Outdoor Adventures is designed with the belief that wilderness and adventure tripping provides each participant with the opportunity to grow in spirit, mind, and body.

Core Values

The New York YMCA Camp follows, exemplifies and teaches four core values in each of its programs. These core values are: caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. These values will be felt in everything we do and will lead to a wonderful and life-enhancing experience.

Caring
Each Outdoor Adventures trip is designed to introduce campers to new destinations and experiences. Campers will learn to care for each other, supporting each individual's strengths and weaknesses. Trips may take campers far away from their usual comforts of home. Learning to care for one's self is an important part of the program. Campers will learn the importance of proper hygiene and nutrition while on the trail.

Honesty
Campers face honest decisions each day. With each trip offering new experiences, campers may feel uncertain and hesitant. The Outdoor Adventures leaders are trained to talk honestly with campers about their goals for the trip and guide them safely through the challenges they encounter. Campers will learn to face new experiences honestly, and to experience joy in tackling new challenges successfully.

Respect
Tripping programs offer campers a close community built upon respect for each other. Building a foundation upon respect creates an atmosphere of trust and inter-dependence. To accomplish this, the Outdoor Adventures leaders focus campers on learning about themselves and each other, and equally important, learning to respect each other’s differences as well as similarities.

Responsibility
Throughout their trips, campers will learn responsible low impact and leave-no-trace camping techniques. Learning to be respectful of the places they visit generates a responsibility in each camper to protect the natural beauty around them.