More than a Summer Camp - Outdoor Education with David Touchon

We sat down with David Touchon, Head Director of the Outdoor Education program at Camp Grady Spruce to talk about his role in educating the North Texas Community.

David grew up thriving in the outdoors that is comes to no surprise that he chose the career path in outdoor education. He describes growing up attending Camp Grady Spruce and how it impacted him who he is today. "Camp gave me the freedom to roam which allowed me to grow. On our way back from the dining hall we would catch grass hoppers and then use them as bait to catch fish from our tents. The counselors giving us that freedom to be independent and learning as we go really impacted who I am today. Camp was our canvas." 

David's journey to becoming the C.G.S. Outdoor Education director began early on. "My first summer out at Camp Grady Spruce as a camper was the summer of '78 and I continued as a camper until '86. I was a counselor for Camp Grady Spruce right out of high school throughout '88-'90. I taught at some Outdoor Education Programs in Houston, Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan. I came back to Grady Spruce in 2000 with the Outdoor Ed Program and have been here since." Being able to travel and work at different Outdoor Ed programs around the country shed new light and ideas for him that he brought back to Grady Spruce to help improve the Outdoor Ed Program.  

Even in today's technology advanced society, kids still find the beauty and importance of being in the great outdoors. He is a firm believer in allowing the students to be fully hands on when learning new outdoor skills. "With the Outdoor Education program, we teach everything and then they go and do the skill. We teach how to do the skills intimately and then give them tools to perform it. There is a reason why we teach every single aspect" David explains.  

David emphasizes that the Outdoor Education Program is a year-round program that has a larger impact than what most people believe. "We see 7,000 students a year throughout different school districts. We don’t know where the kids are coming from, some may be more privileged than others, but everyone gets that same experience when they are out here.  Camp Grady Spruce is not only used during the summer but the other 9 months of year seeing over 32 different districts throughout the North Texas Area. Camp not only impacts the campers who participate in resident camp, but we are serving the North Texas community as well."  

 

To learn more about Outdoor Education, visit: www.campgradyspruce.org/outdoor-education/

 

Authored: Colleen McCauley, 2018 YMCA Dallas Storyteller Intern