Our Vision

We plan to begin with a local day camp experience in Omaha using parks, green spaces, community facilities, and partner locations.

One of the foundations of the program will be a digital detox. Youth will be encouraged to leave phones, tablets, video games, and other distractions behind so they can be fully present in the experience.

Instead of spending the day behind a screen, participants will have opportunities to explore nature, work with their hands, challenge themselves physically, solve problems, make friends, and discover interests they may never have known they had.

As the program grows, our long-term vision is to expand beyond day camp into overnight camping and outdoor adventures where youth can experience campfires, stargazing, wilderness exploration, and greater independence.

What We Want Youth to Experience

The camp is being designed around a mixture of outdoor adventure, practical skills, creativity, physical activity, teamwork, and personal development.

Planned activities may include:

• Nature Exploration: Hiking, wildlife observation, plant and tree identification, nature journaling, and environmental education.

• Outdoor & Adventure Skills: Orienteering, maps and compasses, knot tying, basic survival skills, archery, and other introductory outdoor activities.

• Team Challenges: Scavenger hunts, relay races, cooperative games, problem-solving activities, and challenges that build communication and trust.

• Hands-On Projects: Woodworking, nature-inspired art, crafts, building projects, and creative activities using natural or recycled materials.

• Sports & Active Play: Opportunities to experience unfamiliar sports, movement games, recreational activities, and healthy competition.

• Wellness & Personal Growth: Reflection, mindfulness in nature, group conversations, and lessons centered around values such as honor, courage, commitment, responsibility, and self-respect.

We also envision themed experiences such as Wilderness Explorers, Creative Adventurers, Team Builders, and other themes that allow youth to experience something new throughout the program.

No outdoor experience will be necessary. We want young people to arrive with an open mind and a willingness to participate.

Building More Than a Summer Camp

Our goal is not simply to keep young people busy during the summer.

We want to create experiences that help them become more capable.

A young person might learn how to navigate with a compass, build something with their hands, identify plants, lead a team, overcome a fear, cook outdoors, solve a problem without immediately reaching for a phone, or discover an activity they want to pursue long after camp ends.

Those small experiences can become confidence.

Confidence can become independence.

And independence can help a young person begin discovering what they are capable of becoming.

This Program Is Still in Development

Thrivival Academy is currently working to build the resources, partnerships, equipment, volunteers, transportation, and funding necessary to make this program possible.

There is still a great deal to develop, and that is exactly why we are inviting the community to become involved now.

Rather than designing the entire program behind closed doors, we want to connect with people who have knowledge, resources, ideas, or simply a desire to help create meaningful opportunities for Omaha youth.

Help Us Build It

We are looking for people and organizations who can help turn this idea into a real program.

Volunteers
We would love to hear from youth mentors, outdoor enthusiasts, teachers, coaches, first aid or CPR-trained volunteers, craftspeople, activity instructors, former camp staff, and anyone with skills or experiences they would enjoy sharing with young people.

Community Partners
Parks, churches, schools, businesses, outdoor organizations, recreation programs, community groups, and other organizations may be able to help through facilities, equipment, expertise, activities, transportation, or collaboration.

Donors & Sponsors
Financial support and in-kind donations can help provide equipment, outdoor gear, sports supplies, craft materials, meals, transportation, safety equipment, insurance, and other resources needed to make the program accessible to youth.

Families, Youth & Community Members
We also want your ideas. Tell us what activities young people would enjoy, what skills you believe they should learn, what barriers families may face, and what would make a program like this valuable to your community.

Be Part of What We Build

Some of the best programs begin with a simple idea and a group of people willing to help make it happen.

If you believe young people need more opportunities to get outside, put down their phones, challenge themselves, work with their hands, build relationships, and discover what they are capable of, we would love to hear from you.

Message Thrivival Academy to learn more, share an idea, volunteer, donate, offer resources, or discuss becoming a community partner.

Help us build a summer experience that gives Omaha youth an opportunity not just to have fun, but to explore, grow, discover purpose, and thrive.

Connect with Our Ongoing Work →