Activities

High Meadows Camp provides a multitude of diverse activities for its campers. All activities and their descriptions are listed below. Each activity identifies the camp groups which participate: AN – Ants; GH – Grasshoppers; JR – Juniors; SS – Super Seniors; SQ – Senior Quest; SL – Senior Legend. For detailed camp group information, please visit the Group Pages.

Animal Care (SQ, SL) – Animal Care is offered to Senior Quest and Senior Legend. Children learn about farm animals and wild animals. They will learn to work and care for our domesticated animals, including feeding, grooming and basic veterinary care. They will perform simple farm chores and more difficult tasks as they advance through the Knighthood program.

Archery (SS, SQ, SL) – Archery teaches campers coordination, patience, and perseverance. The emphasis is on safety and personal improvement in a non-competitive atmosphere. Aside from shooting at point-value targets, campers may shoot for distance, accuracy, and for fun.

Arts and Crafts (GH, JR, SS, SQ, SL) – Ants create crafts within their unit under the direction of their Unit Leader. All other groups attend classes led by our Arts and Crafts specialist. Super Seniors are exposed to a variety of crafting techniques including watercolor, pottery, and weaving. Seniors choose from a variety of crafts with increasing technical and creative difficulty as they progress through the Knighthood Program.

Dance (SQ, SL) – Dance is a playful experience of rhythm and movement. Music and choreography are based on styles which interest participating campers. Swing, line dance, hip hop, lyrical and even stomp are some of the possibilities.

Darkroom Photography (SQ, SL) – Photography is offered to rising 5th through 9th graders. It provides beginners a look at taking stylistically and technically sound photographs, development of film and printing of black & white photos. Campers explore a variety of photographic techniques, from pin-hole cameras to 35 mm.

Lore (SQ, SL) – Lore introduces campers to traditions, stories, crafts and games. Campers may learn the physical skills of stalking, speaking silently, camouflage and dance. More importantly, there may be the development of honor, patience, thoughtfulness, courage and self-esteem within a framework of respect for the natural environment.

Lunch (GH, JR, SS, SQ, SL) – Campers should bring a non-perishable lunch each day in a reusable container. High Meadows encourages campers to bring healthy lunches that generate as little waste as possible. Campers are able to recycle #1 and #2 plastics, aluminum containers (such as fruit cups) and some paper products. A compost pile is also available for food scraps. Campers are not allowed to bring glass containers or soda cans to camp.

Nature (GH, JR, SS, SQ, SL) – Nature class introduces campers to the High Meadows environment, the animals, the wildlife and the land. Campers may also participate in the tending of our community garden. back to top

Pioneering (SQ, SL) – Pioneering teaches campers traditional American skills including fire building, shelter making, and useful plant identification. Campers are also exposed to the skills and talents used by early settlers of our land.

Barnyard Adventures (GH, JR) – Campers will visit and learn about the animals in our Barnyard. Ants, Grasshoppers, and Juniors will have the opportunity to ride ponies and interact with goats, sheep, rabbits, chickens, pigs, and horses.

Team Challenge (SL) – Team Challenge offer campers physical and mental challenges in which teamwork is utilized to practice problem-solving and maximize enjoyment. Elements include a bouldering wall, trust fall, low ropes, and many others. Skills in knot tying and belaying may be practiced, and the vital importance of safety is continually emphasized. There are safety requirements for participation, including health, strength, and cognitive ability.

Sports (GH, JR, SS, SQ, SL) – High Meadows sports program emphasizes skill development in a non-competitive atmosphere. Aside from traditional sports such as soccer, volleyball, and kickball, campers may play teamwork driven games, water games, exercise, skill, and coordination developing games.

Swimming (GH, JR, SS, SQ, SL) – All campers visit the pool every day, weather and conditions permitting. The pool is staffed by a team of certified lifeguards and trained lookouts. Ants campers are introduced to the pool, learn to feel safe and comfortable in our 2 foot area, and begin to acquire some water skills. Swim time for full day campers is divided into instructional swim and free swim. Full day campers are evaluated at the beginning of each session and placed into groups according to their ability. The pool is staffed by a team of certified lifeguards and trained lookouts. Senior campers take lessons until they pass Knighthood requirements. Jewelry (including earrings), goggles, fins, and flotation devices are not permitted in the pool.

Our pool is sanitized through a salt-water system, with chlorine used supplementally if needed. The result is comfortable, clean water that does not irritate the skin or eyes, and will not turn hair green.

Our pool program strives to help children find a true comfort level in the water without any apparatus, which will lead to a lifetime of safe and happy swimming. For this reason, goggles may not be used during instructional swim. If campers have a medical reason for wearing goggles, a doctor’s note is requested. Goggles may be used during free swim. Our pool has a large shallow end (2 feet) where younger campers who are not yet comfortable in deep water can play during free swim. The pool staff provides kickboards and other toys for water play and exploration. “Water Wings”, life jackets, noodles and other similar items may be allowed in the pool only during free swim and with approval from the Pool Director. Campers must wear shoes to walk to the pool. Once inside the pool area they may change into pool shoes or go barefoot.

Earrings and other jewelry may not be worn in the pool. (No exceptions! Please keep this in mind if you plan on getting your child’s ears pierced before camp!) Just as in other activities, swimming can be very close contact. We would not want anyone’s earlobes harmed or torn due to an earring, nor do we want to risk anyone losing their valuable jewelry, nor do we want our filtration systems compromised by foreign objects.

Traditions (GH, JR, SS, SQ, SL) – Our Traditions Class introduces campers to the stories, skills, and games that have shaped our landscape. From Native American habitation, to its use as a family farm, to our present school and camp, High Meadows has a rich history filled with memorable characters and legends. Campers may learn traditional no-tech games such as Cat’s Cradle, Marbles, and Tangrams, explore the uses of natural materials encountered on campus such as plant fibers, wool, and honey, and listen to the stories of our predecessors.

Woodworking (SS, SQ, SL) – Woodworking introduces campers to the skills necessary to create and finish hand-tooled projects with wood. There is always focus on safety. Super Senior campers participate in projects as a group, creating things such as bird houses or airplanes. Senior campers build projects with increasing complexity as they advance through the Knighthood Program.