Silver Spring Off-Site
With the importance of playing in nature in mind, we created our Wilderness Adventures program which specializes in awesome outdoor activities and field trips. We purposefully plan the program to encourage campers to grow in their self-confidence, in their social skills, and in their appreciation of the outdoors.
The Wilderness Adventures program is like a small family, where we have fun getting to know each other through planned activities and games, spontaneous challenges, and good old hangout times. These shared experiences help campers make friends, learn cooperation, flexibility, and self-awareness. Within this safe environment, our engaging counselors mentor campers in the business of growing up.
All Wilderness programs add the element of choice this summer with our new Electivities!
Wilderness Explorations
Campers who have completed 3rd & 4th grades
These young explorers will have many opportunities to satisfy their curiosity, problem solve, build confidence, and be creative. We facilitate these opportunities through numerous activities, field trips, electivities, and of course, the amazing overnighter. Check out some of these incredible activities that our Wilderness explorers could get their hands dirty with (not all activities are available for every week):
- Driving an off-road go-kart
- Safely building and cooking on a fire
- Build courage flying through the air on our zip line
- Participating in electivities
- Tons of other amazing outdoor and fun-filled activities
Not only do campers participate in these great on-grounds activities but they also go on half-day pool trips to local pools and one full-day adventure each week. Some of the amazing full-day adventures include hiking at state parks, cookout at Gunpowder Falls, and more!
Weeks 2, 4, 5, & 7 have an optional overnighter, where camps can stay overnight on Friday night for a legendary night of fun with friends. Not only can they experience the adventure of sleeping out under the stars, but they get to choose the food menu for the night and cook their food over the fire. The night ends with a fun game and group time.
Wilderness Expeditions
Campers who have completed 5th & 6th grades
These young adventurers will have exciting, new challenges and choices in our Wilderness Expeditions program. If they answer the call of the wild, they will experience an adventure in every activity, field trip, electivities, and overnighter we have prepared. This program is all about building on the foundations we lay in our Explorations program. Campers may get the opportunity to learn great new skills like:
- Learning how to set up tents and build rain shelters
- Safely building and cooking on a fire
- Enjoying the thrill of the zip line and high ropes course
- Participating in exciting electivities
- Canoeing and dip netting
- And many more wilderness adventures
Not only do they participate in these great on-grounds activities but they also go on half-day pool trips to local county pools and one full-day field trip adventure each week. Some of the amazing full-day adventures that we’ve added to this program include climbing at a climbing center, whitewater tubing, kayaking, cookout at Gunpowder Falls, and more.
Weeks 2, 4, 5, & 7 have an optional overnighter, where camps can stay overnight on Friday night for a legendary night of fun with friends. Not only can they experience the adventure of sleeping out under the stars, but they get to choose the food menu for the night and cook their food over the fire. The night ends with a fun game and group time.
Wilderness Excursions
Campers who have completed 7th to 9th grades
Teens with an adventurous spirit, a love for the outdoors, and a readiness to make and hang out with new friends will absolutely love the Wilderness Excursions program and no previous experience is necessary. This program has limited space, due in part to the specialized activities campers will be experiencing. Activities throughout the summer could include:
- Driving an off-road go-kart
- Hiking in state parks
- Driving an ATV
- Biking along the river
- Outdoor rock climbing at Great Falls
- Beaver Dam Swim Club
- Plus tons of other amazing, outdoor experiences
Some sessions have a two-day, one night overnighter (included in the tuition). See the information below for dates and locations of Overnighters. Prior to the overnighter, campers will have the opportunity to design their own menu, as a group. Once there, campers will set up their campsite, prepare their dinner over an open fire, create life long memories around a bonfire, and camp out under the stars. For many teens, it’s the highlight of their summer.
The overnighters for summer 2012 are:
Week 2: Beach games and camping (Assateague Island, MD)
Week 4: Mountain tubing and zipline (Bryce Resort, VA)
Week 5: KOA camping and activities (Harpers Ferry, WV)
Week 7: Rafting and hiking (Shallow Falls State Park, MD)
Please be sure both you and your child sign and return the conduct agreement in the application. WASC requires a signed conduct agreement for each child currently in 7th grade or above. You can also download the conduct agreement from the Schedules & Forms page.
