Forms forms forms! We know, it’s a lot. Thank you, trusted adults, for taking the time to knock out everything. This blog is specifically to help you and your camper figure out the Activity Preference sheet. Gather ‘round and have your sunglasses at the ready - the future is BRIGHT!

First thing’s first, some guidelines, suggestions, and a behind-the-scenes perspective:

1. Camp is the BEST place to try new things.

As you’re looking through our activity options, don’t be deterred from a selection because of limited experience. The only time you’ll want to consider experience is with GRP Wheels, where it is important that campers are ready for multi-mile, several-hour mountain biking excursions, or if it’s an activity where there are two options, like Beginner Music and Music 2, which we’ll provide details on later. Things like Archery, Fencing, Canoeing, Climbing, and more, are designed to be adaptable and accommodate new learners and seasoned pros.

2. Scheduling pickles are a reality in the Program Office.

The most honest thing you’ll hear from us in this blog, are you ready? You will probably NOT see every activity ranked in your campers’ top 5 on their schedule this summer.

The main reason this occurs is that we have some VERY popular activities that, despite our best efforts to squeeze in as many campers as possible, cannot accommodate every person who wants to try . . . this year! As a general rule, our returning and older campers tend to get their preferences met more often because they have less time left at Base Camp to explore.

That being said, we do our best to meet campers’ preferences as often as we can. When we have to fill in something further down the list, those rankings still matter!

As a youth development professional, I encourage parents to speak openly with their campers about each of their “backup” options and highlight the opportunities involved, then truly rank each preference all the way down.

Is your camper all about adrenaline and moving their body? Their top choices might be Climbing, Canoeing, Mountain Biking, Archery, and Fencing. Don’t forget to also ask them: given the choice between Beginner Music and Crafts, which will they enjoy more? The opposite applies as well.

The more prepared your camper is for the possibility that they may have an activity or two on their schedule that is new, different, or challenging, the more they can step into the space of curiosity and approach with an open mind to enjoy the process. They might surprise themselves, and you, with what sparks their inspiration. I can confidently say that no matter where your camper spends their time in activities at GRP, the adults around them will be passionate, attentive, and supportive. Which brings us to . . .

3. Variety is the spice of camp life.

For our go-go-go campers: Sure, some folks can ABSOLUTELY handle a 3-hour hike followed by a climbing session followed by canoeing in full sun followed by an hour of field games. We do prioritize that post-lunch Rest Hour and reasonable bedtimes. And, our day is long. Learning how to find calm in our body and mind is an important skill. Is that something that is easier for us to find while playing music? Are we classroom-jitters doodlers? Does stepping into a character help us think outside the box? Prioritizing an activity higher on our list that lets us slow down to pull out our creativity, be present and calm, and let us take it slow, can be a valuable strategy.

For our campers that like to take it slow: We hike EVERY morning! For some campers, that can feel like a lot. For as curious as our campers can be, sometimes the motivation to run, run, run will peter out because our bodies need a break! What I’ll caution, though, is trying to offset our physical mornings with only seated activities in the afternoon. I stand by the arts wholeheartedly as worthy of everyone’s time AND, as I mentioned to our go-go-goers, our day is long. There is so much room for choice and we can pace ourselves. While high-intensity activities may be out of our comfort zone, this is the time and the place to challenge ourselves and practice feeling a little bit nervous in a space where there’s nothing to be ashamed of. We want to see you grow, camper! It’s okay if we “only” make it halfway up the wall today. We also learned how to fit our harness, practiced trusting someone to keep us safe, and took a risk. That’s WAY more than we would have done in climbing today if we never tried!

With all of those perspectives in mind, let’s dive into some activity descriptions. When you rank your list, take the following activity descriptions into consideration…

GRP Activities A-Z

Archaeology

From Senior Mentor, Activity Leader, & Archaeologist, Martha Wallace: Archaeology is for everyone! History, Science, Art, Math, Technology . . . and getting your hands dirty! This summer will be season 14 of archaeological investigations at Green River Preserve. The campers will participate in an archaeology survey at Base Camp. We will be laying out a survey grid, digging shovel tests, screening dirt, and collecting artifacts. Campers will learn the basics of archaeology while discovering the evidence of past cultures in the artifacts left behind. Join the fun as we continue to uncover the story of the ancient civilizations that existed there thousands of years ago. Archaeology will be available for campers in Sessions 3, 4, & 5 in 2025.

