Activity Descriptions

Each day campers participate in 4 scheduled activities. Prior to camp campers can select 8 activities in order of preference, allowing us to plan rosters accordingly. No classes are guaranteed. Classes are arranged by program area: Nature, Arts & Crafts, Aquatics, Sports, and the Ropes Course.

Nature

Shelter building: This class teaches a progression of skills, preparing campers to build survival shelters, and have fun along the way. Daily lessons include knot tying, tarp shelters, underwater fish houses, fairy houses, and survival shelters.

Survivor: This popular class teaches outdoor survival skills, while encouraging campers to have fun in the wilderness. The group will learn skills and play games in daily lessons such as The Art of Fire, Hunter vs. Hunted, and Camouflage.

Camp Cooking: Participants are taught the fundamentals of cooking on a camp stove as well as over a fire, learning safety, steps, and proper set up and break down. The participants are then able to cook the food and eat it. Some popular meals are mud potatoes, popcorn, cake in a pan, and hobo packs.

Fishing & Frog Catching: Campers have a ball in the water trying to capture the slimiest of our lake buddies. Children make their own fishing poles and rig them up with bait. Later they learn and practice the proper technique to catch frogs without harming the frog in any way. After snapping some proud photos camper throw their new frog friends back in the lake to enjoy the rest of their summer.

Navigation: This class incorporates basic compass skills with Geocaching, and survival scavenger hunting. After campers grasp the basics of navigation they will make maps, search for hidden surprises, and on the final day play Compass Crisp, solving riddles and finding their way to items needed to cook a fun meal.

Wilderness First Aid: Participants will learn the fundamentals of first aid in the wilderness. Minor injuries will be included as well as more serious accidents such as a fractured limb or a serious fall. Participants will learn to protect themselves with PPE and understand the basics of first aid including cleaning a cut and wrapping a sprained ankle. Emergency response is discussed and emphasis is placed on staying calm and objective.

Raft Building: Participants will construct a raft that will float at least two people using materials found in nature. Campers will learn break into teams, plan their project, and then spend a few days constructing their float. The final day will be a fun water test to see whose floats can handle the high seas of Branch Lake!

Natural and Free/Journal Writing: The group will discuss values and principles of life at camp as well as at home. Participants will have time to reflect upon their week and lives outside of camp in a quiet, solo experience.

After reflection participants will then choose a quiet place in IBG or Pine Point and are given notebooks to write a letter that will be mailed to them at the end of the summer/beginning of school. It is a reflective time and they are encouraged to write their thoughts, hopes, goals and an action plan to attain their goals.

Arts & Crafts

Drawing and Painting: Campers will have fun drawing and painting in new, silly ways. Kids are given silly topics to express, taught different techniques of art, and even encouraged to paint by blowing through a straw, or to draw with their feet! Campers will have a number of works of art to bring home, and more importantly, funny stories about how their artwork came about.

Unusual Art: This class is very popular due to the variety of projects. Campers make things such as string bowls, origami, baskets, apple stamps, mosaics, tie-dyed t-shirts, secret messages, comic books and puzzles, to name a few.

Nature Art: Campers make a number of unique projects, only found in the outdoors. Campers can make their own paper with a special sun-stained formula, walking sticks, pet rocks, dream catchers, rain sticks, and potted plants.

Bracelet Making: For some, camp just isn’t camp without friendship bracelets galore! Campers will learn how to make a number of different bracelets using different knots and materials such as floss, gimp, and hemp. Nothing facilitates great conversation like a bracelet project tied to your toe!

Theater: Not all campers are comfortable in front of a group. This class is fun for even the most shy of campers, using a number of group activities to build group trust. Once everyone in the group is ready, the activities progress toward the more ‘dramatic’ such as “Bench Game” and “Freeze!” The campers will put together a production, and depending on the group’s comfort level, the they may present to the camp at a talent show, or to parents on Saturday morning.

