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A Planned Approach

Prior to arriving at the camp, each camper chooses a "major". Girls go to their majors in the morning, boys go in the afternoon. While girls are at majors, boys attend electives, and vice versa. The majors offer in-depth instruction, two hours per day, for the entire week. The electives (two different choices each day) are chosen the night before. Thus, in one week, each child receives 10 hours of instruction in a major, and one hour of instruction in 10 different electives.

Majors

Campers choose one of eleven majors prior to arriving at the camp. Should the camper not receive his/her first choice, the camp will notify the parent and discuss a second choice. The camp offers daily out-of-camp excursions including canoeing and inner tubing down the Dan River, backpacking and hiking in nearby state parks, and fishing trips. There are no additional fees for any of these trips or any of the instruction majors.

• Body Conditioning
  Open to boys ten and older. Free weights, machines, resistance training, abdominal exercises and nutrition are all covered.
   
• Body Toning
  Open to girls of all ages. Instruction is given in basic to advanced, and includes gymnastics, tumbling and Nautilus machines and free weights for toning and resistance training.
   
• Crafts
  Open to boys and girls of all ages. Pottery, basketry, wood working, painting, embossing, etc. are all part of this major. As with all activities, there is no extra fee for craft supplies.
   
• Equitation
  Open to boys and girls of all ages. All campers will learn the basics of Western and/or English style riding, grooming, basic horsemanship, and trail riding. Jumping will be taught based on skill level. (Hard soled, heeled shoes and long pants are required.)
   
• Fishing
  Open to boys who have passed the basic swim test. Instruction covers making lures, fly-casting, cleaning and preparing fish. Fishing sites and techniques will change daily.
   
• Pocket Billiards
  Open to boys and girls of all ages. Uses regulation tables with expert instructors. Instruction includes conventional games and rules along with technique, trick shots, and videos of professional players.
   
• Shooting
  Open to boys and girls 10 years or older. Safety, maintenance and marksmanship are emphasized. Pistols, rifles and shotguns are used for target shooting.
   
• Swimming
  Open to boys and girls of all ages. Instruction covers the four basic strokes, starts, flip turns, drills and timed laps. Certified lifeguards and swimming instructors, with a minimum of two staff at the pool.
   
• Tennis
  Open to boys and girls of all ages. Basic strokes, drills, rules, tennis etiquette and tournament toughness are taught. College and High School instructors teach on four all weather courts. Personal tennis rackets are required.
   
• Water Skiing
  Open to boys and girls 10 years old or older and proficient in swimming. Instruction is offered in slalom, tricks, wake and kneeboards, as well as boat safety. No electives will be available with this major, as you will be out of camp each day. Only for second year campers or first year campers choosing it their second, third or fourth week. Only available one week for camper.
   
• Wilderness Adventure
  Not open to Councilors-In-Training (CIT’s). Open to boys and girls ten years or older, weighing at east 60 pounds, and possessing basic swimming skills. Includes out of camp canoeing, water skiing, hiking, backpacking, white water rafting and First Aid. Only for second year campers or first year campers choosing it their second, third or fourth week. Only available one week for camper-this is an all day major.

Electives/Clinics

In addition to majors, all campers select two electives each day. The activities are not as intense as the major but provide variety and new experiences for the campers. Each camper is also given two, one-hour free periods each day. These free hours are offered at 12:00 noon and 5:00 p.m. each day. Campers can visit the pool, partake in a tournament, send or receive email, attend a clinic, or just hang around the store or recreation area with friends and staff. As with the majors, there are no extra fees for any elective shown. 
 

Adventure Tower 40 foot tower includes swing, tight wires, and obstacles. A challenge for even the most advanced climbers.   Archery Recurve and compound bows. 25 and 50 foot range.   Backpacking Hiking through the mountains, streams, foothills and meadows of nearby national and state forests.   Baseball "Jugs" pitching machine and batting cage. Fast balls are pitched up to 110 mph.   Basketball All weather gym is used for honing basic skills.   Battle-ball Our newest elective and our most popular pastime. Campers work on catching, dodging, throwing and strategy.   Canoeing Canoes are used on the Dan River---a class two rivers, five miles from the camp.   Conversational English For international campers only. Basic grammar, syntax, vocabulary and idioms of speech.   Conversational French Basic vocabulary and conversational skills are taught.   Conversational Spanish Basic vocabulary and conversational skills are taught.   Crafts Same as crafts major, but less time on projects. Not open to boys and girls in the craft major.   Dance Sacred dance, break dancing or the cultural dances of our international staff are offered each week.   Fencing Basic strategy and use of equipment. Foils only.   Football Professional football passing machine is used. Emphasis on catching and running strategies.   Golf Our driving range is 400 yards. All equipment is provided.   Horseback Riding Same as major, but involves very basic ring and/or trail riding.   Lacrosse Basic strategy and use of equipment.   Mountain Biking Proper use of safety equipment and the bike is stressed. Miles of trails on camp property are used.   Paint Ball Only offered to campers ten years and older. Parents must sign waiver.   Pioneering   Rappelling/Climbing State of the art 50 foot tower complete with four outside and one inside wall. Auto-belay systems are used.   Riflery 22 cal. rifles, basic marksmanship, safety and proper use of rifle is taught. Target shooting only.   Rock Climbing Taught at same site as Rappelling. Auto belay system is used. Beginner, intermediate and advanced walls.   Rugby Taught by our French staff to boys only.   Skeet Shooting Offered to boys 12 and older. 20 gauge, single shot shotguns.   Soccer One of our most popular skills. Taught by international staff.   Swimming Basic to advanced swimming and diving and lifeguarding.   Table Tennis Basic skill instruction taught on two professional tables.   Tubing Behind the boats or down the Dan River---depending on water level.   Volleyball One of the most popular of all classes. Two, regulation, sand courts are used.   Zip line/Water Slide 200 foot slide and 800 foot zip line.