Tag: benefits of summer camp

Woodshop Projects You Can Use

Screen Shot 2015-10-26 at 2.50.36 PMWe were thrilled to open a new Woodshop studio this past summer, our fourth (and final) move for this ever-popular activity. Walking into the Shop, guests will find it always busy and full of campers working on projects that are both appropriate for their skill level and useful in their daily lives.

Many of the projects we built this year come from projects we see around us. The iPod speaker is just that. Given as a gift to one of our full time team members over the winter, we thought it would be a fun project to try at camp. The kids jumped right in because they actually use it back home right away. And, it works!

Another fun and useful project was our travel stool. Last summer, one of our campers from Russia built a great stool all on his own. In researching the cost to send it back to Moscow, we found it prohibitively high. (Don’t worry – we are still using the stool today!)

Our head of Creativity developed our travel stool, a project that would allow girls and boys the chance to build something they could use back home but also pack in any bag. Dozens of these projects were created and painted to their builder’s own plans.

Lastly, our staff helped the campers use the wood from our surrounding forests to come up with winter holiday ornaments. These little reindeer will be great additions to many homes this winter.

We are proud of our girls and boys who use their hands, imaginations, and many tools they don’t often see to create useful projects. Come to the Shop and give it a try yourself next summer!

Fine Arts at Camp Weequahic

11802642_10153511651761419_866835285771960755_oWe were thrilled to unveil our new Studio, the fine arts space at Camp Weequahic, for our Summer 2015 campers. This brand new space offered campers of all ages a chance to explore, create and play surrounded by engaged and excited staff.

Campers with “Studio” on their daily schedule were invited to join one of several project offerings between drawing & painting, jewelry, crafts and more. A number of very playful and creative kids developed their own projects to the wonder of our staff.

Memorable projects include picture frames, scrapbooks, melted wax, spray paint art and innumerable bracelets. The most interesting, though, was the homemade soap.

Campers spent time picking herbs from our garden to dry and then add to the soap. After a few successful attempts, several campers starting trying new options like citrus, oatmeal and crushed oreo cookies. (More than one visiting staff member wanted to take a bite….)

We hope you’ll spend some time with us next summer in The Studio. It’s a colorful, fun place where you can explore and create to heart’s content!

Camp Weequahic Camp Outs


weequahicblog2We were thrilled to have so many campers enjoy a night sleeping outside this past summer. Our head of the Forest, the unforgettable and aptly named Forrest, let trips of campers of all ages and their staff out into the woods for a wonderful evening and morning in nature.

While our campouts take place on Camp Weequahic’s property, our camp ring is way back in the woods. A couple of times each week, campers loaded with sleeping bags, tents, and supplies hiked the 15 minutes from Main Camp to their overnight adventure.

Forrest quickly helps everyone get settled and then directs the placement of tents and collection of firewood. After some fun campfire games lead by Forrest or our Head of Outdoor Adventure, Danny, the kids all have some time to share their experiences with their friends.

Screen Shot 2015-09-22 at 2.43.26 PMFlashlights and campfires are extinguished and the kids quiet down, falling asleep in their tents while listening to the sounds of the forest. The next morning, the campers clean up their campsite, pack up their gear and hike back to camp in time for breakfast.

It’s touching to see so many kids (and some staff) return to camp after their first ever campout. It is a memory built at camp alongside friends from all over the country and world. It’s an experience they won’t soon forget and one that will keep them smiling for months to come.

We look forward to helping our campers continue their exploration of nature each summer!