Outdoor Education & School Field Trips
Why Outdoor Education?
Learning looks different when students step outside the classroom.
Outdoor Education creates opportunities for students to observe, question, explore, and apply concepts in real-world settings. Through hands-on experiences, students strengthen critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills while building confidence and connections with their peers.
At Camp Carter, students don’t just learn about the world, they experience it.
The World Around Us
This year’s curriculum offers classic camp activities like archery, canoeing, hiking, outdoor life skills, and experiential science classes based on Texas ecosystems and natural history, plus an added focus on how humans connect to the world and how humans connect to each other through teambuilding and group challenges.
Why Teachers Choose Camp Carter
Students return to school with:
✅ Real-world applications of classroom learning
✅ Hands-on experiences that support TEKS objectives
✅ Improved teamwork, communication, and collaboration skills
✅ Increased confidence and independence
✅ Stronger connections with classmates and teachers
✅ A deeper appreciation for nature and the environment
✅ Meaningful memories that inspire future learning
✅ Discounts for students to attend summer camp programs
✅ A fun, screen-free experience they’ll talk about for months
Sample Full-Day Schedule
This is a sample daily schedule that varies by group. This is meant to be used for reference and a general look at Outdoor Education.
9:00 AM – Arrival & Welcome
9:30 AM – Ecosystem Exploration
11:00 AM – Team Building Challenge
12:00 PM – Lunch
1:00 PM – Canoeing or Archery
2:30 PM – Nature Journaling
3:30 PM – Reflection & Departure
Fueling Learning and Adventure
At YMCA Camp Carter, mealtime is an important part of the field trip experience. Our food service team specializes in serving meals that combine familiar school cafeteria favorites students know and enjoy with a touch of camp-style excitement. From chicken nuggets and mac and cheese to burgers, quesadillas, wraps, and more, our menus are designed to keep students energized for a full day of outdoor learning and exploration. Best of all, teachers and field trip coordinators can work directly with our team to determine meal selections that best fit their group’s preferences, dietary needs, and scheduling requirements. With nutritious options, flexible planning, and kid-approved favorites, we make mealtime one less thing for educators to worry about.
Supports Texas Learning Standards
This program is designed to complement classroom instruction and can be customized to support Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) objectives across multiple grade levels:
- Life Science
- Earth & Space Science
- Environmental Systems
- Scientific Investigation & Reasoning
- Teamwork & Leadership
- Observation & Data Collection
- Engineering & Problem Solving
We can also create themes for your trip that help connect to the current or future themes of classroom instruction. Common themes include:
🌿 Texas Ecosystems & Wildlife
🧭 Outdoor Skills & Orienteering
🔬 Scientific Investigation & Nature Journaling
🤝 Team Building & Leadership
🏕️ Outdoor Living Skills
🚣 Adventure-Based Learning



Customize Your Visit
Every school is different and so is every Outdoor Education experience at YMCA Camp Carter. Whether you’re planning a half-day field trip, a full-day adventure, or an overnight program, our team will work with you to design an experience that supports your educational goals, schedule, and budget.
We understand that schools and districts often work within fixed budgets. That’s why we offer flexible program options and customizable packages to help create an engaging, rewarding, and memorable experience for every group.
We Make Planning Simple
- Submit an inquiry form.
- Connect with our Outdoor Education team.
- Customize your activities, schedule, and budget.
- Bring your students and let us handle the experience.
Ready to start planning? Submit an inquiry, and we’ll work with you to build the right experience for your students.
Who We Serve
We’re proud to serve schools and youth groups of all varieties:
• Public Schools
• Private Schools
• Charter Schools
• Homeschool Groups
• Youth Organizations
• Scout Troops
• Church Groups
For years, YMCA Camp Carter has partnered with educators across North Texas to provide meaningful outdoor learning experiences for students of all backgrounds and learning environments. Major public school districts we have served include: Fort Worth ISD, Aledo ISD, Birdville ISD, Burleson ISD, Keller ISD, Crowley ISD, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, Everman ISD, Weatherford ISD, Carroll ISD, Castleberry ISD, Joshua ISD, and more.
We’ve also partnered with respected independent, charter, and private schools such as Fort Worth Country Day, Fort Worth Christian School, Alcuin School, Westlake Academy, The Oakridge School, The Shelton School, Great Hearts Lakeside, Grapevine Faith Christian School, Lake Country Christian School, and Montessori School of Fort Worth.
Whether you’re bringing a class of 20 students, an entire grade level, a homeschool co-op, or a school of more than 100 participants, our team can build an Outdoor Education experience that meets your educational goals, schedule, and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions













