A Day in the Forest
What did a typical day
in the life of a
Dragonfly Kid look like?
It depended on the day!
The structure and
programs of Dragonfly
Forest were specifically
set up to maximize the
mix of individual,
team/group and camp-wide
experiences available to
campers, particularly
with a schedule of
rotating "activity
periods" and a series of
all-camper evening
programs.
There were also plenty
of "unstructured" and
"free-select" times,
when campers could
decide if they wanted to
follow up on an earlier
activity, try something
new, get a leg up on a
future activity (like
the talent show) or just
hang out or rest up in
their cabins.
Activity periods ran for
about 90 minutes, two to
three times a day, and
were structured to
accommodate groups of
about 30 campers. Groups
were arranged by cabin
and age, and counselors
were responsible for
helping campers figure
out their schedules,
bringing the groups to
the activity sites, and
assisting the activity
team leaders for each
session. Activity
periods included:
Arts & Crafts: Creative
projects designing and
constructing boxes,
dream catchers and
tie-dye t-shirts, and an
unofficial license to
make a mess!
High Ropes and Low
Ropes: Two unique
"challenge-by-choice"
experiences, where
campers, safely
harnessed, climb, zip,
leap and fly among
tree-top platforms or at
ground level.
Nature Center and Nature
Walks: Intimate or
large-scale interaction
with Mother Nature and
many denizens of her
domain, including
snakes, lizards and
turtles.
Sports & Recreation: A
full range of athletic
opportunities, from
low-key to
full-immersion,
including archery,
basketball, mini golf,
ping-pong, tennis and
volleyball.
Talent and Music: Held
in the large open-air
amphitheater,
opportunities included
dual-microphone karaoke,
three keyboards, singing
songs from the Dragonfly
Songbook, and
preparation for
Dragonfly Idol.
Waterfront: held at and
in the camp's 2-acre
lake, activities
included fishing (daily
and highly successful),
row boating and
canoeing.
In addition to
mealtimes, there was at
least one camp-wide
program each day, geared
toward a special
combination of
individual, small group
or team and total camp
participation. The
camp-wide program
activities included:
Dragonfly Bonfire: a
traditional (and huge)
first-night campfire,
complete with songs,
story-telling, cheers
and, of course, s'mores.
Camp Party with UNIQUE
Camp Game: part Jeopardy
and part American
Bandstand, this party
had it all, including an
out-of-this world light
show and
glow-in-the-dark fashion
accessories (that
campers interpreted in
highly individual
styles!)
BBQ and Carnival: all
the attractions of the
midway, right in our own
back (and side) yard,
including a huge
inflatable slide, games
of skill and chance
(dunk the counselor was
popular) and hand-spun
cotton candy.
Pool Party: anybody who
didn't get into the
spirit of this
Hawaiian-themed party
was just, well, all wet!
Boat Race: minute for
minute, this event may
have provided the most
hilarity of the week, as
each cabin entered its
homemade watercraft, and
a "volunteer"
counselor/skipper, in a
150-foot race from the
lake's eastern shore to
the main dock.
Dragonfly Olympics:
Campers and Counselors
were divided into four
countries and competed
in a series of whacky
games. The Olympics were
complete with a opening
and closing ceremony.
