Session 3 Outpost & Events Schedule

There’s always something going on at camp, whether that’s a cabin theme day, a backpacking trip or a visit to Shaver Island! Check out the outpost schedule below to see where each cabin is going this session.

 

Welcome Session 2 Campers!

We’re so excited to welcome our Session 2 campers to camp! This session we have campers here from all over the United States, and even Spain, Singapore, United Kingdom, and Mexico! Of these campers…

85 are 1st time campers at GAC

201 are returning campers

50 are 3-year campers

24 are 5-year campers

and 5 are 10-year campers!

We are so excited for the next two weeks that will be spent hiking, singing songs, waterskiing, campfires and so much more! Make sure to keep up with everything going on at camp through our News section and the Campanion App!

What are we eating this week? Check out the week’s menu!

Session 2 Outpost & Events Schedule

There’s always something going on at camp, whether that’s a cabin theme day, a backpacking trip or a visit to Shaver Island! Check out the outpost schedule below to see where each cabin is going this session.

 

July Kindness Calendar

July 16th is Camp Kindness Day, so we are getting you ready with our July Kindness Calendar! We encourage you to show kindness to someone every day and we came up with a few ways to help you do that! Click here to download the printable version.

Session 1 Outpost & Events Schedule

There’s always something going on at camp, whether that’s Jers-day Thursday, a backpacking trip or a visit to Shaver Island! Check out the outpost schedule below to see where each cabin is going this session.

Welcome Session 1 Campers!

Session 1 starts now! We’re so excited to welcome our Session 1 campers to camp today! This session we have campers coming from as far away as Mexico, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates as well as representing many states! Of these campers…

96 are 1st-time campers at GAC

180 are returning campers

64 are 3-year campers

12 are 5-year campers

and 4 are 10-year campers!

We are so excited for the next 2 weeks that will be spent hiking, singing songs, waterskiing, campfires and so much more! Make sure to keep up with everything going on at camp through our News section and the Campanion App!

What are we eating this week? Check out the Session 1, Week 1 Menu

Session 1 Plus – Shaver Week Has Begun!

Yesterday, we welcomed an awesome group of campers for Session 1+, which starts with a week at our Shaver Island Outpost camp. Among this group of campers, there are ten 6-year campers, two 5-year campers, and one 10-year camper.  Four campers are from outside of California.

They’re going to enjoy an action-packed week of waterskiing, wakeboarding, and kneeboarding on our island outpost in the middle of Shaver Lake. They will get to sleep under the stars after spending fun-filled days on the lake! How lucky they are!

June Shaver Specialty Menu

Want to learn more about June Specialty? Click here.

June Kindness Calendar

Happy June and the start of GAC 2024! Here are some great ideas of how we can be kind to others this month. Enjoy! You can download a printable version here!

May Kindness Calendar

Hello everyone! It’s a new month so that means new opportunities to show kindness to those around us! Click here to download the printable version.

Our Favorite Read Aloud Books

At Gold Arrow Camp, the tradition of reading to campers every night holds a special place in the daily routine. After roasting marshmallows around the campfire and getting ready for bed, counselors read a book aloud to their campers. Even our oldest campers enjoy this nightly practice! 

Reading builds empathy, and is a powerful tool for helping campers develop kindness and compassion towards one another. Reading ignites camaraderie and conversation as campers think and talk about the situations and challenges the characters face. Many campers share with us that listening to a story in their sleeping bags is one of their favorite parts of the day. 

Five Tips for Choosing a Great Read Aloud Book at Home

  1. Start a series! Many counselors choose to read the first book in a series to their campers. While some of the books are larger (and cabin groups are not always able to finish the book), many campers report that they’re going to read the rest of the book when they get home, or read the next book in the series. A series offers continuity and an opportunity for campers to invest in the characters, setting, and plot. If you are trying to encourage more reading at home, one strategy is to start reading a series together. A child might choose to finish reading the series on their own. When I was little, my mom read the first three Harry Potter Books to me aloud. After reading three books together, I read the final four installments independently as they were released. Starting the series together helped me invest in the characters and made me excited for the new releases!
  2. Use online resources to find books that align with your child’s interests. Goodreads and Common Sense Media both offer reviews and ratings for children’s books. Goodreads also provides a fun way to start a “Reading Challenge” and set a reading goal for the year. At Gold Arrow Camp, we use Common Sense Media to guide counselors towards the perfect age-appropriate books.
  3. Visit your local library or bookstore, and involve your child in the selection process to foster ownership!
  4. Choose a book that has been made into a movie, and plan a family movie night when you finish reading the book. This is a great way to engage in discussions about a story, and talk about changes made from the book to the movie version.
  5. If your child is older and wants to read independently, find a time to read together as a family, or start a family book club and read the same book at the same time. In Michele Borba’s book Unselfie, Borba recommends looking at your child’s required reading list for school and picking up an additional copy for yourself!

Our Counselors’ Favorite Read Aloud Books

Bears (Grades K-2)

Tigers (Grades 3-5)

Lions (Grades 6-8)

Eagles (Grades 9-10)