Let's Go Camping! 2-Week Session Cabin Overnights
Each session, boys go on an overnight together as a full cabin to get to know each other and bond as a group. The first overnights were on Monday night, right after the 2-Week Camp session started. We had another group go out last night, and the final group will head out on Saturday night. We picked these nights so they wouldn’t conflict with any trips out of camp that boys might want to join, and cabins could enjoy the overnight as a full group. On the cabin overnights, boys and their counselors are able to hike out to a spot on property, prepare dinner there around a campfire, and enjoy the camping experience together.
“It’s a lifelong skill that every boy should know, to be comfortable camping in the woods,” says Yates Pharr. “Sometimes in these crazy busy times, families might not be able to take their boys camping, so we feel very fortunate to have the chance to take a lot of these boys out for their very first time camping out in the woods.”
Why do we prioritize cabins camping as a single group rather than having everyone go in a large group or mixing cabins? “The camaraderie of 8 boys and 2 counselors sitting around a fire, enjoying a meal, eating smores, and telling stories - it’s hard to beat,” Yates said. “When you have just the one cabin, you can really hear the boys’ stories and they can get to know each other to bond better in friendships.”
“They work as a team, they rely on each other,” Marisa Pharr added. Each of our counselors are trained to lead a camping trip, even if they aren’t part of adventure staff. “We’ve equipped every counselor during orientation to go on a cabin overnight,” said Marisa. “It’s also a bonding experience for the cabin, which is why we do it on a night when there are no overnight trips out.”
While on the overnight, all the boys from a single cabin work together to help their counselors collect firewood, cook food, and set up the campsite. They also get to play games and share stories and thoughts around the campfire. The addition of primitive shelters around Falling Creek’s woods makes camping even simpler since there is no need to pack a tent. The shelters are all within the 900 acres of camp property, and many boys enjoy the chance to explore beyond the central area of camp.
Younger cabins have hikes to the sites that are closer, taking about 20 minutes to walk. The older cabins tend to go farther out, hiking about 45 minutes and dropping or gaining up to 700’ in elevation. It’s the true meaning of earning your appetite!
Memories made on the trail while camping are some of the best, and though campers can choose whether or not they leave camp on an adventure trip during the week, we want every boy to be able to experience those bonds that happen on trips with friends. The overnight trip is always a great opportunity for a cabin to grow closer, but it is also a fun way to introduce boys to camping who may be less comfortable with the idea of sleeping outside. This morning, boys who headed out on their cabin overnights last night will be returning in time for breakfast!
What about the cabins who stayed at camp? We spent the evening playing some fun games in our Cabin Line groups! The different cabin groups played Multiball on the courts, Tacocat on the field, Dodgeball in the Thunder Dungeon, and Yoshiball on the turf field. It was a fun night for all!
Today is Wednesday, which also happens to be “jersey day”, so all the boys and counselors will be wearing their favorite team jerseys around camp today. We’re looking forward to another fun day of activities, several adventure trips heading out off-property, and counselor hunt for Evening Program tonight. It’s another great day at camp!