Voted Best Summer Camp & Best Day Camp — Best of the Nest 2026, Bend Nest Magazine
Youth adventure, art, and outdoor programs in Bend, OR
Childhood gets bigger outside.
9 outdoor, adventure and art programs for ages 3–15, from nature preschool to tent-based overnights, based in Bend, Oregon.
Film: Justin Ewing
Find the right R.A.D. program
Pick your camper’s age to see which programs fit. Summer 2027 registration details are coming.
All 9 programs, youngest first.
Each session’s exact age rules are confirmed when you register.
R.A.D. Nest
AGES 3–4 · NATURE PRESCHOOL
A gentle first camp, with outdoor play at a preschool-aware pace.
R.A.D. Adventure
AGES 7–12 · FLAGSHIP DAY CAMP
Day camp that heads out across Central Oregon for hiking, water, games and exploring.
R.A.D. Art Camp
AGES 7–11 · VISUAL ART CAMP
A week of hands-on art: drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and more.
R.A.D. Bike
AGES 8–12 · BIKE CAMP
Bike camp for beginners to developing riders, with rides matched to each group.
R.A.D. Climbing
AGES 8–14+ · OUTDOOR CLIMBING CAMP
Outdoor rock climbing with careful instruction, no experience needed.
R.A.D. Overnights
AGES 9–15 · TENT-BASED OVERNIGHTS
Planned tent-based overnight trips with shared camp routines and guides close by.
R.A.D. Design & Build
AGES 9–13 · MAKER CAMP
Hands-on designing and building with tools, mechanisms and circuits.
R.A.D. Teens
AGES 13–15 · TEEN ADVENTURES
Bigger outdoor challenges and real independence, in a crew of teens.
No Child Left Inside.
Room to roam, with guides close by.
We plan carefully so children can explore fully—supported by guides who know when to step in and when to make room.
- Home base
- Seven Peaks School is our Bend hub, where programs check in and out.
- Where we go
- R.A.D. Camps operates under a special use permit with the Deschutes and Willamette National Forests.
- Who’s with them
- Meet all 28 guides, teachers, and leaders
What Bend families say about R.A.D.
We love R.A.D. Camps! It has been an amazing experience for our son Alder.
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He is getting out and enjoying some of the most beautiful places that Central Oregon has to offer. There is nothing better than your kid spending the day hiking, swimming, caving and making new friends, including frogs! R.A.D. Camps have created a wonderful outlet for kids to experience things they might not have ever experienced before. We are thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful program and we look forward to getting "R.A.D." every summer!
— Butsch Family Participation in R.A.D. Camps has been such a positive thing for my family.
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My two sons are looking forward to their third summer with R.A.D. Camps and will be joined by their younger sister this year! I am continually being amazed by the skills, knowledge and personal growth they have acquired through this experience. As well as building self-confidence, the program has also allowed them to build new friendships and establish a lasting connection to our beautiful state!
— Jennifer Marks This is my 8-year-old son’s first summer at R.A.D. Camps, and it is by far the best summer he has ever had!
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He’s having so much fun exploring and learning about the outdoors. And it’s awesome to watch his confidence grow as he makes new friends, engages in new adventures, and becomes more connected with nature. Plus, the guides are all so attentive, energetic, and amazing at what they do, and the staff-to-child ratio is so low, that the whole experience is completely unlike any other camp. We’re totally hooked on R.A.D. Camps!
— Kelli Kennedy
