Life at Sierra Friends Camp

Campers spend part of each week (including the weekend) in camp and part of the week (roughly three days) out of camp on overnight trips. The overnight camping trips are designed to include age-appropriate and supportive challenges that allow campers to attain new kinds of successes and to build self-confidence. These challenges often include backpacking in the Sierra Mountains or along the Yuba River, but may also include participating in service projects and taking on other adventures that have been designed by our counselors for their campers' enjoyment.

A Typical Day

A "shell, bell and yell" lets everyone know when it's time for each of the day's activities. The day begins with a visit to each cabin by the "wake-up fairy." Soon after, a shell-bell-yell announces breakfast. After breakfast and breakfast chores, the community sits down for a short meeting for worship. Next, campers participate in activities, general fun and games, or perhaps trip planning. At midday everyone comes together for lunch. The whole camp (with exception of those washing dishes) takes a rest period after lunch. After that, we have another shell-bell-yell for afternoon activities. We have a break in the middle of the day for snack and mail call, followed by another block of activities. Afternoon activities continue until supper. After supper, everyone in camp comes together for an evening activity. This may involve a skit night, an all-camp game that allows everyone to participate, or occasionally a dance. Also, there are campfires several times a week that incorporate singing, worship sharing, discussion and reflection.

In-Camp Days

In-camp days at Sierra Friends Center incorporate a blend of free time and structure. There are several times during the day (for example, during free time, rest period and activity blocks) where we try to give campers a say in how they spend their time.  At other times we expect everyone to attend and participate in the same undertaking.  These times include meals, Meeting for Worship, chores and evening activities.  On these occasions, having one activity presents campers with a challenge to try new experiences and meet new groups of friends.

7:20	Wake Up
8:00-8:30	Breakfast
8:30-9:15	Cleanup and Free time
9:15-10:15	Meeting for Worship & singing around the campfire
10:15-11:45	Unit Time or Morning Activities
12:00-12:45	Lunch
12:45-2:00	Lunch Cleanup and Rest Period
2:00-3:30	Afternoon Activity Block 1
3:30-4:00	Snack time and Mail
4:00-5:30	Afternoon Activity Block 2
5:45-6:30	Dinner
6:30-7:15	Dinner cleanup
7:15-9:00	Evening Activity
9:15 pm	Start going to bed….

Chores

Participating in chores is an integral part of the camp experience that helps campers and staff take responsibility and feel a sense of ownership for the spaces in which they live, eat and play.  Equally important, chores offer an opportunity for campers to interact outside of their age group and with counselors and staff other than their unit counselors.  Work crews do more than just chores together; they also take part in group activities like skits, relay races or scavenger hunts.  And the chores themselves are made fun.  Chores which need to be done every day include set-up and clean-up for every meal.  Occasionally there will be other chores added, like cleaning the bathhouses.  Nevertheless, for the most part a work crew will usually only have one chore per day.

Meeting for Worship

The entire camp will gather each morning on in-camp days for a 20 to 30 minute silent Meeting for Worship. Each Sunday there will be a longer meeting which is open to visitors.  In addition, impromptu Meetings for Worship will take place on trips, wherein groups can settle into silence in the beautiful spots they discover.   Meetings are unprogrammed, meaning that they are held in silence and anyone can speak out of the silence when moved to do so.

Meals

Meal times nourish our bodies and our feeling of community.  All the meals will include vegetarian options, as well as vegan options if requested. Not all meals include a meat option. The Sierra Friends Camp campus has several permanent residents and they join us for periodic community meals.  We will have a kitchen manager to purchase food and plan healthy menus.  We also rely on work-grant parent volunteers to help with the cooking. This is a way for parents to become involved in the camp community at the same time as defraying the costs of camp for their children. 

Activities

Each day we have several activity blocks when staff members provide a variety of options and campers get to choose which ones to attend.  These often incorporate physical challenge, goofy fun, artistic creativity and relaxation.  Non-competitive and cooperative activities are emphasized.  Activities are structured so that mixed-age groups can participate equally.

Some typical in-camp activities may include:

• Drama games
• Frisbee, soccer, kickball, backwards kickball, 4-square, ga-ga-ga, tag…
• Blackberry picking and eating
• Sprinkler slip n’ slide
• Poetry or story writing
• Nature art and sculpture in the woods on property
• Drawing, painting or collage in the art pav
• Drum circles or musical activities
• Reading, letter writing, and/or snuggle-puddling under a shady tree

Trips

All campers leave camp for three days out of every week to go on wilderness trips.  During the first week, campers go on a hiking trip with their unit. During the second week, campers will choose a themed trip which will incorporate a mix of campers from various units. 

Trips Philosophy

While for some campers in-camp activities are the heart of their experience, for many it’s the overnight backpacking trips that make camp the experience of a lifetime.   The backpacking trips offer unique opportunities for building self-confidence through overcoming challenges.  They also afford campers the chance to develop outdoor survival skills like putting up a tarp or lighting a camping stove.  Equally important to our camp philosophy, the trips are a time for cooperation and group bonding.  Individual challenge is balanced with mutual support and nurturing.  While self-confidence is bound to develop, a deep connection with others and with nature is equally important.  We believe that camping provides a unique opportunity to truly live the fundamental Quaker value of simplicity.  It is a deeply meaningful experience to learn what little one needs in order to live and to be joyous.  As one camp alumnus said, “There’s something revolutionary about getting a group of kids to sleep on the ground.”  This is one period when the magic of camp really happens.