Junior Camp

Every Friday the campers and staff alike look forward to spirit days, from Mustache Day to Halloween Day. In addition to spirit days, campers will also participate in special events. Events such as the Fourth of July Fun Run, unit special days, and a staff vaudeville show all provide extra fun and memories.

Our outdoor amphitheater, known fondly as “Gully,” is a perfect place to begin the day. Arriving campers are welcomed by fun-loving camp staff who guide them to their units and entertain them with songs, games, jokes, and skits. Campers enjoy watching their counselors be silly and can join them on stage if they wish. Birthdays are celebrated in Gully with individual crowns and the birthday song. Campers learn many traditional camp songs in Gully and also the beloved “Announcements” chant that campers remember for years to come. At the conclusion of Gully, campers and counselors sing their way to their units to prepare for the day’s activities. In inclement weather, Gully is held inside the main building, in the Big Room.

The well-equipped art room allows Unit A campers’ imaginations to soar using a variety of art media and techniques. All styles of creativity are valued and appreciated. Picture books and other images are examined to demonstrate specific artistic styles and methods, as well as to inspire the children.  Campers select a project that expresses their own interpretations with their personal choice of media.

Painting, weaving, paper mosaics, and puppets are just a few examples of original projects adorning the art room.

Campers need unstructured play to complement their scheduled educational experiences throughout the day. Green Acres Camp provides an ideal environment for free play outdoors, with room to run and shout or play an organized game. Two dedicated play areas for junior campers offer swings, playhouses, sandboxes,  numerous climbing structures, slides, and a wooded area provides shade on hot sunny days. There are plenty of counselors to play with and to supervise the children. Water bottles are available for necessary rehydration, and bathroom breaks are taken as needed. Free play is as necessary as guided activities, and Green Acres is fortunate to have a setting in which to provide both!

Sports Stars is a great class for our younger campers, who have boundless energy! Campers begin with stretches and drills, which help them to warm up their muscles and to focus on the skills that will be developed during game play. They learn to listen, follow game directions, and practice sportsmanship, all while having fun. Laughter and enthusiasm are apparent as campers learn new versions of Freeze Tag, Dodge Ball, parachute games, and “Don’t Throw Your Trash in My Backyard!” A variety of games are played to exercise different muscle groups. Rest and water breaks are provided throughout the class. Everyone can be a star in Sports Stars!

The beach entrance and shallow teaching space at our pool are designed for beginning swimmers. We use a Red Cross certified instructional program, which we supplement with our own lessons. We want children to develop a love of swimming at their own pace and only ask campers to put on their bathing suits and come to the pool. Then we evaluate their comfort level and skills, to create small teaching groups. In addition to a certified swim instructor, a unit counselor is also assigned to each small group to assist with instruction. Within these groups, campers work on stroke mechanics, turns, and diving.

Science class for Unit A campers is a time of wonder and excitement in both indoor and outdoor lab spaces. Activities are hands-on and often interest driven. They may involve an exploration of chemical reactions, inspection of physical properties, and  computer programming of simple robots.

Our Young Explorers begin with an introductory activity, such as generating a hypothesis about the purpose of a natural object, and then follow up with exploration outside. The children participate in class discussions and then draw conclusions about what they have observed.

Everyone looks forward to something special at the end of a long week, and Green Acres does not disappoint! Mustache Day and Halloween Day are favorite Spirit Days. In addition, the Fourth of July Fun Run, Unit B Special Day (campers have special activities and stay until 5:30 PM), and a staff vaudeville show at the end of camp all provide extra fun for campers to enjoy. You can be sure to hear campers sharing about these exciting programs in addition to their already fun-filled days!

Our outdoor amphitheater, fondly known as “Gully,” is a perfect way to begin the camp morning while waiting for all campers to arrive. Campers are greeted by cheerful staff members who guide them to their units, where they are entertained with songs, games, jokes, and skits. Campers have the opportunity to watch their counselors be silly on stage and are invited to engage with them on a voluntary basis. Birthdays are celebrated with individual crowns and the birthday song to make their day special. If weather is inclement, the fun continues in the Big Room inside. Campers learn many traditional camp songs in Gully, as well the infamous “Announcements” chant that becomes a memory for years to come. At the conclusion of Gully, all campers head to their units singing to begin the day on a happy note.

As little hands become stronger and more skilled with using scissors, paintbrushes, and pencils, the projects become more intricate. There is more of an emphasis on illustrator study and interesting investigations, such as the exploration of color mixing, dot drawing, and decoupage. Unit B campers recognize the individuality of a variety of artists and begin to experiment with their own creativity while completing projects. There is time for sharing and comparing strategies with one another when projects are finished.

Unit B campers relish the chance to play outdoors. They tend to become more involved with group games, which require cooperation and the understanding of rules. Some of these games are familiar favorites, while others are individually created. This provides opportunities for leadership development, as well as the ability to be a team player.

