Outdoor Awareness Program (OAP)
The Outdoor Awareness Program (OAP) was founded in 1977. Since the beginning, we have believed that formal education alone is not enough to give students a good, holistic experience. Our OAP program is designed to supplement the school curriculum with a practical experience that students and teachers can use for a variety of purposes. Located on the 40,000-acre Y.O. Ranch allows us the prime opportunity to give students a first-hand, up-close, and live look at the world around them.
Over the years, the OAP has been recognized for its excellence. It has won a number of awards including the "Outstanding Outdoor Education Program" award from the Texas Outdoor Education Association. Contributing to this excellence is a dedicated OAP educational staff, a natural environment to experience and concepts which encourage individual involvement within our environment. These concepts, along with the OAP experience, will last each student a lifetime.
Facilities
The OAP program is operated by Y.O. Ranch Adventures and is located at the heart of the 40,000 acre Y.O. Ranch. The vast amount of land the ranch provides the Camp is a truly unique setting. Camp headquarters consists of separate boys' and girls' side, an open-air pavilion, camp store, kitchen, camp offices, infirmary, and recreational areas.
In addition to the main camp, Y.O. Ranch Adventures has activity sites spread throughout the Ranch.
- Camp Corrals
- Riding Arena
- Archery & Shooting Ranges
- Two Low Ropes Courses
- High Ropes Course
- 45-foot Climbing Tower
- Campsites and Exotic Game Pastures
- Curriculum
All OAP activities follow an outlined curriculum. Not only will your science curriculum be supplemented by the OAP activities, but Social Studies, Math, Physical Education, Geography, English and Fine Arts as well.
There are many aspects of the OAP that can be tied into projects back in the classroom. The program director and all the instructors will be very happy to work with you to create a program that will suit your needs. Before selecting activities, we suggest that you develop some specific goals for your program.
There are two activity periods available per day, with each activity designed to last three hours.
The OAP has 3 main sections:
- Environmental Education
- Outdoor Skills
- Personal Development
These classes offer students a chance to get up close with nature and its inhabitants through observation, collecting and handling live specimens. The activities all discuss current issues related to the environment and how the students can have a positive effect on the world around them.
Natural History: Up-close observation of over fifty species of exotic and native wildlife offers a wide range of educational opportunities.
Outdoor Skills
Through these diverse activities, our programming will introduce your students to fun, outdoor hobbies which will allow them to safely practice their skills in a supervised environment.
Overnight Campout: Campout sites are located in a beautiful 2,000-acre pasture. They are isolated, yet only a 15-minute drive from main camp. After an afternoon of exploring and discovery, students will assist with the meal preparation by making their own fires and cooking their own dinners...a favorite activity of the campers. The students can reflect on their day by bedding down under the stars, uninhibited by city lights.
Fire Arms Safety, Shotgunning & Riflery: The OAP philosophy is to instill in the students how important these frontier tools were for survival. This program also teaches students the serious responsibilities that come with operating and handling firearms.
Horse Trails: Students learn the basics of grooming, saddling and preparing their horse for the trail. Even the experienced horseman will enjoy this casual ride where you can climb to the tops of hillsides and see exotic and native animals roaming free.
Wilderness Essentials: Students will learn the basics of outdoor survival…fire and shelter building along with how to pack for hiking trips.
Orienteering: Students will learn how to read a map and properly use a compass. Once they have accomplished those skills they will be sent to test their navigational abilities on our orienteering course.
Nature Hike: Our Wildlife Biologist will point out several of the native and exotic flora and fauna, including several species of deer and antelope as the students hike through parts of the 40,000-acre ranch. On the return students will be given a checklist sheet and be expected to identify what they saw earlier.
Archery: Students will learn basic archery skills and safety. They will learn about the parts of the bow and arrow and how to properly use the equipment.
Evening Activities
Campfire: Sit around the fire ring in our pavilion while sharing camp stories and making YO S'mores.
Dutch Auction: Campers perform skits…with a YO twist.
Create-A-Cow: This is an environmental game where students create their own animal. The emphasis of this activity is to have campers work as a group to apply their knowledge of animal adaptations, habitat, and structure in order to invent a creature.
Capture the Flag: Run and fun!
Ice Cream Social: Cool off with a refreshing Sundae.
Liar's Club: How good can you tell a lie from the truth? Our staff tries to stump the campers by making up wild stories about obscure objects.
Egg Drop: Students use their powers of creativity to build a mechanism that will keep their egg from ending up like Humpty Dumpty!
Ultimate Frisbee: Frisbee with a twist, teamwork is essential in this game!
Personal Development
This set of activities gives the students the opportunity to take an inward look at themselves and to discover their limits while striving to push beyond them. Everyone is supported equally in a safe and positive atmosphere that promotes growth through challenge by choice.
Group Challenge: This course is a series of elements that requires group interaction to solve problems. Skills such as teamwork, trust, communication and leadership are put to the test.
High Ropes Course: This high ropes course offers students a hands-on goal to achieve. Acknowledging fear and overcoming it makes this challenging course of cables and poles fun, rewarding and enhances self-esteem.
Climbing Tower: Overlooking the main camp, our 45-foot tower is quite a sight! The tower is a physical adventure with multiple climbs for all levels of participation. |
