cincinnati chapter

Urban Wilderness began in Cincinnati, where the program continues to grow today. This chapter currently partners with 33 schools annually and has worked with over 100 schools throughout the region. Through local parks and waterways, students are often introduced for the first time to the outdoor spaces and natural resources that exist within their own community.

meet our Team

A smiling man outdoors wearing a baseball cap, reflective sunglasses, a black hoodie, a red and black jacket, and a backpack.

Trace Dunning

Close-up of a woman with wavy light brown hair and hazel eyes, wearing a white puffy jacket outdoors in snowy weather.

Madlen Anderson

A man with a beard wearing a black knit hat and a dark gray jacket, holding a white cup with a stir stick in his hand, outdoors on a snowy day.

Luke dunning

Close-up of a person wearing sunglasses and a light-colored cap with a brown patch, outdoors near water.

Kyle Siebert

From boatbuilding to outdoor field trip experiences, the Cincinnati Urban Wilderness team works hard to connect students with hands-on learning opportunities. Trace serves as Director of Urban Wilderness, while Madlen coordinates field trips and grant initiatives that help expand opportunities for students. Luke oversees canoe-kit milling, other woodworking projects, and will be head of the Shuman Urban Wilderness Center, set to open in Fall 2026. Kyle and Silas support boatbuilds, field trips, and day-to-day programming, helping create meaningful outdoor experiences for students throughout the year.

A young man with curly dark hair and facial hair, wearing a tan T-shirt with a logo that says 'Urban Kindness', is looking down at a drink with a straw in a clear plastic cup. The background shows shelves with boxes and a white wall.

Silas Fulton

Schools & Partners

Over the past 10 years, Urban Wilderness Cincinnati has continued to grow, partnering with more schools and community organizations each year through hands-on outdoor education and boatbuilding programming. Alongside long-standing relationships throughout the Cincinnati area, our traveling program has also expanded opportunities for students and educators in cities including Chicago, Charleston, and St. Louis. One of our strongest and longest-standing partnerships is with Aiken High School, where years of collaboration have led to the future home of the Shuman Urban Wilderness Center being built directly on campus.

schools

  • Aiken High School

  • Cheviot School

  • Clark Montessori High School

  • Clifton Area Neighborhood School

  • Corryville Catholic School

  • Covington Catholic High School

  • CREECS (South Carolina)

  • Dater Montessori School

  • Delhi Middle School

  • East Cooper (South Carolina)

  • Found Village

  • Forsyth School (Missouri)

  • Gamble Elementary

  • Highlands High School

  • Hughes High School

  • Kilgour Elementary

  • Murray LaSaine (South Carolina)

  • New School Montessori

  • North Avondale Montessori

  • Pleasant Ridge Montessori

  • Purcell Marian High School

  • Romero at Resurrection

  • Rockdale Academy

  • Rockwern Academy

  • Spencer Center

  • Springer School

  • The Wellington School

  • Winton Woods School

  • Zoo Academy

Partners

  • Adventure Crew

  • Cincinnati Parks

  • Cincinnati Recreation Commission

  • Cincinnati’s International Children’s Day

  • Great Parks of Hamilton County

  • Kid’s Outdoor Adventure Expo at Winton Woods Harbor

  • Lake Forest Open Lands Association

  • Peterloon (Scouting America)

  • Queen City Korfball

  • University of Cincinnati

  • Xavier University

Two boys are standing in shallow water, facing away from the camera, with one boy's arm around the other's shoulder. The boy on the left holds a fishing rod. They are dressed in dark t-shirts and shorts. The scene is outdoors with sunlight reflecting on the water.
Two children in a canoe on a calm river, surrounded by green trees and sunny weather.
Two people working together on a woodworking project, attaching or repairing a wooden frame with clamps, one using a power drill.
A person with brown hair, glasses, and wearing a Carhartt hoodie is using a hand planer on a piece of wood. A workbench and tools are visible in the background.

Interested in working with us?

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Your support helps expand hands-on boatbuilding and outdoor education opportunities for students.

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A young girl with braided hair standing on rocky shore fishing with a rod near a lake with trees in the background.
Three people working on a science experiment outdoors, with tools and equipment set up on a green bucket and a structure covered with tie-dye plastic.
Two children with curly and straight hair crouch near a small campfire made of sticks in a forest, while two other children stand nearby.