There’s something for everyone at the Y! Find the right programs foryou and your family!

Outdoor Programs

For groups planning a day or overnight trip to our site, we have a wide range of outdoor programs available! Facilitated by our highly trained and experienced Outdoor Educations, all equipment is provided for all participants. With a wide range of programs available seasonally or all year round, you and your group are sure to find programs that will meet your goals from teambuilding, outdoor education and of course, tons of fun!

Leadership & Team Building

Our multiple high and low level challenge courses provide an excellent environment for groups to work together, build trust, and develop communication in a safe setting that promotes personal growth. Through targeted games and activities your participants will be encouraged to work together to succeed! Our staff will work with your group to design a specific program that meets your desired goals and outcomes.

Teambuilding Initiatives

Through targeted games and activities participants will be pushed and challenged to work as a team and develop important new skills. Trust, communication and teamwork are common outcomes of these activities. This program is highly adaptable to target almost any characteristic of group dynamics, personal development or social inclusion.

Appropriate for all ages.

Low Ropes

With group challenges and activities, as well as use of our low-to-the ground challenge course participants will be encouraged to work together to succeed at a series of challenges. Trust, communication and teamwork will be the focus of these activities.

Appropriate for all ages.

Outdoor Maze Now Open!

Our outdoor maze at Cedar Glen has recently been relocated and rebuilt. It is a unique team building initiative, that is a group favourite activity! There is one observation tower located in the centre of the maze, 5 different entrances/exits, and many dead ends. Participants start with a simple walk through, and then are presented with various challenges and activities individually, in pairs, or as a group.

Appropriate for all ages.

High Ropes

Supporting their team on the High Ropes course or Climbing Wall provides an excellent environment for groups to work together, build trust, and develop communication in a safe setting that promotes personal growth. Participants will take responsibility for one another in a very real way by belaying the climbers in teams with staff supervision. Our staff will work with your group to select appropriate elements and design a specific program that meets your desired goals and outcomes.

Not available on Sundays.

Appropriate for Grade 3 and up.

Outdoor Living Skills

Our Outdoor Skills Programs offers everyone the opportunity to develop new skills, explore the property and gain confidence in a safe, and supervised wilderness experience.

Animal Survival Challenge

Participants learn about the food chain while taking on the role of herbivores, omnivores or carnivores to simulate an ecosystem.

Appropriate for Grade 3 and up

Map Orienteering

Participants will learn to use a map for navigation, including recognition of many important aspects of a map: legend, scale, title and the compass rose. Further they will learn how to orient the map to represent their direction of travel, recognize major landmarks or terrain features. The participants will participate in a competitive challenge course using these skills, collect clues and unscramble a secret message!

Appropriate for all ages

Compass Orienteering

Participants will be instructed in the basics of compass orienteering and navigation. Everything from finding magnetic north, setting and following a bearing and the ‘landmark’ and ‘leapfrog’ system will be introduced for the participants to use their new skills and explore Cedar Glen as they race other teams to complete a scavenger course.

Appropriate for all ages

Fire Building

In the outdoor living skills program, participants will practice their survival skills in a safe and nurturing environment. Participants will learn the essential skills necessary to starting and maintaining a safe campfire, utilizing natural materials found in Cedar Glen’s unique ecosystem. Once the fire is lit, participants will make a snack over the fire to learn about outdoor cooking and enjoy it as a reward for their hard work!

Appropriate for all ages

Archery

Participants will be instructed in safe, effective, operation of archery equipment under the supervision of a trained professional. Participants will develop an appreciation for a major technological innovation of many early cultures, as well as explore the significance of this discovery to these cultures ability to hunt, and provide food.

Appropriate for Grade 3 and up

Crash in Bear Country

This is a culminating activity using the outdoor living skills learned by the participants over their time at Cedar Glen Outdoor Centre. Crash in Bear Country requires that the groups combine the essential skills and materials necessary to start and maintain a safe campfire, build a livable shelter and basic orienteering, participants will explore survival skills in a whole new way!