Games Galore: This activity brings non-stop fun. The group dives into game after game, playing favorites such as Honey Do You Love Me, Blob Tag, Fortunately/Unfortunately, Mafia, Drip, Drip, Drop, Pink Underwear Game, Lava Ground, Ninja, Camouflage, the Zoo Game, Things in a Box, and many, many more.

Dance Class: Dance class is not a class where kids just come to free dance, they come to learn an actual dance! Typically the group performs their dance piece at the end of the week during the camp commencement or before the slideshow. The campers create their own dance showcasing the entire group.

Make Your Own Board Game: Kids can get really creative with this, making a game about anything they want, with anything they want. Counselors help the campers come up with the game’s name and objective, then move toward creating pieces, a board, and other necessary parts. The class will have a ball playing each other's games on the final day of class.

Journal Making: Campers will have all the supplies they need to create a journal and then decorate it to the max. Later in the week campers will go to relaxing locations around camp to write, draw, and paint in their new journals. This is a great way to remember camp, using your homemade journal to reflect on your experience.

Camp Video: Be a star and learn about what it takes to make a movie! All campers in this class will help plan, act, and produce a short movie which will be shared with the camp at the end of each session.

Aquatics

Every camper is required to take a swimming test on the first day of camp. This helps us gauge your abilities in the water, which is important for helping us decide what may or may not be a safe activity for each camper to participate in. Campers are given a bracelet corresponding with their swimming level, Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue, in order of ability. Blue swimmers can participate in all camp activities and may also swim out to the floating dock during free time. Green swimmers can participate in all activities but must stay a bit closer to shore during free time. Yellow swimmers can participate in some aquatics activities and have a designated swim area. Red swimmers can participate in limited aquatics activities and must stay in the shallow area of our waterfront.

AQUATICS CHANGES FOR 2012

In the past, all campers in swim levels Red, Yellow & Green were required to take swimming lessons. We have amended this rule, only requiring Red and Yellow swimmers to take swimming lessons. We firmly believe that camp is a place to learn important life skills, and that swimming is one of these skills. That being said, green swimmers are very confident in the water, but may not have perfected all of their strokes. A class will be offered to Green and Blue swimmers to work on technique if they choose to participate, but Green Swim Lessons will no longer be required.

Swimming Lessons: Red swimmers and Yellow swimmers will learn the basic skills they need to know to be safe and confident in the water. All lifeguards and swimming instructors have received training on how to teach swimming lessons.

Basic Kayaking: Campers learn the basics of kayaking, such as paddling and performing a ‘wet exit’. Accompanied by a counselor and lifeguard the group will travel to our Pine Point, or nearby Flat Rock. Green and blue swimmers can take this class.

Advanced Kayaking: This two-hour class is for campers with significant kayaking experience. They will practice more advanced skills, such as Eskimo Rolls, and travel with a lifeguard and counselor to farther locations, such as the Cow and the Calf, and Sand Beach. Green and blue swimmers can take this class.

Basic Canoeing: Campers learn the basics of canoeing, such as paddling and performing a ‘T-Rescue’. Accompanied by a counselor and lifeguard they group will canoe to popular locations such as Pine Point and Flat Rock. Yellow, green, and blue swimmers can take this class.

Advanced Canoeing: This two-hour class is for campers with significant canoeing experience. They will practice more advanced skills and travel with a lifeguard and counselor to farther locations such as the Cow and the Calf, and Sand Beach. Green and blue swimmers can take this class.

Tubing: Tubing is one of our most popular classes. Campers must be at least 11 years old, and be a green or blue swimmer. Because of the price of gas this activity costs $40 beyond the price of tuition. Campers enjoy an exhilarating boat ride and take turns out on the tube. All of our boat drivers attend a boating safety course, and are always accompanied by a lifeguard.

Beginning Sailing: Campers learn the basics of sailing on one of our larger boats with a group. After learning how to rig and steer the boat, campers are aided by the counselor and begin to take over the captain’s responsibilities. Green and blue swimmers can take this class.

