Connecting Youth to Nature
Environmental Education is about learning skills, developing character, and making friends. At the Y, our programs introduce people to the natural world — often for the very first time — through hands-on exploration, outdoor adventures, and nature-based learning experiences. We visit more than 30 schools across the Fox Cities to bring science education directly into classrooms, and we offer exploration-based nature classes right here at the Y for children ages 3–5. Our curriculum is rooted in the Y’s core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility, helping participants discover how those values apply not just to the people around them, but to the natural world as well.
Our Programs
From school visits to outdoor camp, our Environmental Education programs meet young people where they are and bring the natural world to life. Here’s what we offer:
Youth & Family Programs
Youth & Family Programs
Our Environmental Education programs combine indoor and outdoor experiences — stories, crafts, hikes, and activities — for the best hands-on exploration and learning. Designed for young children and their families, these classes spend time on the Bruce B. Purdy Nature Preserve, a 104-acre parcel of native habitat with hiking trails open to all Y members and guests. Whether it’s your child’s first time spotting a bird or identifying a tree, these programs build a lifelong connection with the outdoors.
Outdoor Exploration Camps
Outdoor Exploration Camps
Outdoor Exploration Camps are offered during the summer, and teach kids everything there is to love about nature. These four-day camps offer a variety of themes for children ages 3–13 and are held at the Apple Creek YMCA and the Bruce B. Purdy Nature Preserve. Campers explore trails, discover local wildlife, and build a genuine sense of wonder and care for the environment around them — all in a safe, fun, and nurturing setting.
Field Trips
Field Trips
The Apple Creek YMCA and Bruce B. Purdy Nature Preserve make the perfect field trip destination for students from preschool through high school. We offer 2-hour and 4-hour options for most programs and can accommodate multiple classrooms in a single visit. All field trips are led by our trained naturalist staff and cover grade-appropriate topics across every season of the year. To learn more or book a field trip, contact our Environmental Education Director, Richard Imp, at gro.seiticxofacmy@pmir.
Nature Kids
Nature Kids
Nature Kids is a classroom-based program offered through the Apple Creek YMCA that brings nature directly to your students — no buses or field trip forms required. Our naturalist staff visit your classroom to deliver engaging, curriculum-connected science lessons that spark curiosity and a love of the natural world. It’s one of the easiest ways to bring environmental education into the school day.
Benefits of Environmental Education Programs
Our programs do more than teach science — they shape the kind of caring, curious, and responsible people the Y has always believed in.
Love of Nature
By introducing children to the natural world early, we help them build a genuine connection to the outdoors that lasts a lifetime.
Character & Values
Our curriculum incorporates the Y’s core values — caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility — and applies them to how we treat our environment.
Hands-On Learning
Stories, crafts, hikes, and activities make every lesson memorable and engaging for learners of all ages and backgrounds.
Health & Well-Being
Spending time in nature helps reduce stress, improve mood, and support overall physical and mental well-being.
The Bruce B. Purdy Nature Preserve
The Bruce B. Purdy Nature Preserve is a 104-acre parcel of native habitat located at the Apple Creek YMCA, featuring hiking trails open to all Y members and guests year-round. It serves as the heart of our Environmental Education programs — the place where children take their first hike and discover that the natural world is full of things worth caring for. Whether you’re joining us for a class or simply looking for a peaceful trail to walk, the Preserve is yours to explore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our programs serve a wide range of ages. Exploration-based nature classes are available starting with Parent & Caregiver classes, and independently for ages 3-12. Outdoor Exploration Camps serve ages 3–13, and field trips are available for students from preschool through high school.
Most programs take place at the Apple Creek YMCA and the Bruce B. Purdy Nature Preserve. Our Nature Kids and school outreach programs bring education directly to classrooms across the Fox Cities.
Yes! The Apple Creek YMCA and Bruce B. Purdy Nature Preserve offer 2-hour and 4-hour field trip options for all grade levels, led by trained naturalist staff. Contact Richard Imp at gro.seiticxofacmy@pmir to learn more.
Nature Kids is a classroom-based program where our naturalist staff come directly to your school — no transportation required. It’s a great way to bring hands-on environmental science into the school day.
Hiking trails at the Bruce B. Purdy Nature Preserve are open to all Y members and their guests year-round. The Preserve is located at the Apple Creek YMCA.
Register online through the program listing on this page. Y members enjoy priority registration and discounted rates. Questions? Contact us at gro.seiticxofacmy@ofniy.
