Camp Thoreau - A Day in the Life

Campers are greeted at the drop-off area and take a short morning hike to our cabins where they are welcomed by counselors and friends to begin the day. Mornings are filled with engaging instructional programs such as Red Cross swim lessons and archery. Campers choose how they want to spend their afternoons by signing up for hobbies (or electives). Some hobbies include candle making, hip-hop dancing and ultimate frisbee. The combination of instructional and elective activities make for a fun and rewarding camp experience!

Opening and Closing Councils - an age-old tradition that makes Camp Thoreau so unique! Every morning begins with the entire camp gathering together at the Drama stage. Counselor introductions, group songs and skits are enjoyed by all and get campers and staff extra excited for the day ahead of them. Closing council is a time for more songs as well as dismissing campers to their buses, extended day or to their parents.

Morning Instructional Programs (Periods 1 - 4)
The morning periods are spent having fun and active learning. These periods consist of archery classes, team building on the ropes course, Red Cross swim lessons and soccer drills - to name a few. The emphasis of the different program areas is on instructional learning and character development. Campers acquire new skills and come away with new interests. During these morning periods, campers are able to sample and explore all of the different activities Camp Thoreau has to offer.

Hobbies (Afternoon Periods 1 & 2)
Hobbies are elective activites that campers sign-up for during the first opening council of the session. They participate in the same two hobbies every afternoon for the first week of the session and then have the opportunity to choose two new hobies for the second week of the session. Hobbies are unique and creative activities that counselors design themselves. Some favorite hobbies include: Candle-making, Irish step-dancing, "base-ketball" and Harry Potter games. Unlike morning instructional programs, the emphasis of Hobbies is on creativity, imagination and spontaneity.