Advanced Sailing: Campers already know the basics of sailing, and learn more advanced skills, and spend much more time at the helm. Campers have the opportunity to use different boats, such as our larger hunter, and our smaller sunfish. Green and blue swimmers can take this class.

Junior Olympian: This is a replacement for Green Swim classes, working to improve camper strokes and swimming form. Campers will have organized races and be judged on their form. Campers will enjoy this class whether they are on a competitive swim team or not. This class is for Green or Blue Swimmers.

Adventure Swim: This class is strictly open to blue summers. Accompanied by a counselor in the water and a lifeguard in a rescue kayak, campers will swim to interesting locations, enjoying swimming as an endurance sport and mode of exploration. Campers will swim to different places along our property, including Pine Point.

Snorkeling: Campers explore everything that our waterfront has to offer under the surface, from fish and frogs to a vending machine that has been in Branch Lake since the 1980’s. Campers will play around in an underwater obstacle course. This class is offered to green and blue swimmers.

Underwater Rock Garden: Campers create little worlds under the sea. Under water rock gardens can become fish houses and neighborhoods, or just fun designs. Campers have fun splashing around and making something of their own. This class is offered to all swim levels.

Beach Dance Party: Campers in this class pretend they are on vacation, dancing in the sun and sand, enjoying some of their favorite songs. Campers in other classes really appreciate you for bringing fun tunes to the waterfront! This class is offered to all swim levels.

Water-ball Sports: Campers learn the rules then and enjoy games of water polo, water volleyball, and water basketball. This class is offered to yellow, green, and blue swimmers.

Sports

Volleyball: Campers learn the basic hits and rules of volleyball through games and drills on our sand volleyball court, by mid week the kids are ready for scrimmages and two on two tournaments.

Beginner Tennis: This class is catered to campers ages 8-10. The skills covered and games played are the most fun for this age group. This class does not focus more on skills than advanced tennis, rather, the games are sillier, and scrimmage rules are a little more forgiving.

Advanced Tennis: Campers ages 11-14 learn the basic rules and skills of tennis through fun games and drills. By mid week the kids are ready for singles and doubles matches and tournaments.

Floor Hockey: Campers learn the basic rules and skills of floor hockey through fun games and drills. By mid week the kids are ready for scrimmages and team tournaments.

Gaga: This is a very simple game that kids of all ages go Gaga for! Within the octagonal “Gaga arena” kids bounce a soccer ball off the walls with their hands, attempting to hit other players’ legs (knees or lower). This means the child is out, and they exit the arena, with the final camper being the winner. It is a fast paced game, so kids of all ages and abilities are continually engaged. The rules are simple and covered within a matter of minutes. Campers never get tired of Gaga and enjoy playing all week long.

Basketball: This class briefly recaps the rules and skills of basketball, but focuses more on fun skill-building games and strategy. Beyond drills and shooting games there is always plenty of time to scrimmage!

Baseball: Like basketball, this class gives a brief introduction to the rules of this popular sport, but quickly dives into the action, practicing skills with activities like soft-toss, fielding practice, home run derby and scrimmage.

Diamond Sports: This is a great activity for kids of all ages, ability levels, and attention spans. Counselors make it fun with silly team names and team cheers. The primary games played are Fribbles Game, Kickball, LAX Ball, and Alaskan Baseball.

Fribbles’ Game brings a very fun spin to baseball. The batter is given 3 balls/objects (a Frisbee, a football, and a soccer ball) to throw or kick in any way into the field, within the foul lines. The batter then attempts to run around as many bases as possible while the fielding team gathers all the objects and returns them to the pitcher. When all 3 are returned to the pitcher’s mound, the runner stops running around the bases and is “out”, with the total number of bases reached being the score they contribute to the team.

Kickball is a very popular rendition of baseball using a large rubber ball instead of bats and hard ball. Most American kids are familiar with it, and all others pick it up instantly.

