Connecting RVA Youth to the Outdoors

We connect Richmond area youth of all ages to the natural environments in our region, reaching elementary, middle and high school students through in-school, after-school, weekend and summer programs.

Program Goal 1

Help children achieve academic success, especially in the sciences, through active outdoor education that is appropriate for their current science curriculum.

Program Goal 2

Develop character and leadership through outdoor experiences that expand horizons, increase confidence, and build collaboration skills.

Elementary School

Explorers (EXP)

Blue Sky Fund Explorers provides educational programming during school hours that creates hands-on outdoor experiences through nature-based science lessons that enrich Virginia Standards Of Learning (SOL) in 12 Title I Richmond Public Schools.

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Middle School

Outdoor Adventure Clubs (OAC)

OAC members learn basic outdoor skills such as rock climbing, hiking, camping, and kayaking. The program culminates each semester with an expedition that challenges the youth to use their new skills on an overnight in the great outdoors.

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High School

Outdoor Leadership Institute (OLI)

OLI is a high school program that includes an intense summer wilderness experience and on-going Saturday service projects through the following school year designed to build confidence, multicultural teamwork, leadership and community involvement.

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Program History

Connecting Youth to the Outdoors since 2007

Blue Sky was born out of a passion to connect children from under-resourced areas to the life-changing experience of summer camp. Initially, this was achieved by providing scholarships for campers in growing numbers from 2003-2006. In 2007, the focus shifted toward developing sustainable operations to provide lasting impact for Richmond youth, which led to incorporating Blue Sky as a non-profit organization.

Over the next fifteen years, our programming has evolved into three core programs – Explorers, Outdoor Adventure Clubs, and the Outdoor Leadership Institute – which offer a continuum of nature-based activities designed to increase equitable access to the outdoors, strengthen resilience skills, and promote environmental literacy for over 2,000 students each school year.

Our Community

Partnerships

Blue Sky Fund is fortunate to work with a number of partners who provide a wide range of services - rafting to climbing, free-form play to structured service projects, school district to small non-profit in size. We are excited to work with any organization that focuses their energy and mission on providing meaningful experiences for students. 

If you work within a business or group that would be interested in exploring the possibilities of a partnership, email info@blueskyfund.org, or fill out our Contact Us form to get in touch!