Classes

Outdoor Skills School is passionate about empowering people to get outside! Our classes are geared toward the individual who wants to acquire the skills to safely enjoy the outdoors... 

Explore & sign up for current offerings under the book a class tab

 

"I was solo backpacking the Pemigewasset Wilderness in the White Mountains this weekend. At some point, I lost the trail. I spent about 15 minutes trying to backtrack before giving up. I knew roughly where I was, so I used my map to choose a compass bearing and bushwhacked for about 45 minutes before reconnecting with the trail a ways ahead. Thank you for teaching me how to do all that!" 

- Jascha Franklin—former student

 

 

Group Classes

Map & Compass 101

Map & Compass 101 will help you translate the two-dimensional map to the three-dimensional world surrounding you. During this classroom session, held at Rhinegeist Brewery, basic map reading skills will begin as the foundation, followed by an introduction to the compass. By the end of this 2hr class you will be using these two tools together!

Map & Compass Excursion

Outdoor Skills School's Map & Compass Excursion will be held at Mt. Airy Forest / McFarlan Woods. This half day outing will allow you to use the skills learned in the Map & Compass 101 in a real world setting. Mt. Airy is Cincinnati's largest urban park and this is a great way to explore it. Advanced skills not covered in 101 will also be covered on this day. 

 

Backpacking 101

This class is the prequel to the Backpacking Excursion where we discuss the basics of backpacking & plan a weekend expedition

Backpacking Excursion

This single day hike will allow you to practice some of the skills covered in Backpacking 101 at a park conveniently located in Cincinnati

Backpacking Expedition

This single day hike will allow you to practice some of the skills covered in Backpacking 101 at a park conveniently located in Cincinnati

 

Urban Bicycle Commuting

Learn to safely navigate the city streets

Outdoor Cooking

Cooking on a camp stove doesn't mean you have to eat dehydrated mashed potatoes for 3 days...

Individual Lessons

Top Rope Anchor Building

Learn how to make bomber top-rope anchors so you can take your climbing outside safely

Climbing Self Rescue

This lesson will introduce you to the skills necessary to take over a belay and rescue a climber