Summer Challenge is our program for campers going into the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades.  Each year a limited number of campers take the challenge to spend time in the great outdoors developing new skills or improving old ones.  Our goal is to create a safe community in which young people can grow in leadership and social skills while being active and, yes, having fun.

The Challenge is located on its own space within the Summerkids campground.  The campers have their own field, an obstacle course, a zip line, their own bathrooms, kitchen and lovely pagoda for meetings.  They also have their own, separate share of the Summerkids garden.

Special activity features of the Challenge include:

✦ Occasional beach trips or trips to other summer venues.

✦ “Late nights” when Challengers prepare their own dinners and have special camp activities until usually 9 or 10 p.m.

✦ Traditional outdoor activities, including the annual Poseidon Adventure and EPIC, an overnight at the beach, four-period hikes, swimming and sports.

✦ The opportunity to do activities of greater complexity and duration.  For example, those so inclined will work on a performance which will be produced for an audience.   Crafts will involve advanced skills and may be made over a few days or a few weeks.  Future chefs will plan, cook, and serve foods of various cultures, using ingredients from our very fertile garden.  We build furniture, create giant puppets and props.. the Challengers do it all!

Challengers often work in teams, developing habits of cooperation and leadership.  Yet we also give them choices so they can work on activities that truly interest them.

Our Challenge program is limited in enrollment and is staffed by a returning team of very experienced, mature and cool counselors.

CAMP HOURS (Summer Challenge)

We are open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Friday.

For both Summerkids and Summer Challenge, the regular camp day begins at 9 a.m., with dropoff at 8:30 a.m., and camp concludes at 3 p.m., with pickup by 3:30 p.m.

We offer a snack and juice at around 10:30 and milk with lunch.

Times outside these hours are designated “extended day” and must be reserved with your camp enrollment.

See our forms for extended day choices and fees.