Berkshire Outdoor Center

The Berkshire Outdoor Center operates year-round programs for schools, colleges, youth groups, adult groups, families and individuals from all over New England and New York. Berkshire Outdoor Center is unique - combining incredible adventure programs with environmental education and fantastic recreational activities.

The Berkshire Outdoor Center inspires to evoke change – interpersonal and intrapersonal change - through experiential education, emphasizing relationships in all of our programs. The communication and interaction between peers, between students and teachers, between children and parents, between women and men, between staff and guests, between humans and the environment – are emphasized. Focusing on our relationships and interactions allows us to improve our connections with one another and the real world. These skills and experiences are lifelong.

The Berkshire Outdoor Center is home to the most comprehensive ropes course in the North-Eastern United States, with a brand new High ropes course added at Chimney Corners in the spring of 2007 - bringing us a total of 32 high ropes elements and 31 low ropes elements. We have two climbing towers and a brand new indoor climbing wall, built by Entre-prises in April of 2007.

The Berkshire Outdoor Center is truly in the most beautiful setting! We have more than 1,350 acres of conservation lands here in the Berkshires - including forests, bogs, ponds and miles of trails - surrounding our three ponds, including the 90 acre Rudd Pond. This means we don't share the ponds with anyone but our guests, creating safe, tranquil and serene environments for boating, kayaking and swimming. Our lodges feature rustic cabins, including our brand new Iroquois Village/Senior Unit cabins, dorm-style winterized lodges and the gorgeous Ina Gibson Lodge. (more on facilities)

We have two dining halls, each able to seat over 500 guests. The brand new $5.5mm Dining Hall at Chimney Corners features a beautiful view of Smith Pond, and is open year-round. Our meal service includes three hot meals daily, a wonderful salad bar at lunch and dinner, and vegetarian options for those who prefer. Our Food Service staff are approachable for some special needs diets. (more on meal service)

More than 9,000 participants experience the Berkshire Outdoor Center each year. Our programs help build understanding, respect, responsibility and caring within the individual, between individuals within the group, between the groups, and between humans and the environment.