LAX Ball is played with a tennis ball and players in the field use lacrosse sticks instead of baseball gloves.

Alaskan Baseball is played with 2 teams. One team is given a kickball and they assign one player to kick it as far as possible. After they have thrown the object their team forms a tight circle which they run around as many times as possible. Every time he/she makes it around the circle it counts as a run. Meanwhile, the other team is chasing the object. Everyone forms a line behind the first person that has gotten the object. They then pass the object between their legs until it reaches the last person, at which point the other team stops counting runs. The first person in line that retrieved the object now throws the object and the process reverses.

Archery: A certified archery instructor teaches campers all necessary safety precautions needed to be a safe archer. Once kids grasp the key safety concepts and the basics of shooting they will enjoy challenging themselves on our archery range.

Riflery: A certified riflery instructor teachers campers all necessary safety precautions needed to be a safe marksman. Campers are not only taught the necessary measures to be safe on the range, but are taught how to clean the rifles. Campers will begin shooting paper targets, and eventually aim for 1”diameter colored tags.

Tetherball: With two tetherball courts in our grove at the center of camp many kids want to be a tetherball master. This class helps kids grasp some of the basic moves and strategies, enabling kids to eventually win those David & Goliath matches.

U10 Soccer: This class is not dissimilar from the other soccer class, but it is catered to campers ages 8-10. Soccer is much more fun when everyone can be involved and has a chance to shine. This class will have games, activities, drills, and scrimmage time.

U14 Soccer: This class briefly recaps the rules and skills of soccer, but focuses more on fun skill-building drills and games. Kids spend class time doing drills, playing world cup, and scrimmaging each other. This class is for campers ages 11-14.

Lacrosse: This class gives kids a fun introduction to the sport of Lacrosse whether it is offered as a school sport or not. We will focus on the fundamentals with them, ensuring that the whole group understands the core concepts and skills of Lacrosse. Kids will be engaged by games and skill-building activities until the group is ready to scrimmage and show the counselors a thing or two!

Ultimate Frisbee & Quiddich: Utilizing a variety of equipment these two sports are an extremely fun way to enjoy time on the field. Campers will practice their Frisbee throws, their lacrosse skills, and learn the fundamentals of each sport. Campers are encouraged to not only stretch their bodies but their imaginations to enjoy an intense Quiddich match using dodge-balls as bludgers, a soccer ball as the quaffle, and lacrosse sticks as the brooms, and a counselor in a yellow pinnie as the snitch!

Flag Football: Campers learn the fundamentals of football this fast paced sport. Beyond the basic rules of football campers are taught proper techniques and strategies to the game through a variety of fun drills and activities, accuracy competitions, and in scrimmage situations.

British Sports: Many kids love playing rugby and cricket and this class gives them a chance to learn sports that they normally wouldn’t be able to experience. Because fewer local kids will be trying out for their school rugby or cricket team less time is spent on drills, and more time is spent playing.

Cross Country: Sitting on 188 acres of wilderness Camp Jordan has a number of beautiful trails. Campers will begin small, running through our trails and down our 0.7mi driveway and back, moving up to longer distances through the week, culminating in a 3 mile loop along rural roads, through nearby blueberry fields, and back to camp through our winding trails. This is great for campers who are on their school’s cross country team, and for kids who are just interested in running. There will be at least two counselors, so campers will never be alone, regardless of their pace.

Ropes Course

This two hour class is a progression of group and self challenge. The group begins with initiatives, team building, and trust activities on Monday. On Tuesday and Wednesday the team moves to our low ropes course, attempting a few of our 9 low-ropes elements. Thursday and Friday bring high-level fun, allowing campers to challenge themselves on a few of our 9 high-ropes objectives like the Zip Line, Pamper Pole, Dangling Duo, and Burma Bridge. This class is open to campers of all ages, but is most enjoyed by campers with a sense of adventure, or a personal desire to overcome challenges and fears.