Camp Tannadoonah Activities
Campers have four activities each day during a week at Camp Tannadoonah.
Campers can sign up for up to 3 activities that are pre-scheduled, leaving at least one free period per day. Most of these pre-registered activies take up one period, but some of them are two periods. Campers may pre-register for the following activities (click on links for more information):
- Low Ropes Team-building Challenge ($25 fee)
- Tennis Lessons (beginning or advanced) ($25 fee)
- Digital Photography ($20 fee; $5 to rent camera)
- Bejeweled! ($25 fee)
- Fishing
- Dance
- Iron Chefs ($20 fee)
- Swimming Lessons
- Canoeing (must pass swim test)
- Kayaking (must pass swim test)
- Sailing (must pass swim test)
- Campers on the Move triathlon (two periodst)
- Advanced Nature (two periods; $20 fee)
The following activities do not require pre-registration (campers can go to these activities during free periods):
Swimming Lessons
Red Cross Water Safety Instructors teach campers swimming and diving skills. Swimming classes meet one period per day, at the same time each day. Parents can request that their child take swimming lessons, or leave it up to the camper to decide. Campers who plan to take lessons are tested on Sunday evening to determine to which of the 6 Red Cross Swimming levels they will be assigned. At the end of the week campers who took lessons will be tested to see if they have met all of the Red Cross Requirements, in order to move on to the next swimming level. Campers can also take courses in Diving, Basic Water Rescue, Water Safety Instructor’s Assistant, and Junior Life-Guarding.
Boating
Boating courses are offered in canoeing, kayaking, and sailing. Boating classes meet one period per day, at the same time each day. Campers who wish to take boating classes must pass the boating test on Sunday evening.
Swimming and Boating tests
To earn an “intermediate” band, campers will be asked to swim one length (25m) on their front and one length on their back.
To earn an “advanced” band, which gives campers access to the diving board, they will be asked to swim a third length on either front or back.
For campers taking swimming lessons, we will test campers according to Red Cross standards to assign swimming level. However, this stroke proficiency will have no bearing on swimming band assignment.
For boating, we ask campers to demonstrate some swimming proficiency for their own safety. To be eligible for boating, a camper must earn either an intermediate or advanced swimming band. If the camper does not earn a band, but wishes to take boating, he or she can qualify for boating by treading water for 10 minutes. Please note: all campers taking boating will wear life jackets at all times.
Fishing
Campers can spend a lazy morning fishing in beautiful Birch Lake. Learn how to bait a hook, cast a line, and reel in the catch of the day!
Lake Swim
On Saturday morning each week, a brave group of early-bird campers gets up at 6:00am to swim all the way across Birch Lake. Campers who wish to do the lake swim must qualify for an intermediate or advanced swim band, and demonstrate their endurance by swimming 500 yards during a free swim prior to Saturday morning.
Polar Bear
Campers can opt to get up each morning 30 minutes before reveille to take a dip in the cool waters of Birch Lake. Campers who attend Polar Bear every morning throughout the week receive a special prize at breakfast on Saturday morning, and are eligible to purchase a Camp Tannadoonah Polar Bear Club T-shirt at the camp store.
Bejeweled!
Do you love to express yourself through arts and crafts? Whether using beads, wood or cloth, campers will spend this session using their creativity making various jewelry projects. Cost: $25 for materials and supplies.
Team Building Challenge Course
Learn how to work with other campers to build a strong community. Solve problems, figure out puzzles, and learn more about yourself and your fellow campers! Plus, you'll get to find out what "Yogurt Bridge," "Giant's Finger," "Giant's Skis," "Porthole," and many other strange things mean! Campers who sign up for this special program will be guided through the confidence- and team-building course for one hour per day. Cost: $25.
Advanced Nature
This NEW nature program gives campers an opportunity to spend more time exploring nature at Camp Tannadoonah. Activities will include compass navigation, hikes to Dr. Lawless Park, an overnight tent-camping experience, GPS Geo-Caching, and more! Meets two periods per day. Cost: $20.
Campers on the Move
Spend the week training for a camp triathlon. Run each morning with a staff member, practice swimming at the waterfront, and bike around Birch Lake. On Friday, campers will compete in a mini-triathlon. This is a great way to train for the South Bend Parks and Recreation Kids Triathlon or the Birch Lake Kids Triathlon.
Note: Campers must bring their own bike and HELMET to participate in the biking portion. Meets two periods per day.
Digital Photography
Explore digital photography during your week at camp. Meets once per day to teach campers the basics of digital photography. A local photographer meets shares photography tips and experiences. Campers will learn how to frame images, determine appropriate lighting, take night photos, edit and select their best images, and then cut out their own mat to show off their photos. Each camper will take home a disk with all of their photos, and one printed and matted image. We recommend that campers bring their own digital camera, but we do have cameras to borrow. There is an additional $20 charge for the digital photography class, to cover the cost of materials. Campers should bring their own digital camera. There are a limited number of cameras which may be rented from camp for $5 for use during this class.
Tennis
Our tennis instructors will teach campers the fundamental rules and skills of the game of tennis. Campers will have to opportunity to play singles and doubles matches against other campers and their instructors. There is an additional $25 charge for tennis instruction, which includes a Camp Tannadoonah Tennis Camp T-shirt. Campers are encouraged to bring their own racquets, but we do have racquets available to borrow if needed. Beginner and Advanced Instruction offered.
Archery
Campers will learn the basic of archery from a certified archery instructor. At the end of the week campers can participate in the Golden Arrow Tournament with their peers.
Sports and Games
Each day of the week the Sports and Games leaders schedule a different activity. Friday is “Camper’s Choice,” and campers who attend sports and games get to vote to decide the game of the day. Activities include basketball, softball, wiffleball, golf, relay races, dodgeball, Spud, Frisbee golf, kickball, and many others!
Bluebirds
Our youngest campers at Camp Tannadoonah get to take part in special “bluebird” activities. The bluebirds leader will plan a schedule of activities to keep campers busy and entertained throughout the week. Bluebird campers are all campers in the 3rd grade and younger.
Arts & Crafts
Learn how to build a birdhouse out of recycled materials, braid a keychain or lanyard, make a friendship bracelet for your best buddy, or make a popsicle stick box to store all of your camp treasures. Those are just a few of the fun things the handcraft leader has planned for the summer!
Drama
Charades, Imrov Games, “Freeze”, Pictionary, act out skits & scenes. Have a great time being creative and goofy playing drama games.
Nature
Learn nature lore in the forests surrounding Camp Tannadoonah, visit the Princess Tree, take a trust hike, learn how to build a camp fire with no matches, learn pocket knife safety, carve yourself the perfect marshmallow roasting stick, or take a water hike. Learn to identify different types of trees, flowers, and bugs.
Iron Chefs
Cook at least one meal outdoors over an open fire each day! Learn how to make California Egg Scramble, Foil Dinners, Pie Irons, Pizza Bread, and many more meals (all over a fire!). Rain or shine! Campers learn how to build their fire, prepare the meal, and cook it all over the fire. This year campers will also spend one period during the day preparing their food, and learning about food preparation and care. Cost: $20.
Dance
Throughout the week campers will develop and learn a dance to be performed at Council Fire on Friday night! Meets one period per day.
