Outdoor education for all.

In 1995, Berta Blecke and Nathan Roark put their heads together to create an opportunity for inner-city, foster children to travel to the mountains of North Carolina and experience the power of being immersed in the natural world. In 2000, Buffalo Cove Outdoor Education Center was created to secure this experience for children in years to come.

Over the years, Buffalo Cove has grown to offer a wide variety of youth and adult classes and camps in outdoor education and adventure, but the mission still remains the same. We are dedicated to providing a quality experience, furthering individual growth, promoting positive community participation, and fostering connection with family and the natural world.

We believe that high-quality, outdoor education is more important now than ever. Our children are inheriting an Earth that is in far worse shape than the planet our parents were born into. Getting kids outside, learning, and playing in community with each other is imperative. Study after study has shown how our children’s interpersonal and human relationship skills are suffering due to a lack of prolonged and positive personal human interaction. Buffalo Cove puts a tremendous amount of energy towards developing these “people” skills and building community while developing outdoor skills and appreciation for nature.

  • To create a physically and emotionally safe learning environment where individuals can find harmony and empowerment through self-understanding, self-confidence, simple living, friendships, and fun.

  • Our philosophy is based on Confucius' observation: “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” Buffalo Cove's programs are experiential by design. We learn by doing, and we know others do too. We get dirty, we get wet, we get scratches, we get frustrated, we get excited, and we gain so much wisdom in the process.

  • At Buffalo Cove, participants become part of a community where respect is always emphasized. Respect is tied into every lesson and part of our daily life:

    Respect ourselves.
    Respect our community.
    Respect the land.