Why Junior Camp?

If you’re a parent who’s considering camp as an option for your son for the first time, you might be overwhelmed by all the options. It can be a difficult decision, choosing a place that you think will give him the most fun and growth opportunities during the summer! You might be thinking, “how will I know camp is a good fit for my son?”, or “he just isn’t ready to spend that much time away from home yet,” or even, “he doesn’t know anyone at camp, so what if it’s hard for him to make friends?”

These are the reasons we offer Junior Camp, a 6-day “sampler session” for boys who are new to summer camp.

This introductory session runs differently than our longer camp sessions, because it’s built specifically for first-time campers. Helping boys have fun and build confidence away from home is the central focus, and enrollment is limited to campers in grades 1-4.

What do parents think about Junior Camp?

Mary Paige, a Junior Camp parent from Raleigh, North Carolina, said this after her son’s experience last summer:

In that short amount of time there was some kind of change in him that is almost indescribable. He came home noticeably more confident, more thoughtful, deep thinking, polite, and full of stories of things he did or witnessed that were so impactful. Our experience and our son’s experience was better than we ever imagined. We thought he was ‘just’ going to summer camp, but truly it was so much more than that. He seemed to mature so much in his time there, which sounds a bit extreme because it was a short stay. But truly there have been many people in our circle who have noted this about him. We can’t wait to see what the future will look like for him at Falling Creek.

Mary Paige / Raleigh, NC

During this week, boys sample traditional camp activities and stay with their cabin groups during the Junior Camp session. The daily schedule includes Falling Creek traditions, such as Morning Watch, Morning Assembly, Free Choice times, Rest Hour, Evening Program, and milk and cookies before bed. Boys will have the opportunity to sample about 16-18 traditional camp activities during the session. The final evening of camp concludes with a traditional Campfire.

Most boys at Junior Camp are coming for the first time, without knowing anyone else at Falling Creek. For some, it’s also their longest time away from home. This gives the boys in this session the unique opportunity to expand their comfort zones and get to know other campers in a similar stage of life to them. It’s a great first step in their camp journey, especially if they have some hesitations about going straight to a longer session.

Though a week may seem quick, it’s worth noting how quickly the relationships form among boys, their cabinmates, and counselors as they experience camp together. Even at the end of the first day, the bonds have begun to be made. It is transformational (not to mention rare) in today’s world to experience life together face to face, not over a headset or online. For an uninterrupted week, boys get this foundational experience of real relationships rather than virtual reality.

If they find they enjoyed the week and want to return the next summer, boys then have a better idea of what activities they’d like to sign up for when they make their own schedules in the longer sessions. Junior Camp gives them the opportunity to meet friends, learn camp traditions and songs, and feel more comfortable and familiar at Falling Creek during a relatively short period of time.

This summer, the Junior Camp session dates happen to fall during the start of the school year for many of our families in the Southeast. Academics are important, but learning isn’t limited to the classroom. Some of our camp families are choosing the benefits of camp over school for those days in August. Though the timing may not be ideal for everyone, camp can give boys the chance to learn communication skills, resilience, independence, and other life skills, as well as enjoy free play and a break before structured school classes. One week may become the start of a lifetime of camp friendships & experiences!

You can see the details and save your spot for the 2024 Junior Camp session here on our website. If you’d like to tour camp to see it in person before making a decision, we’d be happy to show you around. Just give our camp office a call (828-692-0262) so we can set up a time.