A Day at Deer Crossing Camp
7:30 AM Wake-Up. The sun is in the sky, the air is warming, and a woodpecker is tapping on a nearby tree. It’s time to wake yourself up, get dressed, and begin cleaning your tent. Instructors inspect tents for cleanliness and organization at 7:50, and a clean tent is your ticket to breakfast.
“Old-timer” campers, who have previously completed a two-week session at Deer Crossing, can help set up the daily activity board at 7:30, based on the specific needs and progression of campers. If you’re an old-timer and have been dreaming of doing your first kayak roll, you can request that a kayak rolling class be offered that day. If you are at camp for the first time and you’re really excited to take a bouldering class, ask an old-timer to request it for you. Our daily activity board process helps ensure that every camper gets to do the activities they’re most interested in.
8:00 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM Chores. Everyone at camp—campers and staff alike—does chores. New campers begin with Pine Needle Patrol where they learn basic forestry, tree identification, and fire causes and prevention. In Pine Needle Patrol, campers get a hands-on chance to help care for the forest in and around camp. Old-time campers help with a variety of chores, ranging from cleaning areas like the lodge or bathrooms, doing dishes, and assisting with carpentry and equipment repairs.
9:45 AM Activity Board Sign-Up. This is your chance to sign up for the day’s activities! Sign-up order is rotated so that all campers get a chance to be first for sign-ups. Activities are offered during four periods each day.
| AM-1 | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM |
| PM-1 | 2:00–4:00 PM |
| PM-2 | 4:00–6:00 PM |
| Evening | 7:00–9:00 PM |
In each activity period, up to eight different activities are offered. For example, AM-1 might offer core canoe, beginning kayaking, intermediate rock climbing, archery, beginning windsurfing, advanced sailing, pottery wheel, and open beach.
10:00 AM AM-1 Activities. When the instructor for your AM-1 activity makes “first call”, you meet them at the lodge to gather gear and head off to class.
12:00 PM Lunch. You will be hungry and lunch will have something for everyone! At the end of the meal, instructors and campers can make announcements. This is a good time to congratulate a friend on an accomplishment or thank the cooks for a delicious meal.
1:00 PM Rest Period. During the daily rest period, the three R’s rule: Read, ‘Rite, Rest. Campers can read a book or magazine, write letters home, or take a nap. A bit of quiet time helps everyone keep their energy up during a busy day.
2:00 PM PM-1 Activities. Choose from another array of fun-filled activities.
4:00 PM PM-2 Activities. If you’re a first-time camper, you may learn canoeing with other first-timers about your age. Or you may take a rock-climbing class or have a bit of extra downtime by playing board games with a new friend.
6:00 PM Dinner. Dinner is a hearty meal and a time when all of camp celebrates birthdays, the 4th of July, and camper achievements.
7:00 PM Evening Activities. Before evening activities start, you’ll be able to spend time with friends, visit the flagpole, play music, etc. At around 7:30, instructors start activities, such as ping-pong, improv theatre, volleyball, guitar, and story-time.
9:00 PM Lights Out for 12 and Unders. After a busy day, younger campers should be in their tents, tucked into their sleeping bags, with flashlights turned off. Instructors come around to say “Good night” and make sure everyone is in bed. It’s been a great day!
9:30 PM Lights Out for 13 and Ups. Older campers are off to sleep, recharging their batteries for another day filled with excitement, challenge, and laughter.
“I came from France and met people from all over the world (England, Russia, Poland, U.S.) at Deer Crossing. I learned a lot, not only in sailing, archery, climbing, singing, but also in life, community, sharing, and chores.”
– Lilly, France“Max had the best time ever at camp this year and that’s saying something because he had a blast the other two years as well! We are already looking forward to next year as Max is determined to pass tree-climbing level 7 or 8 or … . Thank you for running such a wonderful place for our son to test his character.”
– Lisa C, camp parent 2012–2015