the shuman Urban Wilderness Center
A hands-on learning hub for woodworking, outdoor skills, and real-world discovery.
Coming in 2027!
whAT is the center?
The Shuman Urban Wilderness Center is a new, 1,500 sq ft innovative learning hub and woodshop located on the campus of Aiken New Tech High School in the Cincinnati neighborhood of College Hill. Through in- and after-school programming, students will gain hands-on experience in woodworking, outdoor leadership, and skilled trades. The goal is to empower students across Cincinnati to build practical skills, earn valuable certifications, explore career pathways through a multi-year curriculum, and get unplugged and outside.
Who can participate?
The program will be open to students in grades 9 through 12 from any school across Greater Cincinnati, public, private, or charter, including Aiken High School. No prior woodshop or outdoor experience is required. Starting in fall 2027, the Center will offer a full after-school program, where students will meet twice weekly with the option to participate and grow at the Center for multiple years.
why is this important?
The Shuman Urban Wilderness Center allows students to learn in a new way: outdoors and out of the classroom. This immersive, experiential learning approach helps students build confidence, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities that traditional instruction often cannot reach, while also gaining practical knowledge relevant to carpentry, construction, industrial design trades, and more.
Centered around community
Our Goals
Learn outside the classroom
Connect students to outdoor and wilderness-based education.
hands-on teamwork
Build community through shared projects and teamwork.
career building
Create pathways toward certifications and future career opportunities.
The Program
Over an optional one, two, or three year track, students move from foundation to specialization to real-world application.
year 1: LEarn
Every student rotates through both the woodshop and outdoor pathways, building foundational safety skills, boatbuilding basics, and wilderness fundamentals.
year 2: dO
Students choose a focus, woodshop and boatbuilding, or outdoor education and woodsmanship, and take on more independent, advanced projects.
year 3: Teach & Apply
Students mentor incoming Year 1 participants, complete a capstone project, and take on an internship with a local business or organization.
a name worth carrying
robert shuman
The Shuman Urban Wilderness Center is named in honor of Robert Shuman, a longtime member of the Camping & Education Foundation community who spent 17 years connected to Camp Kooch-i-ching as a camper and staff member.
Robert found in the outdoors a place to grow, find purpose and help others do the same. He was a passionate mentor and, in the years before his passing in 2022, was actively involved with Urban Wilderness, helping create those same opportunities for young people in Cincinnati.
The Center carries Robert’s name as a way to honor his legacy and the family, friends, campers, staff, alumni and donors who helped bring it to life. Even the earliest contributions came from members of the Camp community, including CITs, counselors and staff who gave portions of their summer compensation in Robert’s memory.
Questions from Parents & Teachers?
Reach out to Trace@campingedu.org for more information about the program.
Student applications for the Center’s fall 2027 program will open next year!
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