Week of July 6 – 10

The world is a mosaic of many different cultures, each with different stories to tell, languages to express themselves, foods to enjoy, and traditions to celebrate. Just as there are cultures with ties to different parts of the world, there are also different Indigenous cultures throughout the Americas. Campers who attend this week will make cultural connections between their own experiences and those of different cultures throughout time and around the world. They will learn about traditions from local Native American communities, tribes in other regions, and people throughout the world while playing games, making crafts, and completing projects designed to inspire curiosity about the world around them.

Week of July 13 -17

The hunt is on for some resourceful campers! Long ago, before there were supermarkets, restaurants or online orders, cultures throughout the world developed different skills and technologies to help themselves find food and make tools using natural resources. Even today, plants and animals provide food and resources for making items that we need to survive. In this week’s session, campers will practice animal tracking and plant identification, while making tools and learning skills that could be used for survival situations. Along the way, they will explore how Native cultures have used their understanding of the environment to thrive for thousands of years. Campers will also consider ways that they can help steward the gifts of the natural world.

Week of July 27 – 31

Throughout time, humans have played games and sports for many different reasons beyond just “having fun.” From practicing valuable survival skills to building, maintaining social bonds, and helping to pass the time, games have also served important purposes in different cultures. Indeed, many of the sports we play today, such as lacrosse and soccer, have connections to Native Americans and other Indigenous peoples throughout the world. Campers who attend this week’s session will get “serious” about playing games, making traditional toys, and creating lifelong memories through exciting adventures.

Week of August 3 – 7

How do we understand the past and solve its mysteries? How do different cultures throughout the world think about time and their place within it? Campers in this week’s session will learn about scientific methods, storytelling principles, and various ways of documenting the past to better understand the present and help shape the future. Through mock digs and archeological floatation, 

campers can put the scientific method into practice. Through storytelling, they’ll learn the power of the oral tradition. Campers will be taught how to incorporate both of these perspectives through games and activities, and learn how to better connect with their own culture.

Week of August 10-14

What lessons can we learn from Native cultures? By working together, developing new technologies, and passing down their traditions from one generation to the next, they have been able to survive through many changes and challenges over thousands of years. This week’s camp session will feature activities that focus on the value of teamwork, adapting to change, and honoring our unique differences as campers learn about the diverse and dynamic cultures of Native Americans. Hear from Native voices in the present about the importance of caring for the land and its resources for future generations. 

*Campers will be taking on the outdoors in a rewarding hike that will take up most of one camp day this week!