The Outdoor Adventure Program, one of The Storm King School’s most popular after-school activities, has evolved from a seasonal club into a signature, year-round experience that now includes a formalized, multi-level leadership component. Located in the scenic Hudson Valley with access to Black Rock Forest and nearby hiking destinations such as Minnewaska State Park, the Catskill Mountains, and the Shawangunk Ridge, Storm King has long used its natural surroundings to give students hands-on, leadership and character-building outdoor experiences. Since its inaugural hike in the fall of 2021, Outdoor Adventure has become a journey of exploration and skill-building for students across all seasons.
Outdoor Adventure began as a club with a focus on fall and winter outdoor activities. In the fall, students joined the OA team for regular hikes, weekend camping trips, rock climbing, mountain biking, and trail maintenance. With destinations like Breakneck Ridge, Popolopen Torne, and Minnewaska State Park, longer outings emphasized teamwork, fitness, and environmental awareness. Students earned “survival points” based on their participation, with opportunities to progress to JV, Varsity, or Captain ranks.
In the winter, the club’s focus shifted to cold-weather adventure, which brought students outside for snowshoeing, ice skating, sledding, and winter hiking—while also teaching important survival skills like hypothermia prevention and wilderness first aid. Due to popular demand, the program expanded to spring activities in 2022, offering students year-round opportunities to learn and connect with nature.
Building on these seasonal experiences, Storm King launched the Outdoor Adventure Award (OAA) in the fall of 2024—a major evolution of the program. Designed as an immersive experience, the OAA includes multi-day backcountry expeditions where students take full ownership of planning, logistics, and execution. Skills developed over previous seasons—such as navigation, outdoor cooking, gear management, and risk assessment—are now put into practice. Participants also work with dining staff to coordinate meals and must demonstrate readiness in both leadership and backcountry safety.
For the 2025–2026 school year, Storm King is expanding the Outdoor Adventure Award by launching Level 2—an important step forward in the program’s level of challenge and responsibility. Students at Level 2 engage in longer, more complex expeditions that require advanced planning and navigation over multi-day journeys with multiple overnight stays. They must coordinate meals in collaboration with dining staff, manage gear efficiently, and lead group decision-making in the backcountry.
Alongside physical challenges, Level 2 participants will deepen their knowledge of essential outdoor survival skills, including fire and shelter building, water sourcing and purification, first aid, and emergency response. They will also focus on mental resilience, weather and disaster planning, and plant and animal identification—building a comprehensive skill set to navigate and thrive in the wilderness.
The program also incorporates elective credits through alternative outdoor activities such as water sports, winter sports, archery, bushcraft, rock climbing, and conservation efforts, to name a few. Volunteer service also remains integral to the award’s philosophy, with Level 2 students dedicating additional hours to conservation projects, trail maintenance, and other activities in support of local forests.
With the new school year about to begin, the expanded Outdoor Adventure Award is waiting to provide students with a clear and exciting path to grow from beginners into capable outdoor leaders. With each level, they will have the chance to take on new challenges, build more advanced skills, and develop greater confidence and independence—all set against some of the most scenic and inspiring landscapes in the Northeast.
