before departure.
Grades: 4 - 8
TRIP DETAILS:
Departs - Monday at 8:00AM
Return - Friday at 5:00PM
Guide: Mary Grodman, Polly Tanner, Claire Yarrington
Fee: $550
DIFFICULTY LEVEL:
A TASTE OF TUCSON - GEOCACHING
WEEK 4
JUNE 26 - 30, 2023
Geocaching is a real-world treasure hunt that is happening right now, all around you! This week we will get a taste for caching as we explore Tucson! Our hometown has over 1600 hidden caches - a Geocacher’s dream! Basic orienting, directional navigation, geocaching terminology and hiking etiquette will be covered as we learn to program, read and navigate with a handheld GPS device. We will also learn and practice “Leave No Trace” principles by Caching-In and Trashing-Out, making sure we leave our town cleaner than we found it. Be ready to walk while navigating with a GPS to find as many hidden spots as we can while visiting different locations from local parks to historic neighborhoods, hiking trails and famous attractions! Join us on this “hide and seek” outdoor adventure this week!
A supply list will be provided prior to camp.
Grades: 3 - 6
Time: 8:00AM - 12:00PM
Guide: Mary Grodman, Polly Tanner, Claire Yarrington
Fee: $200
DIFFICULTY LEVEL:
BACKPACKING MT. BALDY
WEEK 5
JULY 5 - 7, 2023 (WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY)
Looking for your first WILD backcountry experience? Come with us to the White Mountains to find it! This is your chance to backpack around the state’s highest peak and learn about this unique area of the Navajo Nation. We will learn to read maps, how to be a good team member and a great leader, safety and emergency procedures, Leave No Trace Principles and some delicious backcountry recipes! The first night will be spent at a campground in Greer prepping for the trip, packing our backpacks and learning the skills you need to survive! Then we will head out bright and early the next morning for our overnight trek on Mt. Baldy!
All food, tents, entrance fees and transportation will be provided. Backpacks for use during overnights may be available upon request. A detailed trip itinerary and pack list will be emailed prior to departure.
Grades: 5 - 9
TRIP DETAILS:
Departs - Wednesday at 8:00AM
Return - Friday at 5:00PM
Guide: Mary Grodman, Blake Hinson, Claire Yarrington
Fee: $330
DIFFICULTY LEVEL:
MT. LEMMON BOUND
WEEK 6
JULY 10 - 14, 2023
Join us for a week of adventure as we escape the Tucson heat & head up to Mt. Lemmon. Hike different trails each day ranging from 3-6 miles all week with day trips up the mountain. Friday’s lunch will be a campfire cookout complete with Smores’!
Learn outdoor survival skills, knot tying, map reading skills, observe wildlife & keep a detailed journal of your discoveries.
Please bring a sack lunch, snacks & a sturdy hiking backpack with the ability to carry at least 2 liters of water each day. A pack list reminder will be emailed prior to the start of camp.
Grades: 4 - 8
Time: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Guide: Polly Tanner & Claire Yarrington
Fee: $350
DIFFICULTY LEVEL:
ADVENTURES IN THE HEART OF ARIZONA - PAYSON
WEEK 7
JULY 17 - 21, 2023
Payson is commonly referred to as the “Heart of Arizona,” due to its central geographic location, rich natural landscape and the fact that it is surrounded almost entirely by the Tonto National Forest! Your eyes will be delighted as we take in the gorgeous landscape, breathtaking natural features and magical sunsets. Each day will bring a new adventure on the Mogollon Rim from hiking to waterfalls to exploring a local fish hatchery to fishing the Rim Lakes to digging for fossils at the Naco Paleo Site, the outdoor adventures are abound! Students will experience all the outdoors has to offer while we encourage them to challenge themselves, find a passion for history and environment education that hopefully continues past their time with us! Come on this grand adventure with us as we finish out our 10 year anniversary of fun, adventure and education!
