Activities & Environmental Programs
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Mentor Hikes
The signature of Green River Preserve’s program is the mentor hike. Led by mentor naturalists, campers explore forests, streams, and hidden valleys of the Preserve. Filled with adventure, discovery, and a heightened appreciation of the natural world, campers learn to use all of their senses as they play under waterfalls, crawl into caves, explore archeological sites, track wildlife, and taste edible plants.
Every day brings a different adventure for campers exploring the different eco-systems of the Preserve. A hike by the river may be a stroll where campers hunt for salamanders, try wild edibles, stalk turkey, and wade in the chilly waters of the Green River. The next day may bring a hike to Long Rock and the Cave where campers stand atop the mountain along the Eastern Continental Divide and then travel within the earth and explore the geologic history of the area. Another day may result in a hike out of base camp on the Bear Trail playing games and team building initiatives or seeking defunct moonshine stills and learning about the archeological history of the region.
Mentor hikes allow children time to explore while simultaneously rewarding curiosity and wonder. Through self-directed and discovery-based learning, mentors facilitate a sense of belonging for children in the outdoors. Campers are encouraged to unplug, slow down, observe, and connect with the world around them.
Afternoon Activities
Our campers are growing up in an increasingly competitive and stressful world where they might opt out of trying an unfamiliar activity for risk of embarrassment or failure. Here at camp, we expose children to a wide variety of activities as we think it’s important for them to learn healthy and rewarding ways to spend their time. As a result, campers learn skills that they can use for life. Campers are provided with quality instruction and appropriate equipment in an environment that respects and nurtures each child’s abilities while gently pushing them to challenge themselves in new ways.
Campers select afternoon activities prior to arriving at camp using their CampInTouch account. Campers should list their activities in order of priority on their Activity Preference form. Depending on the session and/or our staff skills, these activities may vary slightly from session to session. All activities are open to all campers except for Advanced Theatre and GRP Wheels (see session/age restrictions below).
Theatre Intensive
The Advanced Theatre program allows campers to expand their dramatic repertoire and dig deeper into the world of the theater during Sessions 2, 3, and 4. Participants explore playwriting, stage management and production, costume design as well as acting in delightful student created productions. Campers who choose Advanced Theatre as one of their preferences will have two activity blocks of theater every day and will be committed to one theater Group Learning Project per session. Theater campers will have one available afternoon block for other activity preferences.
GRP Wheels
Playing off of the GRP Mentor Hike tradition, program participants enjoy mentor “bikes” every other morning, during which the Mountain Bike Mentor capitalizes on teachable moments such as trailside repair and trail ethics, as well as navigation, plant ID and the natural history of the Green River Valley. With our location bordering Dupont State Forest, our campers have access to one of the premier trail systems in the Southeast.
Campers who indicate GRP Wheels as one of their activity preferences are scheduled for morning Mentor Bikes on at least half of their Mentor Hike days (weather permitting). Interested individuals must be rising 5th through 9th graders and must have some biking experience. An additional packing list will be sent out prior to arrival. All campers should plan to use camp bicycles for insurance purposes.
GRP Wheels will be available during sessions 3, 4, & 5. GRP Wheels campers have two daily afternoon activity blocks to explore other interests. Participants may also opt to take the Mountain Biking afternoon activity but are not required to do so.
