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OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

The Outdoor Adventure program at Fernwood Cove allows campers to experience a variety of activities in the natural environment that promote safe risk taking in a structured and managed environment.  Campers are also able to learn appropriate outdoor living practices to help protect and maintain the natural environment in and around camp.  Outdoor Adventure activities not only promote a greater understanding of self, but also give campers the opportunity to develop life skills such as communication, teamwork and trust. 

The counselors in the Fernwood Cove Outdoor Adventure programs have a strong background, including professional training and personal experience in their respective activity areas.  Counselors ensure the utmost level of safety during all activities.  All outdoor adventure equipment is inspected and maintained on a regular basis, with an annual inspection of the ropes course and climbing wall and related gear completed by an outside ropes course development organization. 

Mountain Biking
Fernwood Cove’s trail system and surrounding environment are a perfect home to our mountain biking program.  Campers are able to explore the forest of camp and neighboring areas while learning the skills and techniques of mountain biking.  Counselors instruct campers in the safe and appropriate use of mountain bikes as well as the proper use of biking helmets.  Campers are also able to use their biking skills on a one of the mountain biking overnights offered throughout the summer.

Outdoor Living Skills
Outdoor Living Skills (OLS) is for the outdoors-woman in every camper.  Campers experience a more in-depth outdoor living program than our typical overnight entails.  During the OLS program campers learn a variety of skills including outdoor health and safety, outdoor ethics, proper equipment usage, outdoor cooking and trip planning.  This program prepares campers for more advanced and extensive overnight camping trips.  Campers who participate in OLS are able to plan an overnight trip which allows them to use all of the skills they acquired during the focus week.  OLS is limited to campers in 5th grade and up.

Rock Climbing
Fernwood Cove’s six-sided climbing tower offers a challenge to every level climbing.  Campers learn the basics of rock climbing including proper gear use, safety and knot tying in addition to climbing techniques and skills.  Climbing instructors setup the climbing walls ensuring multiple climbing routes in a variety of climbing levels while maintaining the highest level of safety.  The Fernwood Cove rock climbing program also offers out-of-camp climbing experiences, at both climbing gyms and real rock faces, for older campers.  All rock climbing instructors take part in a training program provided by our ropes course developer.

Ropes Course
Campers in 5th grade and up are able to gain life-long teamwork, communication and leadership skills through the Fernwood Cove Ropes Course program.  The Fernwood Cove Ropes Course consists of both low and high ropes course elements, which provide a variety of challenges to the participants.  Campers work as a group to solve the problems and overcome the challenges of each element while being properly guided by our trained ropes course instructors.  Instructors pay close attention to the dynamics of each group of campers, making sure to provide appropriate level challenges and an appropriate progression through activities on the ground, low elements and then high elements.  Instructors ensure the highest level of safety for all participants at all times.  Each ropes course instructor participates in a ropes course facilitation training in addition to the regular pre-camp orientation.  

Nature
Campers of all ages are able to enjoy about our natural environment through the Nature program.  Campers in 2nd and 3rd grades are required to take at least one week of Nature activities. These activities introduce campers into our natural world through exploration of the vast surroundings of camp.  Campers are able to see habitats like our nearby beaver dams and “Moose Country” firsthand, with many campers returning for additional nature activities each week.  Nature lovers, of all ages, can experience the natural world through more in-depth activities which center on a specific aspect of the environment such as aquatic ecology, forestry and air and water quality. 

For the budding environmentalist Fernwood Cove offers an environmental awareness and conservation program.  These activities help campers become more aware of the natural processes of the world and how humans impact these natural processes.  Campers are also able to explore various way of helping protect the environment- both in and out of camp.