Grades: 4 - 8
TRIP DETAILS:
Departs - Monday at 8:00AM
Return - Friday at 4:00PM
Guide: Mary Grodman, Polly Tanner, Claire Yarrington
Fee: $550
DIFFICULTY LEVEL:
M E E T Y O U R G U I D E S
All programs led by qualified, experienced, outdoor professionals.
M A R Y G R O D M A N
FOUNDER . GUIDE . PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Mary Grodman, Adventure Guide & Program Coordinator, is one of our founding staff of the OA program. She is excited to celebrate 10 years of adventure with your camper this year! Mary has a degree in Environmental Science & Criminal Justice from Stockton University in New Jersey and is a certified backpacking, canyoneering and rock climbing guide. Mary holds certifications in CPR, Leave No Trace Guidelines, Food Handling and Wilderness First Aid through Base Medical. Mary handles all the program logistics from making camping reservations, securing permits, ordering supplies and helps design the curriculum for each trip. She is ready to get back OUTSIDE and have a year of Fun, Adventure and Education with you!
P O L L Y T A N N E R
ADVENTURE GUIDE
Polly Tanner, Adventure Guide, spends the school year at Manzanita Elementary School's Library where she has been encouraging & inspiring book-readers for 28 years! When she does manage to get some time outside, she spends it trail running around Tucson and kayaking Arizona’s rivers and lakes. Polly is certified in First Aid, CPR, Leave No Trace Guidelines, and holds a NOLS Wilderness First Aid certification. She has worked on perfecting every detail of our trip itineraries, incorporating the history and outdoor learning for each adventure for our campers and their journals since 2013!
B L A K E H I N S O N
ADVENTURE GUIDE
Blake Hinson, Adventure Guide, is a teacher at Catalina Foothills High School and loves hiking, camping and recreating! He moved to Tucson from Colorado where he worked for Rocky Mountain National Park for 8 years. He has an undergraduate degree in Science from Colorado State University and a Masters Degree in Education from University of Northern Colorado. During his free time, he loves to run and bike. Blake is the Girl’s Cross Country and the Track & Field Throwing Coach for Foothills. He is excited to share his knowledge about the Sonoran Desert and all the great outdoor opportunities it presents!
C L A I R E Y A R R I N G T O N
ADVENTURE GUIDE
Claire Yarrington, Adventure Guide, is a Junior at Prescott College studying Sustainable Food Systems and Adventure Education. Claire was a student at CFSD and participated in the Community Schools Outdoor Program for 8 summers and is now a Guide for the program! Claire has always been excited about the outdoors and environmental education. Claire hopes to pass on knowledge to every student that goes through the program, as well as motivate them to become stewards of the environment!
Community Schools Outdoors Staff
- Everyone on our Outdoor Staff is fun, friendly, helpful, and sincerely interested in making sure that your student has a great time on their trip!
- Feel safe sending your student with Guides who have certifications in Wilderness First Aid, Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics, Basic Water Rescue, Backpacking & Canyoneering and Food Sanitation.
- Our staff is well versed about the geology, ecology and history of the areas in which we operate, and we enjoy answering questions and sharing our knowledge with your student. We pride ourselves in having good equipment and taking care of it. We also work continuously to implement new and innovative ideas that make our trips even better and more comfortable for everyone.
- We keep our trip enrollment numbers small so we can put a personal touch on every adventure program. We strive to make sure everyone receives individual attention!
- Camp food will be abundant and delicious, nutritious meals are served throughout our 5-day trips and always with some help from the students.
- We provide a pack list & itinerary for each trip, so you and your student know how to prepare for your program.
Our motto is Fun, Adventure & Education; Community Schools Outdoors can meet all your child’s outdoor adventure needs!
Check back often to see our most current offerings!
Our scale begins with one hiker,
Our scale ends at four hikers,
Please read each trip description carefully and call us (520-209-7551) if you have questions before you register. We can help match your child with the correct trip for his/her level.
You do not need to be a professional athlete to take part in an adventure, but you do need to be an active person. A keen desire to learn, have fun, strong motivation, and a positive attitude are equally important to success!
Links to Waivers for Outdoor Adventures: