School Field Trips at CKBY

Learning Comes Alive on Field Trips at Camp Kum-Ba-Yah Nature Center

School field trips to Camp Kum-Ba-Yah Nature Center offer students something increasingly rare: the opportunity to step outside the classroom and engage directly with the natural world. Situated on 47 acres of protected urban forest in the heart of Lynchburg, CKBY provides hands-on outdoor learning experiences that support academic instruction while fostering curiosity, confidence, and connection.

Working in partnership with schools in Lynchburg and the surrounding counties, Camp Kum-Ba-Yah Nature Center welcomes students from across the region for curriculum-aligned programs that emphasize environmental education, wellness, and experiential learning. Whether exploring Cosby Woods, walking the 1.25-mile Cosby Trail, or participating in guided nature lessons, students are encouraged to observe, question, and learn through doing.

CKBY’s outdoor classrooms and gathering spaces allow children of all ages to engage with science, ecology, and teamwork in meaningful ways. For many students, these field trips provide their first immersive experience in a natural setting—an opportunity to build confidence, strengthen peer relationships, and develop a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors.

As Camp Kum-Ba-Yah Nature Center enters its 75th year of summer camp, its commitment to serving students through outdoor education remains as strong as ever. School field trips are an essential part of this mission, helping to ensure that children from all walks of life have access to enriching, place-based learning experiences that extend far beyond the school day.