Every day is different at camp. We like to stay flexible and let the campers choose the activities while making sure to always include the favorites. To give you an idea of the fun we have, here is what a day might look like:
Tom Denney Program
Morning All-Camp Game — We start every morning with a running game in the field, because, why not!
Morning Circle — We like to gather on the logs at Camp Circle and do some stretching, sing a few songs and introduce Mystery Beast Clue #1 before breaking into groups.
Morning Group Time — Mondays we form our groups according to grade and each group votes on a name. Although we have our assigned groups, we also do many all-camp things and re-organize into other groups for variation. We review the upcoming day and get the count for free choice. Each group also works on the performance they will perform at the end of the week for families and friends.
Snack Time — Who doesn’t love a snack!
Morning Activities:
- Tracking: Your counselor is lost in the woods and you need to find them, but don’t fall for misleading clues!
- Habitat Rush: Which habitat safe spot do you run to according to what the animal is — and make sure not to get out!
- Amazon Exploration: Work with your group to get through the Poison Ivy Patch (not a real one!), Swamp Pit (not a real one either!), Over/Under/Through, Crossing the Rapids and brain teasers.
- Team Building: Whichever group works best together to solve puzzles like Human Knot and Log Shuffle gets an advantage for Shelter Building.
- Scavenger Hunt: What can you find in nature?
- Ponding: Catch, observe and release frogs and fish in nets.
Lunchtime — Songs, Mystery Beast Clue #2, and eat your packed lunch OR roast hot dogs and marshmallows over the campfire!
Free Choice:
- Swimming
- Arts & Crafts
- Running games — sometimes campers just want to run some more, so we’ll play Sticks/Capture the Flag, Camouflage, Kick the Can, Stampede/Sharks & Minnows, Tennis Ball Game, and more.
Afternoon Activities:
- Predator and Prey: An all-camp *favorite* game of tag where you are with a group of animals in the food chain and you have to find food, water and shelter, while tagging those in the food chain below and avoid getting tagged by those in the food chain above you.
- Animal Adventures: Animal Adventures staff bring exotic and local animals for campers to learn about and touch. Past animals have included: rabbits, turtles, snakes, alligators, ferrets, chinchillas, foxes, lizards, porcupines, skunks, frogs, beetles and more!
- Shelter Building: Another camper favorite… work with friends to build a lean-to shelter that will be judged on how well it protects you from the bear test, fit test and water test.
- Hike: On Fridays, we take age-appropriate hikes (shorter ones for little legs and more challenging ones for the kids who want to “go for it”) and explore trails and the interesting nature things we find along the way, or even the Car in the Woods or the Climbing Tree.
- Performance: On Friday, perform the skit or song your group has prepared for families and friends, as well as enjoy a treat.
Afternoon Group Time — Write or draw in your journal about the day to share with your family and friends the fun you’ve had at camp.
Closing Circle — Mystery Beast Clue #3 and drum roll for answer. Closing song.
Some of our Activities for Anytime:
- Seven Up
- Poacher
- Smog’s Jewels
- Hollywood Squares
- Dance Machine
- Interactive Story Time
- Survival Scenario
- Wax Museum
- Rope Maze
- Wah
- Ninja
- Moshi Moshi
Special Activities — We think all of our activities are special, but we also like to kick it up a notch and add things like Spirit Days (come dressed for camp in a theme such as crazy hat/hair, USA or beach day) or Color Wars (each group comes dressed in one color and can apply face paint).
Rainy Day Activities — We play in the rain! Almost everything we do can be done in the rain. Some games are even better in the rain, like Slide Tag! The canopy of trees in the woods protects us from most of the rain, but we also have a big tent if we need it.
Eco Adventures Program
EA has a flexible schedule because we like to give the older campers ownership of their program. They can count on some activities, such as:
- Kayaking games on the pond
- Laser Tag in the woods
- Swimming
- Predator & Prey
- Water Guns
- Water Balloons
- Slack Line & Rope Swing
- Team Challenges
- Mucking
- Adventure Hike
- Animal Adventures: Animal Adventures staff bring exotic and local animals for campers to learn about and touch. Past animals have included: rabbits, turtles, snakes, alligators, ferrets, chinchillas, foxes, lizards, porcupines, skunks, frogs, beetles and more!
- EA 360 (a game designed by past EA campers that combines multiple games at once)
- Nighttime games and activities in the dark on Thursday night which includes dinner and s’mores
Counselor in Training Program
CITs do everything with the staff and campers. They play games and do activities while helping to keep the campers safe. CITs earn volunteer and leadership hours and have fun!