About R.A.D. Camps

R.A.D. Camps began in 2008 and is based out of beautiful Bend, Oregon. All adventures are in the Deschutes and Willamette National Forests, with occasional state park adventures. R.A.D. Guides have several years of experience working with youth and are passionate about teaching them how to explore the great outdoors while being "impact free."

R.A.D. Camps provides an opportunity for kids to enjoy learning about the environment - “No Child Left Inside!” We enjoy utilizing this slogan to help promote the No Child Left Inside Act passed by congress in 2009. This act was passed to help get more kids outside and reconnected with nature.

We are committed to getting kids
outside enjoying Oregon!

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R.A.D. guides monitor children to ensure their safety while letting them play freely amongst themselves.

Behind our free play Philisophy

In the words of author Richard Louv (2008), in his book Last Child in the Woods, “…adult concern for, and behavior related to, the environment derives directly from participating in such ‘wild nature activities’ as playing independently in the woods, hiking, fishing...before the age of eleven.” Louv cites numerous studies and anecdotal observations showing how important “free play” and “natural play time” are for children, while highlighting the benefits obtained from these activities.

Appreciate and respect

R.A.D. campers enjoy the outdoors and leave nature as they found it. Our programs teach kids to appreciate and respect the environment while practicing "Leave No Trace" principles.

R.A.D. Sprouts are here!

R.A.D. Sprouts is our summer day camp program for kids 4-6 years old. Children learn about nature while playing freely outdoors under the supervision of a R.A.D. Guide & Bend Forest School Teacher. Adventures are held at local state parks Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

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GIT program for Teenagers

As a GIT (Guide In Training), kids will take on more responsibility through group management, situation assessment, and conflict resolution. They will work directly with their Lead Guide to ensure that all R.A.D. campers have a great day outside.

GITs help facilitate activities such as swimming, building forts, or playing games, all while being an extra set of eyes and ears for the Lead Guide.

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Our Guides

Trevor is a recent graduate of the Educational Foundations Masters program at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa where he focussed on Self-Directed Education. He is excited to be a part of the increasing availability of Self-Directed Education opportunities for youth. Trevor likes to take advantage of the specific opportunities every landscape offers, whether that is the Pacific Ocean of his former home in Hawai’i with it’s clear blue waters and shapely waves, or his current home in the high desert of Oregon with its ideal rock climbing.

Trevor

Nola grew up in California, spending as much time outdoors as possible. When she graduated high school, she moved to Banff, Canada to snowboard instruct for a season. After the season, she attended a small college in Valdez, Alaska studying outdoor leadership. After a year there, she moved to Bend to transfer to Oregon State University Cascades to continue studying Tourism, Recreation, and Adventure Leadership. Nola is excited to be working at RAD Camps this summer!

Nola

Amy is extremely excited about being a guide because it combines two of her favorite things: young people and the outdoors. She has been a physical education and guidance teacher for over 25 years at West Chester Friends School in Pennsylvania and is passionate about getting kids outdoors and supporting them to discover the wonders of nature. When she is not playing in the woods, she enjoys running, backpacking, reading and exploring with her family.

Amy

As a kid growing up in Bend, Ryan got to enjoy a wide variety of awesome outdoor activities. His time spent outside playing around Central Oregon’s rivers, lakes and trails are some of his best childhood memories. To this day, Ryan loves mountain biking, hiking and paddle boarding in the summer, and both alpine and nordic skiing in the winter.

Ryan

Sierra spends her summers kayaking the Deschutes, hiking with her dogs, and camping at every opportunity. She is excited to teach kids just how rad nature can be!

Sierra

Hello, my name is Savannah Rose I am excited to continue my work with children in the outdoors over the summer. I am currently a kindergarten teacher at Bend Forest School. This is my first summer in Bend I moved here with my dog Arrow from Big Sky Montana last September. Can’t ask for a better way to get out to all these amazing local Locations then with a group of excited and inquisitive children.

Savannah

Washington transplant with a degree in Environmental Education. I’ve spent the majority of my career teaching in forest schools throughout the San Juan Islands near Bellingham WA. I have 2 dogs and spend my free time traveling the USA and all the forests in between. Avid bug enthusiast and creative, practicing photography and whatever craft i’m currently into. Excited to spend this summer exploring Bend!

Cicada