UNCOMMON IMPACT

The Urban Wilderness Program has served students through its hands-on boatbuilding program and immersive outdoor field trip. This curriculum reinforces STEM-based learning that challenges students to translate academic learning into real-life skills.

  • The Urban Wilderness Program is an A+ experience for anyone who likes to rough it and do hard work. It is, to put it simply, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

    HENRY DEMKO | DATER MONTESSORI STUDENT

  • One of the the most amazing things I’ve seen in years!

    JOHN DARNELL | HIGHLANDS HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

  • The experience gives us invaluable academic touch-points for the rest of the year.

    ANDY MCCLELLAN | NORTH AVONDALE MONTESSORI TEACHER

  • No one believes what they can accomplish at first. There is nothing better than to see every kid succeed.

    TRACE DUNNING | URBAN WILDERNESS PROGRAM

ENGAGING

Kids will be often be incredulous. Can a pile of wood will become a boat? Can we learn to use the saws, planes, spoke shaves and drills? How will we guide our canoe down the river? Without fail, they realize they’ve learned the skills necessary and have the power to successfully achieve the task at hand.

RELEVANT

Science, engineering, and math come alive. Finding the middle of a thwart reminds kids fractions are important. Steam bending is a perfect physics lesson. And, feeling resin harden after 30 minutes will make chemistry magical.

DYNAMIC

Since its inception 12 years ago, the Urban Wilderness Program has worked to make programming more relevant and engaging. Urban Boatbuilders, Wilderness Inquiry, University of Cincinnati and many other organizations have helped us along the way. And while we have built more than 70 canoes, hosted hundreds of field trips, and worked with nearly 8,000 students, we ask teachers and kids to tell us how we can improve after every program.