National Youth Science Camp: About the Program

The NYSC Outdoor Program

The view on one of our mountain trails.
The NYSC's goal goes beyond simply teaching science. Leadership, passion, and appreciation of the wonders around us are invaluable characteristics for future scientists, and our outdoor program strives to encourage these traits to grow in all of our participants. The program is designed to show a wide variety of outdoor experiences, to do so with a minimal impact on the environment, and to be challenging for the experienced but accessible to those who have never slept outside before. For many delegates, the outdoor experiences rank among their fondest memories of camp.

In addition to the opportunities in and around the camp facility itself--which include playing various sports on our athletic fields, going for nature walks in and around the local streams, and pulling oneself up our climbing wall--delegates get several opportunities during the program to go out and try a wide variety of outdoor activities. The actual activities available each year vary due to weather or other conditions, but there are always plenty of exciting trips; every delegate gets to select three trips to go on during the course of the program.

For instance, there are a wide variety of overnight backpacking and camping trips, ranging from shorter hikes with a focus on nature observation to more challenging backpacking trips along rough terrain. All the trips feature fantastic views, the chance of seeing all sorts of local wildlife, and a wealth of experiences. The delegates are accompanied by experienced outdoor staff members, but encouraged to take a leadership role and have many opportunities to learn new skills, such as orienteering or cooking on a camp stove.

Delegates cruise along rough trails in a mountain biking excursion
There are also opportunities to go mountain biking along back trails of West Virginia. Our staff scouts out trails that will be challenging enough for the adventurous, but safe and approachable for less experienced riders.

Through the annual support of the West Virginia Wildwater Association, the camp is also able to send a large number of delegates kayaking down the New River. Delegates get some basic instruction in kayak safety, and then make their way through some calm waters and some exciting rapids, accompanied by experienced kayakers.

Delegates can also eleect to put on head lamps and delve into West Virginia's natural caves. Some of the caves get muddy and the ceilings can get pretty low, but it's a fantastic chance to work together as a team to meet challenges and explore as far as possible. Just like the trails, the caves are pre-scouted and known to be challenging and exciting while also being stable.

A delegate rapels down Seneca Rocks.
Meanwhile, other delegates get the chance to engage in rock climbing on some of the fantastic local rock formations. Even those who have never climbed a rock before will have a chance to pull themselves up and enjoy the view from the top of these formations, and then rapel down to the ground.

With so many activities, not every student gets to do everything that's available. But every trip brings with it many new wonders, opportunities to tackle new challenges and learn new skills and interests, and a new team of fellow delegates to get to know and work with.