We have more than 20 non-competitive, outdoor recreational activities we participate in at Gold Arrow Camp. These include waterfront activities, traditional camp activities, and our outdoor and challenge course activities! To watch our activities in action, click on the videos below.
Waterfront Activities
Traditional Activities
Wilderness/Challenge Activities
Campers most often participate in activities as a group with the other campers in their cabin. These shared experiences build a framework for the group to bond, strengthen friendships, and create memories. For most days during a two-week session, each cabin is scheduled for a variety of activities in the morning, afternoon, and evening. This ensures that campers will try most of the activities while at camp, even if they are a little unsure or nervous about a particular one. Campers are never forced to try an activity—we call it “challenge by choice”—but they are required to attend and strongly encouraged to participate. Campers also have the opportunity to sign up individually for activities during the evening Freetime program or for optional Early Morning activities. Between scheduled cabin activities and Freetime activity sign-ups, campers will participate in most activities offered at GAC with the exception of our Shaver Island Outpost, Wake Surfing, Vertical Playpen, and Big Canoe (not available to campers assigned to cabins with children primarily completing grades K-4) and Mountain Biking (not available to campers assigned to cabins with children primarily completing grades K-3).
Our youngest campers, the Bears (campers assigned to cabins with children primarily completing grades K-3), take an overnight hiking trip out of camp when they are enrolled in one of our 2-week sessions. The hike is approximately one mile, and packs and sleeping bags are delivered to the camp site for a low-key introduction to backpacking.
Our “middle-aged” campers, the Tigers (campers assigned to cabins with children primarily completing grade 4), experience a real overnight trip during a 2-week session, complete with backpacks, and walk approximately 3-6 miles to sites such as Twin Lakes and Indian Falls. Campers are taught “Leave No Trace” principles and respect for the environment while learning how to prepare and store food, and survive in the wilderness. Groups are always able to communicate with camp through the use of communication devices that allow for texting and tracking.
Campers who attend a 2-week session and are assigned to cabins with children primarily completing grade 4 and above will visit our Shaver Island Outpost for one or two nights to sleep under the stars and focus on waterskiing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding and wake surfing skills.
The programs in which children are selected to participate are subject to change based on the directors’ discretion.
