Columbus Youth Camp. Inspiring and enabling our youth, our community through exploration and responsible citizenship.

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1 Columbus Youth Camp P r o g r a m G u i d e Inspiring and enabling our youth, our community through exploration and responsible citizenship.

2 Overview: Columbus Youth Camp is nestled amongst the Indiana hardwood forest just a short drive from Columbus, Indiana. Today, Columbus Youth Camp boasts 137 acres of rolling landscape, only 15 of which are developed. Seven miles of trails link eleven cabins, two challenge courses, the lake, and outdoor theater, shelter house, science lab, and Reeves Conference Center. Youth Camp provides camping opportunities for Foundation For Youth members, a broad range of challenge education activities, and environmental education programs for school groups. We work closely with clients to adapt programming to meet the needs of their group. Further, the facilities themselves are available to a wide range of groups who utilize the camp for both business and recreational needs. Page 2

3 Table of Contents: Programs 4 Challenge/teambuilding 4 Adventure 5 Outdoor Living Skills 6 Natural Science 8 Nature arts and crafts 10 History 11 Evening Activities 12 Create Your Own Risk Programs 14 Map of CYC 16 Facilities 17 Packing List 18 Page 3

4 Programs Challenge/ Team Building A large focus at CYC is to build self confidence and encourage teamwork. We have a team of facilitators that can lead groups to become a more cohesive team through our teams course, or can challenge groups to face their fear and encourage each other at our pamper pole or high ropes course. Teams Course: The course is made up of 11 challenges that promote teamwork. Groups will have to work together to form strategies to complete each task and our facilitators will slowly build the program to fit the group s needs and goals. 2 hours Day Program High ropes course: Where the teams course is more about working together to complete tasks the high ropes course is meant to foster individual courage and strength in a team setting. Elements on the high ropes course are completed individually, but with the support and encouragement of the group. 3-6 hours Pamper Pole: Like the high ropes course the pamper pole is another challenge that is completed individually. However there is an element of trust. The pamper pole is a very mental challenge and involves the individual climbing up and jumping off a tall pole while supported by their team. 2 hours Challenge by Choice: At CYC all of our programs run under the principal of challenge by choice. The goal is not to complete each element of our challenge courses but to try and give your best effort. We place importance in growth and overall experience not in completion of each element. Page 4

5 Adventure: Canoeing/Kayaking: We have 12 Canoes and 4 kayaks and offer canoeing classes. These classes can be just for the sake of learning to canoe or we can combine a natural science element and talk about the aquatic ecosystem. Archery: We have a lovely archery range with 3 targets that we are planning to expand in the near future. We have all new bows bought summer 2011 and are able to teach techniques and hold competitions. 1 hour Hiking: We have 7 miles of trails that connect all of our program areas and facilities. A hiking program could easily be coupled with a natural science program or an outdoor living skills program. Fishing: We have fishing poles and bait just waiting for you to come catch our fish! We only allow catch and release but are happy to teach students how to set up a pole, bait it and everything else they ll need to know. Swimming: Our Lake is beautiful and we would love for you to come and swim. We have two diving boards and will provide lifeguards if you want this to be a part of your program. Mountain Biking: We have miles of trails designed for a short loop a more challenging ride. With 14 bikes we can provide a program or with your own bike ride with a trail pass purchase. 2-4 hours Page 5

6 Outdoor Living Skills: Fire building: Building a good fire is a skill that we feel everyone should know. We will teach students which materials are best for starting a fire and keeping it going with just one match. We will show students many ways to build a fire and how to put it out properly and make it appear that we were never there using LNT (Leave No Trace) techniques. Shelter Building: We will teach students about different types of shelters that can be built using natural materials and how to build them properly to survive through any kind of weather. Wilderness Survival: This is a more in depth class that will include fire and shelter building techniques as well as give basic information about preparing for wilderness excursions so that students don t end up in a survival situation. There are many subjects that can be covered in this class including, making rope, alternate fire techniques, water sanitation, and cooking over a fire. 2-3 hours Cooking outdoors: From cooking over a fire to using a camp stove cooking outdoors is a great skill to have. If you plan on having a meal while at camp why not learn how to cook outdoors while you re at it? This activity is a good follow up to fire building. Water Sanitation: This class will cover many techniques for sanitizing and collecting water in the wilderness. This activity is a good follow up to fire building. Rope Making: You can make a rope out of a lot of natural materials. We ll show students which ones and how to do it. 1 hour Page 6

