Open Outdoors
Igniting your love of the outdoors starts here. Indigenous Peoples and equity deserving groups learn outdoor skills for free.
An Open Invitation to Outdoor Pursuits
The YMCA Open Outdoors program is designed to ignite a love of the outdoors by offering accessible skill building activities to empower equity deserving communities to be comfortable in the outdoors. Equity deserving communities are those historically under-resourced and under-represented in outdoor education and includes Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, and disabled communities. In addition to these groups, the program also aims to engage Indigenous youth and families recognizing the specific historical colonial inequities tied to land access and the outdoors that has led to Indigenous underrepresentation in outdoor education.
Join us for outdoor educator-led sessions to build skills and confidence, learn more about the natural world around you, and connect with others. We are committed to supporting you in your journey to enjoy the outdoors and gain new skills year-round.
More details can be found at registration.
Each month we will focus on a new outdoor skill and alternate between our three outdoor centre locations: YMCA Cedar Glen, YMCA Camp Pine Crest, and our satellite outdoor centre located on Toronto Island. Skill instruction will vary based on the location and time of year. We encourage participation from individuals, families and groups, but please note that youth must be 16 years old to participate without adult supervision.
Our thanks to the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and many other generous donors who make the YMCA Open Outdoors program possible.
Learn Outdoor Skills
Each Open Outdoors’ session will focus on developing, or building upon, an outdoor skill, such as: rock climbing, hiking, canoeing, snow shoeing, and more!
Program offerings will be seasonally dependent.
See our calendar below of all current scheduled sessions.
Open Outdoor Programming Calendar
Date & Time | Location | Program Highlight | Transportation Available | Register Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
March 2, 2025 1–4 pm | YMCA Cedar Glen Outdoor Centre | Maple Syrup Process | Busing is available from David Braley YMCA. Sign up during registration. | |
| March 8, 2025 8 am–6 pm | YMCA Camp Pine Crest | Winter Travel and Play | Busing is available from David Braley YMCA. Sign up during registration. | Register Now! |
| March 29, 2025 12 pm–4 pm | Toronto Island | Outdoor Cooking and Fire-building | Ferry tickets will be provided. | Waitlist available |
Locations & Transportation Details
Getting to our outdoor centres just got easier! Complimentary bus service is available for most sessions, making a round trip from The YMCA at The David Braley Vaughan Centre to either outdoor centre, and back.
The YMCA at The David Braley Vaughan Centre is accessible by TTC and Viva.
Departure and arrival times of the bus are listed when you register for each session.
Our outdoor centres are also available by vehicle and have free parking onsite.
Busing is not available for sessions located at Toronto Island, however the cost of the ferry will be covered by the YMCA.
YMCA Cedar Glen Outdoor Centre
YMCA Cedar Glen is situated on 263 acres of the Oak Ridges Moraine, a 45-minute drive north of Toronto. Since 2001, our site and staff have been connecting people of all ages to nature, offering year-round experiences for groups, families, and individuals.
YMCA Camp Pine Crest
YMCA Camp Pine Crest is located in Muskoka, Ontario. Nestled on the shores of beautiful Clear Lake, in Muskoka, Ontario, Camp Pine Crest is situated on over 650 acres and has provided outdoor camping experiences since 1910.
Toronto Island YMCA (satellite outdoor centre location)
Toronto Island YMCA is a short ferry ride from downtown Toronto, our parkland site offers a variety of land and water activities. Outdoor Centre programs are offered during June and September for school and groups of all ages.