For some kids, being away from home for the first time is a daunting prospect -- removed from the safety of a parent's loving eye and embrace, being surrounded by people you don't know in a place you've never been. At Calumet, campers succeed because our staff is the best at helping the first time camper get acclimated.
The days at camp are highly structured…every hour of every day is carefully planned out with exciting games, activities, devotionals, and departmental programs (swimming, boating, arts & crafts, field sports, and photography to just name a few). The fact is, there is very little time for a child to sit and think about how much they might miss home. Every once in awhile there are tears at registration -- usually from the parents!! It's the camper who will have tears in their eyes when you come to pick them…they won’t want to leave!
It is typically recommended that first year campers sign up for a single one-week session for their first Calumet experience. 99.9% of the time, when you come to pick them up, the first words out of their mouths will be “Next year, I want to come for two weeks!!”
A "Typical Day"
7:00
Wake up, clean up, get dressed
7:30-8:30
Breakfast Buffet followed by cabin and bathroom cleaning
9:00
Rah-Rah-Ray Community Time at the Outdoor Chapel
9:20
Discovery Time (might include planning evening vespers, a team project, discussion of the theme for the week, an art project)
10:30
Unit time (groups of like-age cabins play outdoor games together)
11:00
Free Period Activity. Campers may choose a different department activity. each day.
Lunch
1:00
Rest hour
2:00
First Period Activity
3:00
Second Period Activity
4:00
Third Period Activity
5-6
Salad Bar & Supper
6:45
Vespers led by visiting chaplains
7:15
Snack Bar
7:45
Evening Program can include camp-wide games, campfires, skit nights, dances, sports games, etc.
9:00
Back to the Cabins/Wash up and get ready for bed
9:15
Evening Devotions
9:30
Lights out - actual time varies with age of camper