Camp Program & Activities
Southwoods Program
At Southwoods, we give our campers opportunities to choose their favorite things to do, encourage them to try new activities, and provide exciting and age-appropriate outdoor experiences in the beautiful Adirondack mountains. We like to say we’re a well rounded camp with an outdoor focus. When they aren’t out on the trail or on one of our many trips, campers have a wide variety of athletic, aquatic, artistic, and adventure based activities to participate in.
We break our day down by three types of actvities: Weekly Intensives, Daily Electives, and Cabin Activities.
Weekly Intensive
Campers will choose which activities they want to participate in for the week. These are skills based activities with markable achievements. Lower and Upper camp both have (2) Weekly Electives.
Examples
- Tennis
- Gymnastics
- Sailing
- Ceramics
Daily Elective
Campers will choose these periods every single day! Daily Electives have variety, offering campers a chance to try new things and have fun with their friends.
Examples
- Gaga
- Arts & Crafts
- Pick-Up Basketball
- Beach Party
Cabin Activity
Campers will have opportunities to be programmed with just their cabin mates. This gives them a chance to form deep bonds while trying new things and having fun. Our youngest campers have more of these activities a day. As they get older, we do less and less as they gain more independence over their schedule.
Examples
- Kickball
- Tubing
- Fishing
- Fantastic Fungi
Lower Camp
Explorers
Rising 3rd & 4th grade
- Combination cabin and choice programming.
- On site traditional camping trips.
- Designated General Counselors for extra hands on help.
Trekkers
Rising 5th & 6th grade
- Combination cabin and choice programming.
- On site and off site camping trips.
- Off site hiking and canoeing adventures.
Upper Camp
Trailblazers
Rising 7th & 8th grade
- Mostly choice programming.
- Off site camping and portaging trips.
- Off site rock climbing, canoeing, rafting, and hiking adventures.
Mountaineers
Rising 9th & 10th grade
- Choice programming.
- Multi-day off site camping and portaging trips.
- Off site rock climbing, canoeing, rafting, and hiking adventures.
The Southwoods Cheat Sheet
We do two line ups a day. In the morning, Line Up is focused on announcements. Our campers are given the information they’ll need for the day, reminded to wear their sunscreen, and sent off on another exciting day at Southwoods. In the evening, Line Up is about celebrating the milestones of the day. We recognize our campers for their achievements, like standing up on skis for the first time, but also for the moments of the day where they chose The Southwoods Way. The teenager who helps the seven year old find their crocs after swim lessons is celebrated in the same way as the camper who shot their first three-pointer.
Canteen time is when campers can go to the snack bar or get something out of the camp store. Much like “gathering around the watering hole” canteen is a time for campers to get any essentials they’ve run out of, enjoy a sweet treat, and most importantly, hang out with their friends!
Evening activity! These can be full-camp events like campfire or social or division specific activities to give kids time to bond with their peers. Evening activity only has one goal: FUN.
Huddle Up is the most important part of the day. At home, the bedtime routine is usually done by the campers parents. To get ahead of any feelings of homesickness, at camp we end our day with Huddle Up. The counselors propose a question to the bunk and everyone gets a chance to listen and be heard in return. Campers all say the same thing: Huddle Up is the time of the day where friends become family.
When Lower Camp has canteen, Upper Camp gets Twilight. What do teenagers want most? Time to hang out with other teenagers. During Twilight we open designated areas of camp for them to hang out with their peers. Counselors supervise, but the purpose really is to give them time to be together, talk, laugh, and feel like the extra trust that comes with maturity.