7 Senses Hike/Awareness: Being aware of your surroundings is very important to living in and learning about nature. In this class we will play games that help students become more aware of their surroundings. This class can also include a senses hike. This is a blindfolded activity where students will have to rely on their other senses and a rope to make is through the woods. 2 hours Wild Edibles: This activity works well with the nature hike. We will show students some of the most basic wild edibles including sassafras, spice bush, and wild ginger. We may even have the opportunity to make some tea. The amount of things we will be able to find depends on the season. Orienteering: Navigation using a map and compass is a fun and useful skill to have. We will teach students how to use a compass, read a map, and if we have time, how to use them together and put the skills to action! 1-3 hours Page 7

8 Natural Science: Weather: Learn how the professionals do it! It s actually not too hard to tell what the weather is going to be by just looking up at the sky, feeling the wind, taking the temperature, and measuring the humidity. Who needs computers and TV! ½ hour- 1 hour: Best in morning Aquatic Ecology: Learn about the ecology of the pond specifically. Use nets to find critters that might be able to tell us a little something about the health of the pond. Talk about what affects water quality and what affects our lake specifically. 2-3 hours Take a Nature Walk: A Lot can be learned just by walking the trails around camp. We can learn about what types of plants and animals we have in the area. How do they interact? What animal signs can we find? What plants are edible or poisonous? Soil and Geography: Learn about the topography of the area and about what s under the leaves and grass. What affects the soil and why is healthy soil important? Page 8

9 Astronomy: Learn about the constellations and the planets. Participate in an activity that will give students an idea of how large the earth is compared to the other planets and see how far apart they are. : Night Wildlife Ecology: Learn about natural systems and how they interact. Play games that illustrate how these systems work and talk about how animals survive through the seasons. 2-3 hours Animal Awareness and Adaptations: Students will be introduced to local wildlife and the importance of awareness when studying these animals. Once the students become more aware of their surroundings, they will learn how animals adapt to the environment to improve their chances of survival. 2 hours Page 9

10 Nature Arts & Crafts Art in nature: Inspired by the work of Andy Goldsworthy, this class explores the creation of natural art and how it interacts with and is changed by the elements. Students will have the opportunity to make a work of art in the forest with natural materials. Nature Crafts: This activity will start with a small hike to collect supplies, such as pine cones to make a variety of nature crafts. Natural Dyes: experiment with different natural dyes including walnut husks. Page 10

11 History Native American Culture: Explore the life and culture of the people that lived here before us. We will explore how they interacted with nature and how they used the land and lived with their surroundings. 2 hours Pioneer Life: This class takes a glimpse into the lives of the American Pioneers. The goal of this class is to be very hands-on and give the students a sample of what it took to survive as an early American. The primary goal is to demonstrate to the students that the things the take for granted now (washing machines, electricity, stoves, etc.) were not available during the years of the pioneers. People had to work hard just to survive in the wilderness. 2-3 hours Page 11

12 Evening Activities Egg Drop: Work in teams to create a device that will keep an egg from breaking. There are many variations of this activity such as using natural materials only. Skit Night: See a funny skit put on by our staff and then work in groups to create your own. Dutch Auction: In teams fill a pillowcase with as many items as possible. We will then ask for different things such as an elephant. You may be lucky and have a stuffed elephant in your bag or you may have to be a bit more creative! Astronomy: See page 9. Night Hike: Talk about night vision and about nocturnal animals. Take a hike on our trails and see how far you can get without lights. If you re quiet we could hear and see some really cool things! Page 12

