New Hampshire is known for its picturesque towns, abundant wildlife, and sprawling wilderness. Home to White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire and most of New England is loved for its natural beauty and scenery. It’s nicknamed the Granite State for its many granite quarries, but you’ll find more than impressive quarries in the state.
Breathtaking mountains and dramatic lakes inspire nature lovers to travel here all year round. Outdoor adventures are plentiful in the Granite State, and there’s something for every age level! Ziplines, ropes courses, swimming, canopy tours, canoeing, kayaking, and river rafting can keep kids entertained all summer. Visiting during the fall months is also a great time to witness its natural beauty, especially as the leaves begin to change colors.
New England’s beautiful scenery and abundant outdoor activities make this state an excellent place for kids to attend outdoor education schools. Whether you’re a teacher planning an awesome field trip to give kids hands-on learning experiences in nature or a parent looking to enroll their child in outdoor classes, here’s a breakdown of amazing outdoor education schools in New Hampshire.
1. Cody Outdoor Classroom
Address: 9 Cody Road, Freedom, NH
Type: Residential
Cody Outdoor Classroom has been creating memorable outdoor learning experiences for elementary and middle school students for over twenty years. The program is located in Freedom, NH, and kids can be amazed by the beauty of the White Mountains as they stroll the shoreline of Ossipee Lake.
Instructors guide them through the forest as they learn about biology, physics, ecology, and leadership. Forget the chalkboard and classroom, students learn by getting their hands dirty and solving problems in real life. Trained instructors give lessons outside while groups can explore the nearby trails and lake. Lessons are meant to be fun, engaging, and encourage the growth of social skills and leadership skills.
Children also have access to a science fair program, a low ropes course, guided night hikes, basketball courts, soccer fields, and other outdoor games. Cody Outdoor Classroom helps build a personalized plan for you and your students. The program is highly customizable so that you can stay for a day trip or a five-day overnight adventure.
2. Camp Quinebarge
Address: 100 Sibley Rd, Moultonborough, NH 03254
Type: Residential
Camp Quinebarge offers a traditional summer camp with a focus on environmental education! It’s located in Moultonborough, NH, about two hours from Boston. The camp offers daily pickups from both the Manchester Airport as well as Boston-Logan. It’s as easy as choosing between their 2-, 4-, 6-, or 8-week sessions and loading your kids onto the plane.
Camp Quinebarge is a cozy spot for a camp, tucked in amongst the pine trees with a scenic waterfront area. It offers all of your standard camp activities, such as swimming, boating, hiking, and arts & crafts. But they also offer your kids the opportunity to explore activities related to sustainability and conservation, such as organic gardening and water filtration systems, plus much more.
With activities chosen on a weekly basis and four electives plus swimming every day, there’s plenty of opportunity to try something new! Not to mention that their low camper-to-staff ratio allows for one-on-one attention and assistance with goal-setting and achievement.
3. NH Audubon
Address: 84 Silk Farm Road Concord, NH 03301
Type: Day
NH Audubon is an organization dedicated to protecting the environment of New Hampshire. With four centers in the state, NH Audubon can offer a variety of outdoor activities and educational programs for everyone. Bring your class or kids to a center for lessons on wildlife preservation and restoration, opportunities to get near reptiles and birds of prey, and guided nature hikes with expert naturalists.
Students of all ages can learn about the environment at NH Audubon. Through various activities, they learn how to identify common New Hampshire plants and animals and how things rely on each other in different ecosystems. Other program topics include birding, ponding, and tracking. The dense forests offer incredible opportunities for bird watching and identifying, ponds allow students to explore the importance of wetlands, and animal sanctuaries teach enrollees about wildlife preservation.
Schedule a one-time event or a series of presentations and outdoor learning activities. If you can’t come to them, they’ll come to you. Instructors can present a topic of your choice at your school for a mileage fee of .90 per mile.
4. Eastern Mountain Sports School
Address: 2686 White Mountain Highway North Conway, NH 03860
Type: Classes/Day
Eastern Mountain Sports School takes groups on exciting adventures to explore the great outdoors. The school is minutes away from Echo Lake State Park, where explorers can climb among Whitehorse Ledge, swim at the iconic Echo Lake, and hike trails through the tranquil forest.
Rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, skiing, and paddling are some of the exciting activities that attract visitors to North Conway year-round. It’s a great place to bring adventurous students out for a day trip. You can plan an organized climbing program with a certified expert instructor. The school provides all equipment, you just need to bring a love of adventure!
All educational climbing programs are custom designed to fit your group’s interests. Prices depend on group size and interests. Parents looking for outdoor classrooms for their children can sign them up to join classes with an existing group.
5. Longview School
Address: 55 Reservation Rd, Deerfield, NH 03037
Type: Actual school
This 154-acre campus takes youth on educational adventures around the Pawtuckaway State Park area. Students and teachers can enjoy a 5,000-acre panoramic view of the surrounding nature preserve when they arrive at this beautiful campus.
The Longview School empowers boys and girls by guiding them through outdoor learning opportunities and outdoor therapeutic activities. Their mission is to help participants with learning disabilities and emotional struggles overcome their challenges and thrive in the great outdoors. Students can get involved in various activities like hiking, canoeing, gardening, art therapy, culinary arts, and mountain biking.
This is an actual school that grants diplomas to high school students in grades 9th through 12th. If you want your child to experience day-long hiking trips and camping adventures while gaining an education, this might be the perfect fit.
6. Holderness School
Address: 33 Chapel Ln, Holderness, NH 03245
Type: Boarding School
Minutes from downtown Plymouth you can find the enchanting Holderness School. Mountains, rivers, and lakes in the surrounding area offer plenty of outdoor learning opportunities for students. At Holderness school, students can bike or hike up Rattlesnake Mountain, climb the Rumney Rocks, or paddle around Squam Lake. The boarding school provides outdoor education to those who are passionate about connecting with the natural world.
The stunning natural landscape offers exciting adventure education opportunities for students. Squam Lake becomes a biology lab, and the White Mountains welcome students for week-long hiking and camping excursions. Youth can also build confidence by exploring adventure sports like mountain biking, rock climbing, and whitewater kayaking.
Holderness School truly makes the most out of its environment and helps students develop a deep appreciation for nature. Contact the school to enroll your children.