PITTSBURGH HIKING FIELD GUIDE
Afterschool Afternoons at ECS 26–27: Nature, Play, and Social-Emotional Learning in Pittsburgh
A weekday afterschool program at ECS Intermediate (Monday–Friday, 3:15–6:00pm) that uses biking, hiking, fishing and geocaching to connect 3rd–5th graders with nature and support social-emotional growth.
Afterschool Afternoons at ECS 26–27: Nature, Play, and Social-Emotional Learning in Pittsburgh.
Afterschool at ECS 26–27 brings organized outdoor time into the school day’s margin: a structured program that meets at ECS Intermediate and moves children into Pittsburgh’s nearby green spaces to bike, hike, fish and geocache. The program pairs active play with intentional social-emotional learning, designed to strengthen kids’ mental and physical wellbeing while they form friendships and skills through outdoor adventure.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
A Mix of Active, Exploratory Pastimes
The curriculum cycles through biking, hiking, fishing and geocaching, giving participants a variety of outdoor skills and ways to engage with natural settings over the week.
Built for Social-Emotional Growth
The program is explicitly designed to boost social skills and mental wellbeing, using nature-based activities as a vehicle for peer interaction, resilience and confidence-building.
Afterschool That Moves Beyond the Classroom
Meeting at ECS Intermediate, the program shifts daily into nearby outdoor environments so children can practice movement, observation and curiosity in a variety of natural settings.
What the day feels like
What Afternoons Feel Like
Afternoons are structured and varied: students meet at ECS Intermediate after school and transition into guided outdoor sessions that emphasize play, skill-building and group connection. Across the week kids move between wheeled activities, trail hikes, water-adjacent time for fishing and treasure-hunt style geocaching — all framed to support social-emotional learning and healthy, active time outdoors.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this program suits — and who it’s built for.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The program operates Monday–Friday from 3:15pm to 6:00pm.
Participants meet at ECS Intermediate for check-in and departure to the day’s outdoor activities.
The program is operated in partnership by Venture Outdoors and Kayak Pittsburgh in collaboration with Environmental Charter School.
Specific gear and packing guidance are provided by the program; consult the operator or program materials for recommended clothing and supplies.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
When does Afterschool at ECS meet?
The program runs Monday–Friday, 3:15pm–6:00pm.
Where does the program meet and depart from?
Meetings take place at ECS Intermediate.
Who is eligible to participate?
The afterschool program serves students in grades 3–5.
What activities are included?
Activities include biking, hiking, fishing and geocaching, among other outdoor pursuits.
What are the program’s objectives?
The program aims to connect youth to nature to build social-emotional learning skills and to improve mental and physical wellbeing while providing fun, active experiences.
How long has the partnership with ECS been in place?
The partnership with Environmental Charter School to provide afterschool care began in 2021.