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Camp is a place to experience activities for the first time, such as archery, high and low ropes, orienteering and much more with staff who are passionate and knowledgeable about a diverse range of activities. The culture at Frost Valley celebrates differences, so kids become more willing to try new things without fear of being made fun of or ostracized by their peers.
Kids ages 11-17 at Bear Grylls Survival Academy Camp learn valuable survival skills like foraging for food, creating a shelter, rappelling, building fires for food and warmth, and more. Adventure Camps offer campers supervised camping at offsite locations—such as Maine, West Virginia and New Hampshire—where they gain skills in rock climbing, backpacking, rope climbing, paddling, whitewater rafting, and more.
Positive teambuilding activities and group bonding are a big reason why campers have good experiences and happy memories that last a lifetime. Each camper brings their own uniqueness to the community, and counselors are trained to celebrate and support each child’s individuality. Sometimes a child’s needs are physical or medical. The camping community welcomes and supports them in whatever ways will benefit them.
Frost Valley campers come from a wide range of geographical locations all around the world, each bringing their culture with them to camp. Frost Valley welcomes children with varying abilities and medical needs (including Mainstreaming at Camp for kids with developmental disabilities and Kidney Camp for children on dialysis and with kidney disease). All campers learn about different cultures and the staff shares stories about their lives to encourage inclusion.
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Camp is a great place for children to meet positive role models outside of their family. Staff at Frost Valley know how to take care of others and their environment, and have a wide range of interests. By “showing” rather than “telling” what it means to be a good citizen and friend, children learn from caring, knowledgeable adults who want to pass along what they’ve learned.
Frost Valley is known for its rigorous staff training program and hiring practices. Each staff person is interviewed by director-level staff, and undergoes complete background checks and a comprehensive training that covers all aspects of child development and care. “Almost 80% of our staff grew up as Frost Valley Campers, and their main reason for working at camp is to provide the same amazing experience to our current campers that their counselors gave them,” says Hutchinson.
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It’s increasingly common today for children to spend more time indoors, interacting with electronic devices rather than friends. A break from technology offers opportunities to bond with other campers and staff in different ways, like supporting each other while they experience the zip-line for the first time, collaborating on an art project, or swimming out to Frost Valley’s inflatable water slide together. “These are memories that they will talk about all year long,” says Theze.
Making a friend can be difficult when you’re distracted by a phone screen. At Frost Valley, campers and counselors have a saying: “Disconnect to Reconnect.”
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At Frost Valley, all campers spend at least one night sleeping outside and under the stars. Campers and staff hike to a beautiful, wooded location, away from more trafficked areas, and cook dinner over an open fire, play games under the trees, eat s’mores while sharing stories, and sleep under a dazzling canopy of stars. There’s no better way for kids to feel a connection to nature—and to each other.
The importance of understanding, respecting and proactively protecting our natural environment has never been more important. Stewardship is one of Frost Valley’s eight core values, and taking care of nature is the centerpiece of every camper’s experience.
Frost Valley YMCA’s overnight and day camp programs begin soon—but this year, spaces are filling up more quickly than ever before! Learn more about their many life-changing programs for children and families and sign up today at www.frostvalley.org.
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