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Activities
Deer Crossing offers a wide variety of activities for campers. Each class is taught to a high skill level and is highly personalized.
7:30 AM. By this time the sun is in the sky, the air is warming, and a woodpecker may be tapping on a nearby tree. For campers spending their first summer at Deer Crossing, this is the time to wake yourself up, get dressed, and begin cleaning your tent. Instructors inspect tents for cleanliness and organization at 7:50, and a clean tent is your ticket to breakfast.
"Old-timers," or campers who have previously completed a two week session at Deer Crossing and are returning for their second, third, fourth... summer at camp, have the option of helping the instructors set up the activity board at 7:30. Each morning the activity board is written up by instructors, GITs, LITs, old-time campers, and the director according to the specific needs and progression of campers. As an old-time camper, if you have been dreaming of doing your first kayak roll, you can request that Kayak 3 be offered that day. If you are a new-time camper and you're really excited to take Bouldering class, you can ask an old-time camper to request it for you. Our daily activity board decision-making process works to make sure that every camper gets to do the activities in which she/he is interested.
8:00 AM. Breakfast. Our breakfasts usually include scrambled eggs, melon, sausage, pancakes, dry cereal with milk, oatmeal, juice, and hot chocolate. You'll quickly learn that everyone gets enough food at Deer Crossing.
9:00 AM. Chores. Every camper and instructor does chores. New campers begin with Pine Needle Patrol where they learn basic forestry, tree identification, and fire causes and prevention. In Pine Needle Patrol, campers get a hands-on chance to help care for the forest in and around camp. Old-time campers help with a variety of chores–cleaning areas like the lodge and boys and girls bathrooms, doing dishes, and assisting with carpentry and equipment repairs.
I come from France, and met here people from all over the world (England, Russia, Poland). I learned a lot,not only in sailing, archery, climbing, singing, but also in life, community, sharing, and chores.
Lilly, France
9:45 AM. Board sign-up. This is your chance to sign up for the day's activities! Sign-up order is rotated so that all campers get a chance to be first for sign-ups.
When signing up for activities, there are four acitivity slots for each day:
AM 1 |
10:00am - 12:00pm |
PM 1 |
2:00pm - 4:00pm |
PM 2 |
4:00pm - 6:00pm |
Evening |
7:00pm - 9:00pm |
In each activity period, up to seven different activities are offered. For example, AM1 might offer core canoe, beginning kayaking, intermediate rock climbing, archery, beginning windsurfing, advanced sailing, pottery wheel, and open beach.
10:00 AM. AM1 activities. After choosing your activities for the day, it's time to get ready for the first period (AM 1). The instructor for your AM 1 activity makes a "first call", and you meet him or her at the lodge.
12:00. Lunch. Although breakfast was only four hours ago, you will be hungry! Lunches include pasta, sandwiches, salads, cookies, and soups. At the end of the meal, there are instructor and camper announcements. This is a good time to congraulate a friend on an accomplishment or thank the cooks for a delicious meal.
1:00 PM. Rest period. Rest period is the time for the three R's: Read, 'Rite, Rest. Campers can read, take a nap, or write letters home.
2:00 PM. PM1 activities. Choose from an array of activities.
4:00 PM. PM2 activities. Again a choice of activities.
6:00 PM. Dinner. Dinner is a hearty meal; some of the camper's favorite dinners are burrito night and pizza night. There are also vegetarian meals.
7:00 PM. Evening activities. You'll have some free time after dinner to spend time with friends, visit the flagpole, play music, etc. before evening activities.
9:00 PM. Lights out for 12 and under. After a day of exciting activities it's time for younger campers to head to your tent, slide into your sleeping bag, and turn off your flashlight. Instructors will come around to say "Good nite." It's been a great day.
9:30 PM. Lights out for 13 and up. Our older campers are off to sleep, recharging their batteries for another day filled with laughter, challenge, excitement, and good friends.
