Typical Day
Schedule By Age Group
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| Schedules vary from day to day
and from group to group. The following is a sample day
schedule for each age group. Please contact us for a
detailed weekly schedule. For a detailed listing of
programs and activities please click
HERE
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A Typical Day at Roughing It Day Camp
How are Roughing It camp days spent?
Camper groups spend about half their
time in a fixed schedule of activities. This ensures that each camper has the opportunity
to experience every camp activity. The major
emphasis for these activities is formal instruction for all ability levels taught in a fun
manner. The rest of each day consists of activities designed by the camper group
under the leadership of the group counselor. Through
daily experiences, campers learn to select and organize their own activities.
The camp day is from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Opening & Closing Circle
The day starts with the bus ride where campers practice songs,
skits and raps. At Opening Circle the entire
camp assembles for announcements and songs, zany stunts and crazy visitors on Theme Days.
Then the camper groups meet for a short time for group activity and planning.
At the end of the camp day, the whole camp comes together for closing circle.
Waterfront
The protected coves of the Lafayette Reservoir provide a wonderful location to perfect
waterfront skills. Fishing is a favorite activity enjoyed by all the campers.
Younger campers learn to row; kayaking is taught to our older campers.
Campers second grade and above learn to canoe. Lifejackets are
worn at all times while boating, canoeing, or kayaking
and constant, close supervision is maintained at all times. All
waterfront staff members are certified Lifeguards.
Horseback Riding Lessons
Campers develop riding and horsemanship skills in classes geared towards each camper's individual ability
level. Each group rides one to three times a week,
depending on age. Campers are divided into riding groups based on ability: novice riders
begin with horse readiness, followed by beginner, advanced beginner,
intermediate, advanced and junior trainer levels
for the more experienced riders. Campers ride in our three riding rings and,
according to their ability level, can also ride on our trails and cross country
course. Riding is on bareback pads, which greatly
improves camper's balance and riding seat. Our horses have very gentle
dispositions and easily win the hearts of campers. Roughing It employs its own
riding staff and all senior instructors are Instructor Certified by the
Certified
Horsemanship Association.
Swimming Instruction
All campers participate in the formal American Red Cross
instruction at the Soda Aquatic Center, located at Campolindo High School in
Lafayette, a ten minute shuttle ride from
the reservoir. Campers are at the Aquatic Center three times a week. Each swim sessions includes 30 minutes of formal
instruction and 10 minutes of supervised games and free swim. Advanced
swimmers may choose from additional swim activities such as water exercise, water polo,
competitive swimming workouts or diving. All
our Roughing It swim staff are certified lifeguards and have current certification
in first aid and CPR. Senior instructors
have completed their ARC Water Safety Instructor certification.
Sports
A full-time sports counselor organizes a wide
variety of team and field sports in a non-competitive and fun atmosphere. Children enjoy softball, t-ball, volleyball, flag
football and soccer, and for older campers, lacrosse and Frisbee football and rugby. The
goal of the sports program is to teach a positive attitude, good sportsmanship and team
building.
Arts and Crafts
A full-time crafts counselor makes crafts projects a creative and relaxing
experience. Projects are specially designed
for camper group interest and age level. There
are nature crafts, clay, beading, unique crafts on theme days and many traditional camp crafts including
lanyards, friendship bracelets, whittling, macramé and knot craft.
Outdoors and Environmental Education
One of the most unique
aspects of Roughing It is the rustic outdoor setting. Exploring trails, finding hideouts in the trees, learning the best wild
blackberry spots, and just plain getting dirty are all part of "roughing it” in
the outdoors. Campers can also practice outdoor living skills like map and compass, tent
pitching and outdoor cooking. Acquiring a respect for all living things is an important
value campers learn in the outdoors at Roughing It.
"He was happy, dirty, ate like a horse, slept like a log,
and got to do things not available elsewhere"
Kitty Hastings, parent of a 5-year- old camper, Lafayette
Adventure
There are endless opportunities for imaginative
and real adventures for our campers of all ages. Younger
campers begin with simple initiative games and elementary group challenges. Older campers progress through lower ropes
course elements. Junior high school aged campers can learn basic rock climbing
as part of SuperChoice on Fridays. Sixth grade campers and older can take a short
mountain bike trip. These adventures
are designed to develop self-confidence, leadership, and supportive team
building.
Traditional Camp Games and Activities
These activities capture the imagination and encourage individual growth and physical
development. They include such favorites as
capture the flag, medic, kick the can, tree-tag, as well as our own camp traditions of
Captain Rough's Treasure Hunt, Max's
Rowing Challenge, theme days, and
everyone's favorite--the Camp Overnight!
Lunch and Quiet Time
Campers bring a sack lunch, snack and drink each day. Quiet activities (stories read by counselors
for younger campers and crafts for older campers) follow the lunch period.
Older Campers Have Their Own Active Programs
6-8th Graders: As they get older, campers
experience new and challenging programs. Jr.
high campers (grades 6 - 8) begin mountain biking and rock climbing. They also have a slightly different format for
their waterfront, swimming and riding programs: swimming offers additional activities such
as water polo, synchronized swimming, diving, stroke improvement and basic water rescue.
Riding offers drill team, equitation, jumping , vaulting, gymkhana, and trail riding.
9th and 10th Graders: Campers in
Leadership Training (CILT) is for campers who want to improve their leadership skills or who
would like to become Junior Counselors and eventually senior staff at Roughing It. They spend half their week in camp teen
activities. The other half of their days is spent in organized leadership development programs and helping younger camper groups.
Entering Juniors, Seniors and College Freshman: The Junior Counselor Program is for teens who
love camp, love working with younger children and are entering their junior or senior year
of high school or freshman year of college. Junior Counselors volunteer for the whole summer at Roughing It and serve as assistants with younger camper groups or at program areas.
Extended Day Camp
Roughing It's extended day camp program, CampPlus, has its own unique program and activities. Visit our
CampPlus page for more information.
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