Day Programs

Day programs allow students to explore ecology, natural history, and Ohio history in Cuyahoga Valley National Park or in their own classrooms. Programs are provided for a wide age range of students from public school districts, independent and private schools, daycare centers, and preschools.

All programs meet Ohio academic content standards for the recommended grades listed.  For field trip inquiries, please contact Kelley Crouse, at kcrouse@forcvnp.org.

• Current Offerings

Every Kid Outdoors

If you are a 4th grade teacher, your students may qualify for a free program and transportation! Currently scheduling for spring sessions through the registration link below. Programs available include: Prehistoric Practices, Low Bridge Everybody Down, Learn at the Ledges, and Among the Trees.

• Register

Overnight Trips

The curriculum incorporates the arts, technology, science, math, social studies, language arts, and social-emotional learning into a discovery-based program that complements classroom instruction. For extended day programs and overnight trips at the CVEEC, please contact programs@forcvnp.org.

• Booking Application

Virtual Programs (Available in winter)

During the winter, free virtual Every Kid Outdoors (EKO) programs are offered to a variety of grades. All 4th grade students who attend receive a national park voucher! All EKO programs include three program pieces: an asynchronous video to welcome and introduce students to the concept of national parks, a live presentation with a CVNP ranger or educational staff member, and a follow up activity that can be done at your own pace.  Program offerings and grade levels include:

– Wild About Animals: Pre-K – 2nd grade 

– Prehistoric Peoples: 3rd – 5th grade 

– Ohio and Erie Canal: 3rd – 5th grade 

– Northeast Ohio Geology: 3rd – 5th grade 

– Wetland Ecosystems: 3rd – 5th grade 
 

Summer Camps

During summer, families have the opportunity for their children to explore and learn about the national park during day camp. Financial Aid is available for those that qualify according to federal guidelines. 

• Financial Aid Application
• Summer Camp Registration

JUNIOR RANGER DAY CAMP (JRDC) | Ages 6-12

JRDC campers will learn about our national park through play and will work toward earning their official Cuyahoga Valley National Park Jr. Ranger badge!

Camp is from 9am – 3pm daily. Junior Ranger campers must pack their lunches. Snacks will be provided. Early bird pricing through June 9 is $280 per week/regular price $290 per week. 

• Week 1: July 21 – 25
  Outdoor Adventure
  Spend a week in Cuyahoga Valley National Park at the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center learning how to use a map & compass, tying knots, and discovering the importance of Leave No Trace. Junior Rangers will learn how to set up different types of shelters in a campsite and how to stay safe in the outdoors. Highlights for JRDC: Outdoor Adventure will include outdoor cooking, pond exploration, and crafting art in nature! If you love being in nature and want to learn more, then join us for Junior Ranger Day Camp: Outdoor Adventure!

• Week 2: July 28-Aug. 1
  Explore
  Visit Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center and explore what makes the National Park Service so diverse. Junior Rangers will discover other national parks while comparing their resources to what Cuyahoga Valley has to offer. Key features of JRDC: Explore will include pond studies, hikes in the forest, learning about bats, tree investigations, and an encounter with a volcano! If you want to discover more about national parks and what rangers do, then come Explore with us!

GARDEN CAMP DAY CAMP 2025| Ages 8-12

Learn all about the art, science, and joy of gardening at the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center! Daily drop off at 8:45 am. Pick up at 3pm. This is a FREE camp!

• Camp Dates: Aug. 4-6
  This three-day camp will allow campers to explore the wonder of gardening, learn how to create a successful and sustainable garden, and start thinking about food systems and food justice. Campers will enjoy learning about the entire gardening process and experience local food production in Cuyahoga Valley! 

CROOKED RIVER EXPLORATION CAMP (CREC) | Ages 6-12

CREC is focused on serving the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland. Camp is from 9am – 3pm daily. The cost is $130 per camp and financial aid is available. Additionally, the camp will cover expenses for lunch, snacks, and transportation during the program.

Each CREC session is a 3-day experience learning & exploring the natural world in our community & national park!

• Session 1: June 11 -13
  For the month of June, we will be exploring the Cleveland Metroparks at the Brookside Reservation, where participants will have the chance to explore, make new friends, and engage in a variety of learning activities, including journaling and hands-on exploration. Thursday, we will embark on a field trip to the Great Lakes Science Center, where we will learn about science, watch a movie in the DOME theatre, and explore the NASA center. On our final day, we will take a field trip to CVNP, where we will visit the Virginia Kendall Ledges and hike through the unique rock formations found in Northeast Ohio. This experience will allow participants to learn about local geology and create lasting memories of their time in the park.

• Session 2: July 16-18
  For the month of July, camp will take place within the Cleveland Metroparks at the Brookside Reservation. Over the course of several days, campers will have the opportunity to explore the area, engage in various learning activities, and make new connections with their peers. During our time at the Brookside Reservation, campers will participate in hands-on explorations and may also have the chance to journal about their experiences. In addition, on the designated Thursday, we will explore the newly renovated Cleveland Museum of Natural History, where we will enjoy a live animal program and a planetarium show. A field trip to CVNP is also scheduled for Friday, where we will spend the morning visiting a local farm where participants will have the chance to pick fresh blueberries to take home. In the afternoon, we will be visiting the Welcome Center to converse with park rangers and learn more about the park’s rich history.

• Session 3: August 13-15
  Our August camp will be water themed. The camp will begin at a local Brooklyn shelter, where we will engage in games, team-building activities, and journaling to get to know one another. On Thursday, we will embark on a field trip to the Cleveland Aquarium, where campers will enjoy a guided tour and learn about the aquatic life on display. On our last day, we will depart for CVNP, where we will spend the day exploring two distinct areas. By popular request, our itinerary includes a creek walking excursion and educational session, where participants will have the opportunity to learn about the diverse aquatic ecosystem. In the afternoon, we will visit the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center, where we will continue to explore and learn.

Resources

Curriculum Materials

The National Park Service offers curriculum materials on their website.  They include:

• Lesson Plans
• Teacher Resources
• Educational Videos

Cuyahoga Connections 

A variety of book recommendations, journals, activities and challenges to guide you and your family through various topics, including water quality, trees, geology and more.

• View all Cuyahoga Connections 

Animal Posters

Available photos and facts of various birds and other animals you may see in the park.

• Book of Animal Posters