There are 20 different programs that Camp Rotary offers as structured programs. Here are brief descriptions:
Archery: Taught by NAA certified archery instructors, the campers are taught the basics in target shooting and in accompanying NAA games.
Arts & Crafts: Small hand made products are created using paper, wood, glue, etc. and made beautiful with paints and decorations, through the creativity of our campers and staff.
BMX Bicycle Racing: A thrilling BMX bicycle racing track that provides challenging jumps and turns is the setting of this program. Campers wearing protective helmets, gloves, and pads, race for the best time around the course. Campers can use the camp’s bicycles and equipment or can bring their own, but a waiver form must be completed. (see form). Please expect to wear long pants, a long sleeve shirt, and sneakers for this activity. Don’t forget your bandana, which will be worn under the helmet.
Basketball: The counselor varies this program depending on the skills of the campers involved for that particular week. Beginners to those with lots of experience are encouraged to select this program.
Boating and Kayaking: With both rowboats and kayaks in our fleet, and lots of fun as well as instruction included in the program, this has become one of the more popular programs in camp!
Canoeing: An exciting choice at camp, this program teaches the campers how to paddle & control canoes either alone or with others. They even get taught to “swamp” as they are doing in this picture!
Dance: The dance program combines many different dance styles to lead the group to a camp-wide performance on Friday.
Drama: The basics of performing arts are covered in this program. From fun charade games to serious skits.
Fishing: Feel free to bring your own rods or use our equipment. The fish are very cooperative at Camp Rotary! There is a rumor that it is the same sunfish that keeps getting caught over and over as he snacks on the bait each time. But only a few people catch the 1 foot bass each summer!
Mad Science: This program is one of our newest and allows campers to experience science in a non-classroom setting. Some past projects have been to create oobleck (a solid/liquid element) and to create and blast off a water propelled rocket. Campers will experiment with density and build their own “lava lamp”.
Nature: One of our top programs from last summer! Our counselor has lots of strong camping and nature skills and we now have two trails that have been built in conjunction with Mass Audubon and Essex Tech.
Photography: This program was very popular last summer with the campers. During the week, the campers use digital cameras to take shots of kids and nature. The better ones are used for our Bunk-1 photos and displayed in our end of the week slideshow for all to see! Come play a new game invented here called, Photo Tag!
Riflery: Target shooting is taught by an experienced counselor, under the supervision of an NRA certified instructor. The campers are taught safety pertaining to shooting and the basics of target sport shooting through use of air powered pellet rifles.
Ropes/Challenge: This thrilling program offers both a low element and a high element section of activities. Younger campers are offered access to the lower elements and older campers are offered access to the higher elements. In this program the campers walk on cables, climb walls, swing on a rope, and ride the 200’ zip line, harnessed to a cable high above the ground. Please expect to wear sneakers
for this activity.
Sailing: Campers are taught in small groups the basics of sailing. Sunfish style sailboats that are relatively small and easy to control, are used to teach the campers sailing techniques. Sailing is a lifelong skill that many of our campers learned in the time that they were with us here at Rotary.
Soccer: A great way to improve your soccer skills! This program offers small group instruction and daily competitions, both individual and team!
Sports with Sticks: This program combines four sporting programs to allow more of a variety of
experiences: baseball, hockey, lacrosse, and tennis skill-building are all combined into one program!
Ultimate Games: This incredibly “ultimate” program combines challenging sports games with a twist. A survivor – style mentality leads to just one person being named “THE Ultimate G” for the week!
Volleyball: One of the newest programs added to camp, this one was very popular last summer. The shaded sand court led to some great battles last summer!
X-Treme Stiles: Originally begun as a morning “free swim”, the program has evolved to this more structured program. Every day is a new game. Marco Polo, water volleyball, water polo, greased watermelon… you just can never tell. All swimming levels are welcome. With their life vests in place, there are some days when even pool 1 swimmers can jump off of the tower, the slide or the aqua jump! Its named after, you guessed it, our very own Stiles Pond!
