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Summer Youth Resident Camp
The 2010 Onyahsa "Odyssey Too" Summer offers eight integrated residential programs for youth during each youth camp week:
Prior to, and following the youth summer camp program, Mini Camp, family camp-outs, and adult programs are also available.
Resident youth campers live in rustic single-sex, age-graded cabins, tents, or dorms under the supervision of carefully selected and trained staff members. The Camp’s directors and health staff also reside on site, and provide 24 hour per day supervision, and the Camp has a staff to camper ratio of at least 1:8. The typical camper population at Onyahsa is approximately 110 per week. This is rather small compared to other camps, which allows Onyahsa to create a deeper sense of community. All full-week overnight sessions begin on Sunday afternoon and end on Saturday late morning.
All resident youth campers participate in our special activities, such as campfires, skits, Club Time, theme nights, Olympic games, village nights, and other all-camp programs. Meanwhile, through age-group cabin and tent living, campers learn to share and live cooperatively as members of small groups. The activities and living areas are staffed with well-qualified and highly committed counselors, who share the goal of making a stay at Onyahsa a truly rewarding experience for all members of the Camp Community.
Traditional Camp (Weeks A – H)
This program is designed for youth ages seven to thirteen, and all activities are developmentally appropriate. Traditional Camp is the heart of our program, for here are made the special friendships and fond memories, which last a lifetime. It is recommended for both new and veteran campers. Traditional Camp will be offered during all summer sessions.
Campers who attend Traditional Camp will enjoy all the favorite daily activities such as Swimming, Boating, Arts, Sports, Nature, and campers’ "Choice." Swimming activities include National YMCA instructional swimming and water safety classes. Boating generally offers kayaking, sailing, wind surfing, skin diving, fishing, rowing, and canoeing. Arts includes activities such as camp crafts, painting, clay sculpture, drama, and other creative projects. Sports offers a wide range of athletic activities like Soccer, Basketball, Climbing Wall, Archery, Court Games, New Games, and many others. Nature includes Environmental Education and outdoor activities such as hiking, planting, outdoor cooking, conservation, and many others. Choice enables campers to help create the activities they most enjoy, and to try non-traditional ones, ranging from taking canoe trips, to baking their own pizzas, to crossing our “Burma Bridge” on the Onyahsa Challenge Course.
In addition to these structured daily activities, Traditional Camp also offers morning Polar Bear Club, free time, recreational swimming and boating, diverse and creative Club Time activities, evening programs like New Games, reenactments, or treasure hunts. Special programs such as Olympics, camp elections, dances, skits, campfires, village activities, theme nights, and many others are also offered.
Traditional Camp is our best value, and moreover it forms the foundation of our program. These favorite programs provide the ideal experience for both "first time" and veteran campers.
Specialty Camps
In addition to Traditional Camp, each week will offer three exciting Specialty Sports and Recreation Camps. Campers may choose programs, such as Horsemanship, sports, and many more. Specialty Campers bunk with campers in the general program, but focus on their chosen specialty activity, (see the annual schedule), for part of the day, thus they will miss some of the Traditional activities described above. This experience especially suits older and veteran campers. Please check the program guide for the schedule. Click here to view all of the specialty camps offered.
The Onyahsa Academy
To promote fun and active summer learning, (with no tests!), we are proud to offer the Onyahsa Academy each week for campers who want to learn a new skill or strengthen their knowledge of a favorite subject. In nature’s classroom, the Onyahsa Academy will offer summer enrichment and hands-on fun! Take advantage of these great active summer learning opportunities, directed by Onyahsa’s educators, and offered at the same tuition as Traditional Camp. Please check the program guide for the schedule. Click here to view all of the academy specialty camps offered.
Teen Camp
Each week’s fourteen or fifteen year-old campers who are registered for Teen Camp will participate in and help to conduct their own more autonomous and exciting programs such as trip-camping, “extreme team,” climbing, sailboat racing, and many other great activities. Teen campers will be able to exercise their independence and responsibility by helping to create their own less-routine programs. They will also complete a Camp project and assist with special events.
Leadership Training
Campers who are fifteen years old (by the start of camp), and who register for a two-week Leader in Training (LIT) session, will have a great time taking trips and participating in more mature projects, while also learning the responsibilities required of leadership. This experience is great for older teens who want both excitement and responsibility, and who are ready to handle more independence.
During their first week, they will participate in training, and during the second one they will assist in general cabin areas to help with the camp program. LITs will be able to help structure their own program, and activities include several off-camp trips. Successful LITs often return as staff members in future seasons. LITs may register for more than one session, and can attend any two consecutive weeks. Offered each week of summer youth camp.
Counselor-in-Training
Sixteen- and seventeen-year olds who wish to volunteer to assist the Camp program may apply (through a separate volunteer selection process) for Camp’s Counselor in Training (CIT) Program. Candidates will undergo an interview, reference checks, and if selected will assist the Onyahsa staff in program implementation, site maintenance, and ancillary services. Offered each week of summer youth camp.
Weekly Themes
The themes for our 2010 Odyssey Too 112th summer are:
Week A Spain
Week B Sweden
Week C USA
Week D Japan
Week E Canada
Week F France
Week G China
Week H Ireland
Week I Onyahsa Republic
Kid’s Mini Camp (August 15 – 18, 2010)
This “introduction to camp” offers a half-week of resident camp for younger campers, ages 5-8, who may not desire a full week. All activities will be developmentally appropriate, but "Mini-Campers" will participate in a full range of programs. Kid's Mini Camp will run from Sunday afternoon to Wednesday evening. Each year's Mini Camp has been a great success, and enrollment is very limited, so sign up soon! Arrival at 3:00pm Sunday, and departure at 6:30pm Wednesday.
Summer Weekender Camp (Between All Summer Weeks)
Summer Weekender Camp is available to campers who are attending consecutive weeks. "Summer Weekender Campers" will participate in less-structured activities Saturday at Camp, attend an off-Camp activity, relax, see a movie, and have fun with the small weekend group usually at our YMCA facility in Jamestown. This popular program is only available to self-monitoring campers who are staying consecutive weeks. The fee includes all meals, a snack, all activities, and laundry money. Ages 7-16.
Chautauqua Lake Rotary Club Special Needs Camps (Weeks A-H)
A stay at a quality integrated camp benefits both children with, and children without developmental challenges. Camp Onyahsa offers an Inclusive Program for youth ages 7-15 who have mild to moderately handicapping conditions as a central objective of its Mission. The activities are adapted and developmentally appropriate, and they benefit children of the Special Needs community who require reasonable accommodations. The Jamestown Rotary Club offers full scholarships to local children who are eligible for Special Education services and who meet financial guidelines. Children, of all abilities need friends, and Camp Onyahsa is a great place to make them!
