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Campers
six through eleven attend activities
under a 'cabin leader' system,
which was created by Si Ragsdale when
he was director at Camp Fern. Ragsdale
opted for a plan where the campers
were under the supervision of their
counselor even as they went from activity
to activity. This counselor also
becomes an assistant instructor in
the activities, so he is well qualified
to report on the progresses, challenges,
and successes of the campers under
his care.
Although
campers six through eleven attend all
their major activities together, they
have selections to make in various
activities, and they choose which activities
they want to take during "Selectives". Selective
Activity choices range from regular
activities to others such as fencing,
fishing, chess, sailing, magic, and
many more.
Major activities,
which campers participate in several
times a week, include tennis, horseback (either
western or English), archery, camp
craft, challenge course and climbing
wall, canoeing, crafts, golf, field
sports, gym sports, riflery, and swimming.
Campers
take part in activities by age and
expertise. In swimming, for instance,
they are divided into Red Cross beginner,
advanced beginner, swimmer, and advanced
swimmer.
Campers
also participate in either soccer,
baseball, or All-Sports league competition three
evenings a week.
Twelve
year old campers select a daily
schedule from the above with the
guidance of their cabin leader. While
they are encouraged to participate
in a variety of activities, a boy
who wants to concentrate on tennis,
for example, may elect to spend several
hours a day getting tennis instruction
and playing competitively.
Campers
age thirteen through sixteen select
a specialization program. Campers
who select the same specialty live
together, and their counselors are
the resident 'experts' in that area.
Many of the groups set goals for
the term and work individually or
as a team towards reaching those
goals. Specialties normally include Outdoorsmen,
Sportsmen, Ranchmen, Equestrian, or Campmaster.
Even though they are specializing,
campers in these programs can still
choose among the regular camp activities,
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