Pittsburgh nonprofit offering free training, equipment to encourage youth organizations to camp in Riverview Park pilot program

A nonprofit is offering free training and equipment to youth-serving organizations that want to take advantage of a pilot program allowing camping in Pittsburgh’s Riverview Park.

The city last year authorized a pilot program that allows youth organizations to get permits to camp in city parks. Officials are rolling out the program first in Riverview Park, but have said they hope to expand it to other parts of the city.

Pittsburgh-based nonprofit Outdoor Inclusion Coalition is offering free trainings for adults who would lead the camping trips. Once they complete the training, they’ll have access to the group’s camping equipment to help bring camping trips to fruition.

“The intention is to make sure there is proximal urban camping experiences for the community,” said Marcus Shoffner, president and CEO of the Outdoor Inclusion Coalition.

Camping, he said, can help children socially and emotionally, and also help them to experience nature and spend time outdoors in a way that “historically has been kind of missed in an urban environment.”

Local youth-serving organizations that would like to host camping trips in Riverview Park — and perhaps other parks as the program grows — can send an adult leader to a free one-day training with the coalition. The trainings, Shoffner said, would teach people how to give kids a positive camping experience, to set up camping gear and to spearhead various camping activities, like night-time hikes or tree identification activities.

The course happens at Riverview Park so people will be accustomed with the area where they’ll be camping, he said.

“That gives you a good baseline to just feel comfortable camping,” he said.

The course also will give people a “baseline understanding of what it means to be a good steward” and camp in the park responsibly, said Kathryn Vargas, director of the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation.

Once they’ve gone through the training, people will have access to the organization’s gear “library,” which can equip about 30 people for a camping trip. The available gear includes sleeping bags, tents, cooking equipment, head lamps and other camping necessities, Shoffner said.

“This is top-notch gear and equipment that’s brand new,” he said.

Shoffner said he’s hoping the first camping trip to utilize the program will occur later this month or next month.

“Hopefully we’re going to continue on and on with this and introduce more and more people to the outdoors,” he said.

City Councilman Bobby Wilson, D-North Side, who introduced legislation launching the camping pilot program, said he felt the program will provide “a fabulous opportunity for our youth.”

Vargas said adult leaders who are hosting the camping events will need to have clearances and insurance. Participating youths will need to have permission forms from parents to participate, she said. Park rangers also will be involved in the program.

“This is an amazing opportunity, and I do think outdoor recreation is one of the sort of unsung drivers for economic development, for attracting people to a city,” Councilwoman Erika Strassburger, D-Squirrel Hill, said. “I want to see more of this throughout the city.”