Campers continue to have access to dedicated play areas and playground equipment. Counselors both supervise and play with the campers, as well as encourage the development of problem-solving skills.

Campers are excited to play games and have fun. Stretches and drills continue to be an integral part of the activity, as it is important to warm up those bigger muscles and practice eye-hand coordination. Games become more complicated as more difficult skills are incorporated, and Unit B campers begin to demonstrate their developing skills at a faster rate.

Campers are able to offer suggestions as to how to change the games and tailor them to include their creative ideas. Endurance begins to develop, and campers are able to last longer before needing a rest break. However, water breaks are still required, especially on very hot days. When inclement weather occurs, the fun is taken inside, where one might see campers participating in parachute games, obstacle courses, or organized sports.

The beach entrance and shallow teaching well at our pool are useful for young swimmers. We use a Red Cross certified instruction program, which we supplement with Green Acres lessons. Because we want children to develop a love of swimming, we do not require children to do anything other than to dress in their bathing suits and come to the pool. We evaluate where campers are as it relates to their comfort level and skill and then divide into small teaching groups to work on strokes, turns, and diving. Counselors are in the pool assisting the swim staff, which helps to keep the teaching groups small. 

Science class builds upon what Unit B campers have experienced in the past. They are familiar with the idea of asking questions and searching for answers through experimentation. Now, they begin to develop more critical thinking skills with one another. Campers complete charts of their observations and add questions that might help them learn more.

There continues to be exciting experiments that may involve anything from bubble composition to the properties of soap. Robot programming becomes more complicated with changing directions and making complicated turns. Campers learn scientific terminology and use information gleaned from informational videos. They are always excited to return for more!

Everyone looks forward to something special at the end of a long week, and Green Acres does not disappoint! From Mustache Day to Halloween Day, our Spirit Days are always fun! In addition, the Fourth of July Fun Run, Unit C Special Day (campers stay late to swim and have dinner!), and a staff vaudeville show at the end of camp all provide extra fun for campers to enjoy. You can be sure to hear campers sharing about these exciting programs in addition to their already fun-filled days!

Our outdoor amphitheater, known fondly as “Gully,” is a perfect place to begin the day. Arriving campers are welcomed by fun-loving camp staff who guide them to their units and entertain them with songs, games, jokes, and skits. Campers enjoy watching their counselors be silly and can join them on stage if they wish. Birthdays are celebrated in Gully with individual crowns and the birthday song. Campers learn many traditional camp songs in Gully and the beloved “Announcements” chant that campers remember for years to come. At the conclusion of Gully, campers and counselors sing their way to their units to prepare for the day’s activities. In inclement weather, Gully is held inside the main building, in the Big Room., and skits. 

A greater emphasis is put on artistic style and technique once campers reach Unit C. Skills develop through the careful guidance of the instructor, who shares information about specific artists and their styles. Campers are encouraged to explore and are motivated to design their own products. The choice of Kaleidoscope provides an opportunity for budding artists to follow their own motivation and enthusiasm for art.

Unit C campers relish the chance to play outdoors. They tend to become more involved with group games, which require cooperation and the understanding of rules. Some of these games are familiar favorites, while others are individually created. This provides opportunities for leadership development, as well as the ability to be a team player.

Campers continue to have access to dedicated play areas and playground equipment. Counselors both supervise and play with the campers, as well as encourage the development of problem-solving skills.

Since Unit C participates in Sports Stars for a week, their curriculum functions as a mini-camp. Campers continue to incorporate drills and skill development before moving on to more advanced technical instruction. The instructor is sure to include fun activities, such as wet sponge relays, to keep it fun, especially during the hot weather. The week concludes with a full game, such as soccer, as well as a medal ceremony. During Week 4, the entire unit, including counselors, participate in large-group games. Some favorites include Capture the Flag, Kickball, and Scooter Hockey. Sports Stars is a popular choice for the active camper!

The beach entrance and shallow teaching well at our pool are designed for beginning swimmers. We use a Red Cross certified instructional program, which we supplement with our own lessons. We want children to develop a love of swimming at their own pace and only ask campers to put on their bathing suits and come to the pool. Then we evaluate their comfort level and skills and divide campers into small teaching groups to work on strokes, turns, and diving. Counselors are in the pool assisting the swim staff. 

Unit C scientists progress from the development of questions and observations to the actual completion of a scientific investigation. Group discussion of collected data becomes an integral part of the formulation of a conclusion. Some of the experiments are generated by the instructor, while others are developed or molded by the campers themselves. Some favorite investigations have been “The Pool Noodle Disappearance,” “Snow in the Summer,” and “Simple Rocket Science.” Science is a great place for the inquisitive mind!