Explorers Day Camp has wrapped up for the fall! Stay tuned for potential future dates and other program offerings. We're currently assessing how our local school districts plan to proceed in the spring.
Explorers Day Camp is designed for campers in 4th-8th grade (9-14 years old) to engage in safe outdoor recreation and social interaction with peers. During each day of camp, we'll provide engaging outdoor activities, including nature hikes, scavenger hunts, crafts, climbing, canoeing, archery, and other recreational activities. We will also allot time each day for campers to engage in e-Learning as needed. See sample schedule and FAQ below. The schedule each day will rotate for campers who come on multiple days.
We have also enacted specific COVID-19 protocols to keep all of our guests safe. Read more about those protocols below.
Contact
For questions or info, contact Bailey Albrecht at bapralbr@indiana.edu or 765-349-5103.
Eligibility
Explorers Day Camp is available for campers currently in 4th-8th grade (or who are between 9 and 14 years old at the time of camp). We welcome students engaged in traditional learning, home learning, or anything in between. For a full list of essential eligibility requirements, see the FAQ section.
FAQs
We believe it's more important than ever for children to have outdoor experiences with their peers. Our goal is to give your child a safe and uplifting experience that utilizes the unique transformative and healing power shared experiences at our 2,500-acre natural campus, helping them build relationships, progress with e-learning as needed, and grow in self-confidence through new and exciting challenges.
We are only accepting 20 campers each day.
Bradford Woods has developed a comprehensive COVID-19 reopening plan in cooperation with Indiana University and in concert with best practices advised by the American Camp Association. Our new practices include wearing masks when indoors, providing food in individual packaging, enacting physical distancing, extra sanitization, and more. For day camp, we'll spend as much time outside each day as possible, and when inside, will have plenty of room for physical distancing. We also have reusable face masks available for campers. In addition, at check-in each day, campers will:
Have their temperature checked.
Be checked for symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
Be asked if they have had exposure to anyone with COVID-19.
Campers may be sent home based on the results. For the latest, visit our COVID-19 update page, or feel free to ask a staff member how are keeping our guests safe.
We're providing lunch and snacks each day, so you don't need to pack any food (in particular, please do not pack any food or snacks with peanuts). We will provide a complete list of what to bring with your registration, but here's an idea of what your camper will need:
a face mask (we can provide reusable face masks if needed)
a water bottle
close-toed shoes suitable for walking/hiking
appropriate clothing (layers as needed by the day/season)
a device for e-learning.
Campers should also pack a swimsuit and towel and any extra clothes/shoes needed for canoeing/swimming. Water shoes or sandals that stay on the foot are required in our lake.
Each day we'll allot a time for e-learning support (see schedule below) in an area with good connectivity. Students should be prepared with their own device and should be ready to work mostly independently. Our staff members will help as able, but will need to distribute their time amongst all day camp participants. Alternative independent activities will be available for campers who finish with or are not involved with e-learning.
In addition to being between 9 and 14 years old at the time of camp, participants should:
Be able to demonstrate age-appropriate social and emotional skills in managing personal boundaries, relationships, and communication while being away from a parent/guardian for the day.
Be respectful of camp staff and other campers to create a safe learning environment using respectful language and appropriate physical behavior.
Understand and comply with directions given by staff.
Independently manage personal needs such as washing hands, eating, drinking, and using restroom facilities.
Independently move around camp property on surfaces that could include trails, uneven surfaces, steps, hills, and creeks.
We are not able to provide one-on-one staff assistance to address specific needs during day camp, or accommodate medical issues requiring treatment beyond the scope of our health center and staff. Please contact us if you have eligibility questions.
Stay tuned for more information on how to register your camper. After paying for your campers, you'll receive an e-mail with a link to submit the additional necessary information, including health info, a waiver, and more. For questions or issues with registration, contact Nicholas Hunter-Shields at nyhunter@indiana.edu or at 765-349-5121.
Our cancelation policy for individual sessions is as follows:
Cancellation with 7 days or more notice prior to program start date – 80% refund of total (minus registration fee).
Cancellation with 6 days or less notice prior to program start date – 50% refund of total (minus registration fee).
Note: with physician documentation, a full refund will be given for medically specific reasons for cancellation.
If your child needs to take medication during the hours of day camp, you can send that medication along to us for dispensation, provided it is in its original prescription/non-prescription packaging and we have discussed its use with you.
Sample Schedule
The schedule below is sample schedule for camp. Drop-off and pick-up times are fixed; the individual schedule between those times may change from what is posted below but will remain similar.
7:00-8:00AM
Camper Check-In
8:15-11:00AM
E-Learning or Independent Learning/Activities
11:30AM-12:00PM
Lunch Prep
12:00-1:00PM
Lunch
1:00-2:30PM
Outdoor Challenge (Climbing, Canoeing, or other challenge activity
