Adventure Outpost

At Great Parks of Hamilton County, the health and safety of our employees and guests are our highest priority. We continue to take precautionary steps and make service adjustments in response to the latest information available from the Ohio Department of Health.

Join us April through October for group bike trips, fitness programs and trail runs around Great Parks. Keep an eye out throughout the year for mountain bike demo days at Mitchell Memorial Forest.

Outdoor archery classes are offered in spring, March through May, and in fall, September through November. During the outdoor archery season, try a compound or recurve bow in the beginner class, or sign up for the whole series to hone in your archery skills. All equipment is provided. For ages 10 and up; all children must be accompanied by an adult.

Young archers, ages 10–15, are invited to join this seasonal archery club to improve their form and technique. Throughout five weeks in spring, archers will learn the 11 steps to archery success, while fostering confidence, focus, and fun! All equipment is provided.

From reading a map to traveling off trail, hanging a bear bag to practicing Leave No Trace principles, you can build your skill set for creating your own outdoor adventures. Classes run winter, spring and fall.

On-the-water classes are offered May through September. Start with the basics on Winton Lake and build up to trips on the Little Miami River and the Great Miami River! All equipment is provided. Children must be accompanied by an adult on the water. 

Set your team up for success with a full or half day of team building at Winton Woods. Adventure Outpost facilitators will lead your group through a package of group challenges designed to help your team become strong, agile and efficient.

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Tom Buckley, Manager

Tom is the Adventure Outpost Manager and has been teaching outdoors for longer than he wants to admit. He is committed to helping others discover their own adventures and challenge themselves, all within their ‘backyard parks’. He is certified as an American Canoe Association (ACA) Level 3 River Canoe Instructor, Level 2 River Kayak Instructor, and holds the Adaptive Paddling endorsement; a Wilderness First Responder with CPR; a USA Archery Level 1 Instructor; trained as a United Kingdom Mountain Leader; a Leave No Trace Master Educator; and a Level 1 MovNat Certified Trainer. In 2023 Tom will complete his ACA Level 2 River Canoe Instructor Trainer certification.

When not at work, Tom enjoys doing the same things he teaches, his favorites being climbing and river trips with his son. He believes there is no such thing as bad weather.

Lauren Beatty, Coordinator

Lauren is a Cincinnati local, growing up in West Chester and graduating from Lakota East. Lauren earned her BA in Anthropology from Georgia State University and joined the AO team in 2022 with over a decade of outdoor and environmental education experience at institutions including the Cincinnati Museum Center, Georgia Aquarium, Zoo Atlanta, and Cincinnati Zoo. Most recently, Lauren served as the Conservation Education Coordinator for WAVE Foundation at Newport Aquarium and as an Adventure Guide for Explorer Chick Adventure Company.

Lauren holds certifications in Wilderness First Aid/CPR; NAI Certified Interpretive Guide; trained in Leave No Trace; Project Wet/Project Wild/Project Learning Tree Certified Educator; and is a Cincinnati Certified Tourism Ambassador. In 2023 she will be adding American Canoe Association Level 2 River Canoe and Level 2 River Kayak instructor and USA Archery Level I instructor certifications.

In her free time Lauren enjoys running races like the Flying Pig and Chicago Marathons for St. Jude and Children’s Miracle Network, backpacking in the Red, taking road trips with her 1983 Burro camper, and spending time with her three cats, 2 dogs, and 1 snake.

Allison Cone, Coordinator

Allison joined Great Parks in 2010 after completing her undergraduate degree in International Studies at the University of Dayton and interning for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

During her career in experiential education, Allison has served as a River Guide for the Great Ohio River Paddle, volunteered as an Adventure Team Specialist with the American Youth Foundation, coordinated the Ohio River Foundation’s River Explorer program, and co-created the Women in the Outdoors series and the Trek & Run Trail Challenge at Great Parks.

Allison holds certifications as an American Canoe Association Level 2 River Canoe Instructor, Level 2 River Kayak Instructor, Level 1 Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor, and the Adaptive Paddling endorsement; Association for Challenge Course Technology Challenge Course Manager and In-House Inspector; Leave No Trace Trainer; USA Archery Level 1 Instructor; and is certified in Wilderness First Aid/CPR.

When not working outdoors, Allison can be found on the ice, playing broomball.

Jen Hilbert, Coordinator

Jen began her career with Great Parks in 2001 as a Nature Interpreter after receiving her Recreation and Wildlife Management Degree. In 2007, Jen transitioned to Adventure Outpost as the University of the Great Outdoors (UGO) Coordinator. Through collaboration, she introduced a variety of wilderness skills and adventure programs for both groups and general audiences.

Jen has enjoyed sharing her passion and knowledge of the great outdoors with others through many community-based experiences such as her role as a Paddlefest Kids Outdoor Adventure Coordinator in 2011 and 2012; and more recently with Women in the Outdoors Series, Trek & Run Trail Challenge, and Adventure Outpost Archery Club.

Jen has achieved several certifications and trainings, including American Canoe Association (ACA) Level 2 River Canoe Instructor and Level 2 River Kayak Instructor with Adaptive Paddling endorsement, Level 1 Stand Up Paddleboarding Instructor; USA Archery Level 2 Instructor Trainer; Experiential Systems Challenge Course Lead Facilitator; League Cycling Instructor; SafeSport Training; Leave No Trace Trainer; and Wilderness First Aid certified.

In her free time, Jen is up for a variety of adventures such as hiking with her dogs, backpacking, road trips, paddle sports and even ice climbing.

Olivia Landers, Instructor

Olivia has always had a love for the outdoors. With her first canoe trip at 7 years old, and multiple family campouts since she was young, Olivia has been a great addition to the Adventure Outpost team. Olivia received her undergraduate degree in education from the University of Cincinnati and has worked with Scouting groups across the Cincinnati area through planning and leading out of state river trips with local Boy Scout troops, and volunteering teaching STEM programs for the Girl Scouts of America.

In addition to her various camping and day hiking experience, Olivia has become an American Canoe Association Level 1 Canoe Instructor and will soon be adding river kayaking to her list. She is also trained in stand-up paddleboard and archery instruction, team building facilitation, and is First Aid, CPR, and AED certified.

When she's not teaching outdoors, Olivia loves birdwatching at Fernald Nature Preserve, organizing personal paddle expeditions, and plays euphonium in the Southwestern Ohio Symphonic Band!

Join a MovNat-certified trainer from the comfort of your own backyard (or home) for an outdoor workout series, using all that nature has to offer. An international physical training program, MovNat uses the body's natural movements while using nature as a workout space. Over the course of six weeks, you set your own pace while learning how to move efficiently and naturally in the great outdoors.

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Venture into our community destinations to cultivate your skills, discover new friends, and begin your next great adventure. Join our female guides on the trail, on the range and on the water as we build confidence and community together in an inclusive environment. Classes run spring through fall.

Women in the Outdoors is presented by Johnson Investment Counsel.

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Interested in a private program or just want to know more about Adventure Outpost? Contact us at adventureoutpost@greatparks.org.