Archery

Shooting arrows with a bow at targets near and far - Archery is a sweet spot at Base Camp where campers head down a twisty path into the woods and pop out on the range. Our archery Activity Coordinator can get you started with the basics of how to hold a recurve bow, then coach you to hit the much-desired Dream Shot. Mastered the classic disc targets? You might have the opportunity to try out some of our animal targets and learn about conservation through sustainable hunting practices.

Arts & Crafts

Join Crafts Coordinator, Rhonda, for a creative journey! You never know exactly what she might have in store, but Rhonda tends to favor nature arts. Create leaf mosaics, craft 3-D landscapes with paper, weave bracelets or baskets, and more. You might learn by creating a temporary masterpiece, then leaving no trace, or putting your heart into a piece you can take home to share. No matter the outcome, the process will be an enjoyable one at the Crafts Lodge.

BB Skeet

Learn and practice firearm safety in the context of recreation with the help of our BB skeet Activity Coordinators and trained assistants. Classes are grouped by age to allow for more focused instruction styles & objectives and kept intentionally small, maintaining an excellent staff-to-camper ratio. Campers will enjoy target shooting after discussing and demonstrating consistent control, communication, and understanding of all necessary safety measures.

Canoeing

Row, row, row your boat . . . well, paddle, that is! Practice entering, exiting, and maneuvering your canoe under the watchful eyes of our canoeing Activity Coordinator and a Lifeguard. For more advanced campers, learn how to re-right a friend’s tipped canoe and complete rescues. Be prepared to get wet and also get a lot of sun, even with your PFD on!

Climbing

Feel the tension in your body as you look up the Wall from ground level. Will you make it half-way? Three-quarters? All the way to the tippy-top? With a variety of routes for beginners and more experienced climbers, and an occasional visit to the Bouldering Cave, Climbing has options for all. Learn how to properly fit your helmet and harness, practice communicating with your staff belayer, and for our older campers, maybe even learn how to belay! We practice “challenge by choice” - what will you choose today? No matter what, we hope you’ll be cheering on your fellow climbers as you wait your turn! Groups are often mixed, including all skill levels and ages.

Drawing & Painting

Illustrate characters to accompany grand stories, design & fold paper airplanes to dazzle throughout their descent, and practice classic drawing & painting techniques in the relaxing space of Cordwood Cottage while the fountain’s trickles help you drift off for intentional daydreaming! Don’t get it twisted, this is no stuffy still-life studio, however, we do have plenty of birds, plants, and other muses to inspire us and our creativity.

Drumming

Dum d-d-dum d-d-dum d-d-dum! Got rhythm in your body and not quite sure what to do with it? Have you seen GRP’s collection of bongos, djembes, and other percussion instruments? No matter your musical experience, drumming is for all! Creating rhythm as a group is not only fun, it’s a great way to regulate our nervous systems and connect with others. Discover the joys of both self-expression and musical collaboration, and maybe learn some beginner music theory while you’re at it!

Fencing

En garde! It’s time to work on your parries and lunges as you take part in the dance of Fencing. At GRP, we supply gear for right- and left-handed folks to practice foil & sabre fencing. This is another no-experience-required option, with many of our campers trying it out for the first time! That being said, if you’re on your school fencing team and want to show your stuff, this is a great opportunity to share your knowledge, spar with staff, and help coach friends to greatness.

Fly Fishing

Gotta love it! No, really, you gotta! It’s Founder, Sandy, and Executive Director, Catherine’s, favorite pastime: don your sunglasses, grab a rod, and learn the art and science of fly fishing from instructors who, typically, grew up learning how to fly fish in the same spot you stand today. Each day brings new variables and challenges as you approach the Upper and Lower ponds in the hopes of landing a big one. On a thundery day, you might take a seat in the Trout House and learn how to tie your own fly!

Low Ropes

What kind of ropes and why are they so close to the ground? The name isn’t necessarily the most thorough descriptor of all the possibilities that await in this much-loved camp classic! Is your camper excited to solve puzzles psychological and physical? Are they looking forward to working in a team to accomplish seemingly impossible feats? Does your family like to watch Survivor? This teambuilding time will stretch your mind as much as your muscles!