13 Create Your Own: Don t see what you re looking for? Let us know! We will see what we can do to contribute to what you are doing in class and are happy to adjust any of the classes we already have to fit your goals. We can also work together with you to create a completely new program. School Standards: All of our programs are made to adhere to school standards for each grade level. We can work together to make sure that the program meets classroom goals. Program Length: The longer the program the more we will be ale to fit in. For older students we recommend doing less programs to allow more time for in depth learning. Chaperones: Bringing good chaperones will be very important to the success of your program. Especially with younger students the more chaperones the better. Many programs involve splitting groups into smaller groups, each group will need a chaperone. Traveling Programs: Don t have enough funding to come to us? We can come to you! Many of our teams course challenges are portable and we have plenty of other challenges and initiatives that travel easily. Also, most of our environmental education programs can be done right in the school yard. Don t let travel costs prevent your students from an outdoor experience! Page 13

14 @ Risk Programs Mentoring Program: Middle School Program Overview: The purpose of the mentoring program is to assist Middle School age students in becoming a better student, a better person, and citizens who take responsibility for their actions. In order to achieve these goals students are assigned a mentor from a local High School that they meet and interact with throughout the course of the school year. Other tools that assist in helping mentees reach our end goal will be the use and implementation of experiential education, group initiatives, retreats, and outside school activities. Objective: Columbus Youth Camp (CYC) in partnership with a High School and Middle School develop a long term mentoring program. The program aims to offer middle school students who struggle in a traditional classroom setting a chance to build selfconfidence through a variety of experiential education initiatives with the support of successful high school mentors. Programming and activities will be led by trained challenge course facilitators, educators at both the middle school and high school, and junior/senior mentors. Mentoring Program: High school Program Overview: The purpose of the high school mentoring program is very similar to that of the middle school program. The only difference is that at risk high school students will be paired with a junior/senior mentor. CYC will have the same role in this mentorship program. Page 14

15 Alternative education: Aside from our mentoring program we work with many groups in need of more than just the normal classroom setting. CYC provides many opportunities for a group such as this. Tell us what your goals are for the group and we can plan a program to meet the student s Risk and Alternative Education Programs Build CONFIDENCE Develop COMMUNICATION skills Encourage TEAMWORK Make RESOURCES known Provide ENERGY OUTLETS Build FRIENDSHIPS Foster TRUST Create opportunities for SUCCESS See failure as LEARNING OPPORTUNITY! Page 15

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17 Facilities: Reeves Conference Center: A great facility for meetings, weddings, etc. Nobblitt Dining Hall: This is where we will serve meals while your group is here. You can also rent this facility out to do your own cooking or events. There is a large dining area and back deck looking out into the beautiful forest with a trail down to the lake. Lake and Boat House: The boat house has a sheltered table and fire place area making is the perfect place for outdoor events on the lake. If you would like to swim or boat you will need a CYC certified lifeguard. We have a lovely swimming area, two diving boards canoes and kayaks. Science Center: The science center is the perfect place for rainy day activities, science experiments or any thing that needs an indoor space. Cabins (11): Perfect for overnight stays during the warmer months. Centrally located. Five of these cabins are winterized. Outdoor Classroom: Equipped with benches, a chalk board and a beautiful view into the woods. Recreation Areas: basketball court, sand volleyball court, and horseshoes all located near the dining hall with plenty of field space for other games. Council House: Seats 50 Amphitheatre: Seats 100 Page 17

18 Packing List Bedding What to Bring Sleeping bag or blanket Pillow Sheets Toiletries Towels Soap Shampoo Toothpaste Brush/comb Deodorant Duffel bag for toiletries Clothing * Note expect clothing to get dirty and/or wet. Do Not pack expensive/new clothing. shorts socks t-shirts hat underwear comfortable, closed-toed shoes jeans or long pants raincoat or poncho Equipment flashlight camera & film canteen/water bottle insect repellant sunscreen lip balm/chap stick Medication give medication in original bottles, along with dosage instructions to child s teacher your health/waiver form must list all medications Do Not Bring any electronic devices (radios, CD players, stereos, televisions, portable video games, cellular phones, pagers) food hunting/pocket knives fireworks of any kind firearms, weapons, ammunition, bows, arrows expensive clothing, jewelry, other items Page 18

19 12454 West Youth Camp Road Columbus Indiana Phone: (812) Fax: