News

Unplug with GAC!

February 28, 2020

Again this year, Gold Arrow Camp will be participating in the National Day of Unplugging. This day is a movement to encourage people to get a "24-hour respite from technology." The National Day of Unplugging encourages people to use 24 hours free from technology to connect with "ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities." Wow. That sounds an awful lot like camp. We love the idea of unplugging (just for a little bit) at home so that we can reforge the kind of connections there that we forge at camp, where we're totally free from the burden of technology. You can join us in celebrating by pledging to #unplug on social media, sharing this news story, or even hosting an unplugged event! You could host an old-fashioned dinner party, spend Saturday the 7th working on puzzles or playing board games. You can even have a sleepover without phones! If you have plans to unplug, please tag us in those on your social media. We'd love to share your plans (and what you did, after the fact, of course) on our social media!

National No One Eats Alone Day

February 7, 2020

 

"No One Eats Alone is a Positive Prevention Initiative that works to prevent bullying before it starts by teaching students to lead the movement to change the culture of middle school!"

National No One Eats Alone Day is February 14, 2020! This popular national program is celebrated in many schools across the country and is a student-led event. It is a day where all kids feel included and accepted by their peers. Would you like to have your school participate? We encourage you to partner with a teacher and click here to sign up where you can request a No One Eats Alone Day backpack. The backpack will help you launch your own NOEAD at your school! If you're not sure if your school is already registered, see here!

GACentines are Back!

February 5, 2020

You know the struggle. You want to give out Valentine's cards to your classmates, but you want something unique. Something that really shows them how special they are to you. Once again, we here at Gold Arrow Camp are here to help! That's right, we're back with our version of the classic Valentine's card, the GACentine. Let the people in your life know how you feel about them by printing these special notes of affection, featuring some of your favorite counselors and activities. Nothing says love quite like Rico California! Let Slim and Delta express your love. Let Free's passion for freedom express your feelings for that special someone. We love how expressive our horses are!We can't resist a PoCo inspired GACentine! For those people you just love spending time with, we suggest this. We have two backpacking themed options: Nothing like a good Buzz pun to say "Happy Valentine's!" Finally, Canoechery.  

Clothing Labels

January 27, 2020

One FAQ that parents (especially first year families!) ask as they prepare for camp is, "How do I label everything for camp?"  This is a great question and an important one.  At GAC, we ask that all items (clothing, water bottles, toothpaste, etc.) are labeled prior to your camper's arrival.  If a camper misplaces something or an item is mixed up in the laundry, if it's labeled, it will most likely end up back with the camper. Label types have varied over the years: iron-on, marked by hand, and stick-on.  All of the GAC directors have children who attend camp and have firsthand knowledge of the different label types and techniques and can commiserate with the frustration of discovering 10 labels (2o+ if they have siblings!) stuck to the inside of the washing machine!  Based on experience, we are recommending the following label options in order of preference:

1.  Use a permanent marker (aka "Sharpie") to write the camper's first initial and last name.  This is an easy and cost effective method.  Be sure to be consistent with the labeling and avoid the use of initials only.  Tip: use a silver marker for dark clothing!
2. Iron-on labels work well.  It's a time consuming task but those pre-made labels tend to stay on longer than stick-on labels and won't damage items that don't have clothing tags.
3. Stick-on labels are great for non-clothing items such as toiletries, shoes, and flashlights.  Even the youngest campers can help with this labeling task!

Which ever method ... Read more