Positive Progressions

The first week of camp is progressing nicely! Speaking of progressing, did you know that every activity at Falling Creek has a 5 part progression system?

The progression levels start at Scout, rising to Explorer, Challenger, Ranger, and finally Warrior. These progressions are what make the activities more than just fun things to do at camp. There are opportunities to set goals and build skills not only throughout the session, but during the years that boys come back. Boys are also busy working on their progressions during trips, mastering skills and advancing their knowledge in outdoor activities of their choice.

Reaching the higher levels is recognized by “Waypoint Markers,” which are placed on a commemorative map that each camper receives during their first year at camp. This is intended to help tell the story of your experiences at camp. For example, you can get Waypoint Markers that recognize your fifth summer at camp, your Ranger level at archery, your Ironman finish, your Warrior level in horseback, or your position on the Honor Council just to name a few. Staff can also get Waypoint Markers for things like leading the activity or being a Line Head. These are visual ways to recognize and honor the accomplishments that you have while at camp, and the map can be added to year after year as boys work up in their progressions and experiences.

Activities that take longer than one period, such as sailing, backpacking, rock climbing, paddling, horseback riding, blacksmithing, and mountain biking, will make announcements encouraging boys to sign up with them. During this session, we’ve been doing these special sign up activities as Cabin Adventures too. Beginners start with “preps” that teach them the basics and get them started on their journey in that activity. Preps and beginner skill classes are half day, and then they progress into trips that are 1-4 days. Campers simply leave their base 6 activities behind, and then plug back into their daily schedule when they return from trips or Cabin Adventures.

Some activities even have their own additions to the progression levels, such as the paddling “yaklet.” Yaklets are bracelets that boys earn to signify that they have completed all their canoe progressions and can move on to a kayak. The first step in the paddling progression is completing a prep in our lower lake, which is what the boys in the Betula line could sign up for on Wednesday. Max announced this at Morning Assembly and at the Dining Hall, encouraging any boy who thought he might want to give paddling a try to sign up. Some cabins have been doing paddling preps and trips with their Cabin Adventures as well - as I walked by the lower lake yesterday I saw some boys learning strokes in canoes before going out of camp as a cabin. “This is the most fun at camp I’ve had so far!”, yelled one boy - and he hadn’t even see the lakes and rivers off property yet!

On the way to Morning Assembly, I saw a boy named Joe carrying his tennis racquet, and asked if he was working on his progressions on the courts. “I’m going to try to get the first level down to become a Scout,” Joe said. CJ, the head of tennis, was walking just ahead of us. He overheard and started explaining what Joe could do to reach that first level. This session is exciting, because it’s the first time at camp for so many boys, and the first time they get to start working on their skills and progressions. 2-Week is a stepping stone for many campers, because they begin mastering the basics of activities without realizing it, readying them for longer adventures and more challenging activities if they come back for longer sessions.

Yesterday was another great day to have fun and work on skills. The sun was out all day, and we started our morning with a great breakfast: scrambled eggs and cheese, crispy bacon, blueberry muffins, and yogurt with granola. Many more cabins left on their adventures that morning, and several took afternoon trips together after lunch. Even Yates led a Cabin Adventure, joining Crocker to take Cabin 8 on a surprise hike to a lesser known side of camp, exploring Sheep’s Rock on the Ridge. We had two kinds of sandwiches for lunch, with the main course being build-your-own ham and turkey sandwiches, followed by ice cream sandwiches! Finally after a busy afternoon of activities and trips, we enjoyed beef and rice with warm cornbread and steamed broccoli and cauliflower, plus chocolate cake for dessert. Each Line broke into their Green and Gold teams for Evening Program, enjoying a final chance to play games together before bed. Today will be the last big day of activities before the weekend!