The Outdoor Adventure Center is a Michigan DNR facility on Detroit's riverfront in the historic former Globe Building, giving visitors a taste of Michigan's outdoors in the middle of the city. Its Camp Explore program runs day and overnight sessions for youth ages 7 to 17 exploring the Detroit Riverfront and Michigan's state parks, with fishing, hiking, archery, kayaking and team-building that build practical outdoor skills along with confidence and independence. Campers are grouped as Pathfinders (ages 7-8), Trailblazers (ages 9-13) and Teen City Explorers (ages 14-17), and adventure zones cover arts, fishing, games and sports, nature exploration and target sports at the OAC archery range. Scholarships cut tuition in half for families qualifying through EBT, Medicaid or WIC.
The practical details
We list only what the camp itself publishes, and programs change — dates, prices, ages and availability can all move after we check. Confirm the details on the camp’s own website and contact Outdoor Adventure Center directly before you register or pay. Last checked August 2026.
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★★★★★CynthiaComplimentary parking is available, and a discount can be obtained by utilizing the Michigan Activity Pass accessible via your library card. Guests are permitted to bring their own food and beverages for consumption within a designated area equipped with tables. A wide array of hands-on activities are provided for children. A virtual reality experience is offered at no additional charge. Extensive information regarding Michigan is readily available. The tree playground, while compact, offers significant entertainment. The hanging bridge is a particularly enjoyable feature. A genuine helicopter is on display, typically requiring a queue for children to take turns playing and posing for photographs. This location presents an outstanding opportunity for family visits.
★★★★★Crustina GohardThis place is the best! It is so much fun and lots of things to learn! Great place to take kids around walking age to pre-teen I'd guess. You can easily spend 2-3hrs there. I absolutely love this place! And so does my son (age 2).
★★★★★danielle shorkeyIncredible treasure! I recently visited with my 10 year old daughter. They have put so much thought into every detail here, it's truly amazing. The archery is such a cool feature (8 and up) instructors are there to teach. There are also special activities in the classroom upstairs. I wish I would have realized this place existed sooner and that I had a place like this when I was a kid. Would highly recommend! Affordable too!
★★★★Christine StinsonAffordable. Educational. Fun. However, it gets insanely crowded, which quickly ruins the enjoyment. They should have a capacity limit. Unfortunately, a lot of parents bring their sick children here. They are inconsiderate and have no regard for anyone else's children. There's ALWAYS sick people here, kids and adults. Please, stay home if you or your kids are sick! Cover your mouth, wash your hands. It's common sense and common courtesy! Otherwise, it would be 5 stars. I wish they had sanitizer dispensers, that would help. The kitchen/food play room is full of germs. I really hope they sanitize it! Kids touching everything, putting it in their mouths, coughing, sneezing, and picking their nose. Gross. Parents, do better! Last time I went there with my family, we observed a family with a child that was coughing so aggressively, sounded they had whooping cough. Literally, the kid sounded like a seal. Smh. The treehouse is super fun, as is the bridge. Unfortunately, people don't follow the rules. It has a weight limit and you aren't supposed to exceed a certain number of people at a time. It can only hold a certain amount of weight. They need an employee to watch that area before someone gets hurt, since some people have a problem watching their children and following rules.
★★★★★Sushi BlueSuch a fun place! Clean areas, friendly staff and so much more to do for kids than we expected. Ages 2, 3, and 5-6 all had a blast!