Appropriate for Grade 3 and up

** Must complete Shelter Building, Fire Building & Map Orienteering in order to schedule this program **

Mountain Biking *Currently Unavailable*

Beginning with our training course, bikers will learn the basics of maneuvering over different types of terrains, obstacles and more. Our staff will then lead the group to explore our trails and course around the property.

Appropriate for Grade 7 and up

Outdoor Cooking

After completing the fire building activity, cook bannock over the fire to progress skills to the next level!

Appropriate for Grade 6 and up

Outdoor Education

Our Outdoor Education programs are all designed to link specifically with the Ontario Curriculum. These programs all offer a chance to immerse your students in an outdoor classroom, with powerful kinesthetic learning adventures and authentic activities around every corner. The grades listed under each program are those with strong curriculum links for that program, but groups of any age are welcome to sign up.

Animal Survival Challenge

Participants learn about the food chain while taking on the role of herbivores, omnivores or carnivores to simulate an ecosystem.

Appropriate for Grade 3 and up

Discovery Nature Hike

Explore the flora and fauna of our forests, streams and trails with an experienced guide.

Appropriate for all ages

Compass Orienteering

Appropriate for all ages

Lorax Nature Hike

Read Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax in a beautiful outdoor setting and explore the environmental themes with a hike, discussion and nature games.

Appropriate for all ages

Wolf Pack Game

Learn about the food pyramid and the importance of a balanced ecosystem in a game that simulates the northern Ontario habitat of the grey wolf.

Appropriate for all ages

Heat Transfer in the Environment

Understand the nature of heat and how it can be transferred or lost through convection, conduction and radiation.

Appropriate for Grade 3-8

Indigenous Programs

An opportunity to connect with an Indigenous partner to learn about the past and present of local Indigenous communities while also focusing on the importance of education as part of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. *Currently Unavailable*

Image for Indigenous Programs

Wiigiiwaam Reconciliation Program *Under Review*

Explore Cedar Glen’s on-site wiigiiwaam and learn about its construction, Indigenous communities that lived here, YMCA reconciliation efforts and seasonal Indigenous cultural programs.

Appropriate for Grade 7 and up

KAIROS Blanket Exercise *Under Review*

Learn about the historic and contemporary relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada through an interactive indoor exercise.

Appropriate for Grade 3 and up.

Evening Programs

Evening Programs have always been a traditional part of many people’s overnight experience. From large group games to exploring Inuit tradition, YMCA Cedar Glen Outdoor Centre has a program for you!

Image Evening Programs

Campfire (Programmed)

YMCA staff lead the group in singing songs and campfire programs and then assist in roasting marshmallows and making s'mores.

Available all year.

Campfire (Non-programmed)

Book a campfire pit for your group to spend an evening around a fire. YMCA staff build the fire before hand and can provide marshmallows, roasting sticks and supplies to make s'mores.

Available all year.

Night Hike

Test your senses after dark, explore nocturnal life in the woods and enjoy a spectacular view of the night sky.

Available Sept - Apr.

Astronomy

Get away from the city lights and see the stars while learning to identify constellations and the parts of our solar system.

Available Sept - Apr and is weather dependant.

Large Group Field Games

Fun, active and age appropriate games. May include one single game like Stones, Clue or Capture the Flag or a series of shorter games.

Available all year.

Team Challenges

Enjoy a fun, active evening as a group by taking part in indoor or outdoor team competitions.

Available all year.

Arctic Games

Test your agility and strength with traditional Inuit challenges.

Available all year.

Related Programs

Group Trips

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Facilities

Contact Us

YMCA Cedar Glen Outdoor Centre
13300 11th Concession
Schomberg, ON
L0G 1T0
Get Directions

Outdoor Centre
Email: cedarglen@ymcagta.org
Main Office: 905-859-9622 x 0
Outdoor Centre Inquiries: 647-294-8288

Day Camp
Email: CedarGlen.DayCamp@ymcagta.org
Day Camp Registration: 647-439-6611
Day Camp (July & August): 416-508-4301
Kinder Day Camp (July & August): 416-464-6975

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Outdoor Programs