Experience Fun, Friends,
and Endless Adventure with R.A.D. Summer Camps!
Central Oregon’s Leading Youth Outdoor Program!
R.A.D. Camps Adventure Programs Since 2008
Our programs promote creativity, social interaction, and physical activity for campers of all ages, giving kids a break from their structured schedules.
R.A.D. Camps offers year-round adventure programs in Bend, Oregon, for kids ages 4-17. Our programs explore more than 50 unique locations in the forests and mountains of Central Oregon while learning about nature. The adventures focus on fun, free play, camaraderie, and promoting an appreciation for the natural world.
R.A.D. Camps 2021 Summer Recap!!
R.A.D. Camps is the only free play-based camp in the Central Oregon!
Camp Programs for Every Age Group
R.A.D. Camps
R.A.D. Camps offers summer day camps for children ages 7-17. Programs for ages 7-12 start at 8 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. Monday - Friday. Teen programs operate every Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
R.A.D. Sprouts
R.A.D. Sprouts is our summer day camp program for kids 4-6 years old. Adventures are held at local state parks & Wondery Studio, Mon/Tues & Thurs/Friday from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Wild Art Club
Wild Art Club is an After-School Program That Offers Indoor and Outdoor Adventures To Ages 5-11. Each day is a new creative adventure. Some weeks, we’ll explore in the studio, others, we’ll venture outdoors to Tumalo and LaPine State Parks.
G.I.T
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.
Guided Night Skiing & Snowboarding
Guided Night Skiing and Riding for ages 7-17. Trips leave from Bend, Oregon, in the R.A.D. vans after school and head up to Hoodoo Ski Area. Participants can ski with our guides or explore on their own.
How Our Summer Camp Programs Work
Pick Up
In the morning, find a R.A.D. Camps Guide at the drop-off location to check in your camper. Our guides will answer any questions you may have about your adventure.
Off to Explore
After all campers get checked in and our gear is loaded into one of our R.A.D. vans, we're off to explore one of 50+ destinations.
Fun & Adventure
Once at the trailhead, kids put on their backpacks and hit the trail for fun and the adventure of a lifetime!
Behind our free play Philosophy
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.
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.
Testimonials
“Rad Camps was the highlight of our summer. Each day we attended, our son got more and more comfortable with the outdoors and trying new things. Snakes, fishing, crawdads, swimming, and hiking, to name a few. On the first day at drop off, the counselors greeted our son, he was pretty reserved, and quiet. They said “it’s gonna be great, we will grab you a snake”. He bravely left for the lake. At pick up he said he had the best day ever and had held a snake. This was the best summer experience we could give our child.”
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