Mountain Biking

WNC has some of the best trails a mountain biker could ask for and is a GREAT place to learn! While basic biking experience is helpful, learning the intricacies of navigating steep hills, loose terrain, and other differences from road biking are all in our Activity Coordinator’s wheelhouse. Take it easy on practice trails around Base Camp, then work your way up through obstacles and more challenging paths. This activity option is only available during 2- and 3-week sessions and limited to campers who are rising 4th grade and up (due to bike sizing).

Beginner Music

Interested in picking up an instrument other than drums while you’re at camp? Got a new ukelele for your birthday and not really sure what to do with it yet? Bring it along to camp and sign up for a Music activity period! This activity period has a veeerrry small group, usually no more than four campers at a time, and will work closely with our resident Maestro & Senior Mentor, Jonathan Gray, who you’ll see playing all sorts of instruments over the summer, specializing in strings (but woodwinds, brass, and more are welcome!). Learn some basic chords to a favorite camp song so you can jump up and join the GRP Ramblers at a Council Fire! No instrument at home but curious to begin? We have a collection of guitars and ukeleles that campers can borrow while at camp.

Music 2

A similarly small class and style to Beginner Music, but for campers who are already music students at home, or who have “graduated” from Beginner Music. If you are in school band, orchestra, or have been studying an instrument independently, you can hop straight into Music 2. Again, be sure to bring your instrument with you to camp! Work with your new bandmates to learn a song and play together, or continue to apply more advanced techniques to our classic camp songs, from Paradise to the GRP Camp-them, and blow everyone away at Council Fires. Not sure which Music activity is the best fit for your experience? You can reach out to Programs Director, Lauren, with questions!

Outdoor Skills

CampOut prep and MORE! Practice fire-making, shelter construction, and other survival/primitive skills under the guidance of passionate outdoorsfolks. Can you start a fire with only one match? How about flint & steel? Bowdrill? What other needs should be prioritized when you’re out in the wilderness? Spend some time in this activity before heading out on CampOut and you’ll be a leader for sure!

Homestead Cabin

Take a trip back in time to learn the old ways . . . which some folks are STILL using today! Forage for medicinal herbs and other useful plants in the garden, then brew a tea while crafting helpful items - like cordage - from raw materials. As you work, you’ll likely hear legends and recollections from Senior Mentor, Junebug, and other visiting storytellers about previous inhabitants of the Green River Valley from the time that Founder, Sandy, was a boy all the way back to when the first peoples lived completely off of the land.

Pottery

Feel the grit of the clay between your fingers. Mold curves and edges and twists and bends. What will you bring to life in the Pottery Studio today? We can’t wait to see what you come up with! While broken pottery can be heartbreaking, it teaches us many lessons, including resilience to step up and try again. Again, we love art for the process and journey! That being said, if we’re diligent, and lucky, we might have the opportunity to take something home.

Theatre

From improvisers to Shakespeare scholars, all thespians are welcome here! No experience required to step into the Theatre activity at GRP and experiment with characters, costumes, comedy, and DRAMA. Our Theatre coordinator will introduce games and prompts for skill-building play that is fun for both new faces and professionals.

Advanced Theatre

Some prior experience is helpful, but passion is most important. Advanced Theatre is available only during our 3-week session of camp. Rather than rotate through all-new activities every few days, Advanced Theatre campers have one activity period each day, and a GLP day, devoted to script-writing, auditions, and rehearsal of a camper-written and -produced play to be performed in front of the whole camp! To be considered for Advanced Theatre, please rank it as your first choice.

GRP Wheels

Blink and you’ll miss them - there go the GRP Wheels! Offered only in 2- and 3-week sessions, GRP Wheels is NOT a standard camp activity. Rather than meeting during an activity period, Wheels will meet in lieu of a Mentor Hike. Instead, they’ll head out on a Mentor BIKE. This activity requires prior experience and comfortability mountain biking up- and downhill for several miles, including through DuPont State Forest. Not your speed but interested in biking? Try out the Mountain Biking activity period instead. To be considered for GRP Wheels, please rank it as your first choice.