Programming & Activities
No two days are ever alike at Camp Carvela!
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There is a fluidity to our programming and activities vary as widely as the creativity and imagination of campers and staff allow.
Our programming isn’t just about the what, it’s about the how. Our staff practice co-created programming. This means we take campers’ perspectives into consideration and work with them to turn their ideas into activities. From Finding Nemo scavenger hunts and stargazing to sunrise pancake-making, campers have invented some of our best and most memorable programs!
Campers plan and lead over 20% of our activities, and their voices are heard in 100% of what we do.
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Each day we run six to eight activities during both morning and afternoon program period. All activities are open to every participant, regardless of age, gender, or cabin group.
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Some activities are weird and creative, like turning the Lodge into a haunted house. Others, like Listening Point (personal meditation in nature) are on the quieter side. We offer special programs and day trips, too, like sailing on Lower Herring lake, sunrise walks to the Elberta Farmer’s market, hikes to Mount Baldy, and more.
After dinner, we gather as a camp and participate in evening program. This special time is used for all-camp games, skit nights, carnivals, trips, the Sing Down, variety shows, plus the yet-to-be-invented.
Before bed, camp winds down with Mellow Time, an open-mic campfire where campers and staff share stories, poems, songs, and moments of silence.
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Camp activities are non-competitive. There are no color wars or intra-camp / inter-cabin competitions. Although we have many team sports, team composition changes frequently so that everyone who wishes to play will have an opportunity. Scores are kept haphazardly.
We have no camp movie/video nights, electronic games, computer labs or all camp social dances. Instead, we do many games and sports, special events, skits, dramatic, talent and music activities which foster active, involved, and individual participation.
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Below you will find a small sample of the types of activities our campers and staff can come up with. This list of activities is from the 1st half of last summer, the 2nd half of the summer was equally as involved!
​Assassins
Kayak Soccer
Fishing
Water Hiking
Voyageur Canoeing
Paddle Boarding
Paddle Board Yoga
Raft Building
Treasure Hunt
Map the Lake
Swim Across the Lake
Petoskey Hunting
Sand Castle Building
Charcoal Drawing
Dune Hiking
Farmers Market Trip
Poetry Writing
Beach Baseball
Ballroom Dancing
Fort Building
Hammocking
Water Color Painting
Disc Golf
Fairy Tales
Sailing
Kite Making
Camp News
Music Videos
Camp Zine
Playwriting
Drama Games
Create Your Own Board Game
Sockey
Haunted House
Bear Den
Screen Printing
Mafia
Werewolves
Risk
Field Games
Soccer
Football
Rugby
Cricket
Calvin Ball
Crab Soccer
Kick the Can
Dutch Soccer
Capture the Flag
Zen Gardens
Sculpture Garden
Ultimate Frisbee
Sink or Float?
Boat Building
Tye-Dye
Copper Enameling
Stitching
Book Making
Clay Sculpting
Glass Painting
Mosaics
Crocheting
Pom-Poming
Flower Crowns
Mario Kart Racing
Hurdling
Parkour
Splatter Ball
Splatter Painting
Batik
Macrame
Weaving
Sketching
Rock Painting
Collaging
Self Portraits
Face Painting
Henna
Beach Art
Candle Making
Carving
Lino Printing
Leather Working
Embroidery
Beading
Jewelry Making
Quidditch
D & D
Dune Monster
Larping
The Maze
Stamp Art
Instrument Making
Guitar Lessons
Drum School
Tree Hugging
Boy Band
Paper Planes
Egg Drop
Fire Building
Scatterball
Dodgeball
Jurassic Park
Badge Making
Kneedle Felting
Wool Spinning
Conquest
Pie Making
Mountain Biking
Chromatography
Sun Bread Baking
Day Spa
Sketch Comedy
Song Writing
Improv Games
Rodeo
Demolition Derby
Gravity Hill
Canoe Battleships
Aquawrestling
Ninjas
Detectives
Crayfishin'
Animal Spotting
Body Art
Doodling
Mandalas
Beach Campout
Cooking with Ruth
Cake Decorating
Carvela Carnival
Carvela Circus
Music Festival
Letters of Gratitude
Short Story Writing
Anime
Comic Strips
Camp Newspaper
Dance
Banner Making
Shallow Water Baseball
Beach Volleyball
Sport Court Madness
Outback Hiking
Froggin'
Wizard School
Smurf Ball
Parade
Softball
Kickball
Corn Hole
Driftwood Art
GagaBall
Star Gazing
Star Painting
Midnight Hiking
Spulunking
Trivia
Beat Poetry
Slow Mo
Sock Puppets
Camp Olympics
Meditation
Yoga
Polar Bearing
Medieval Games
Oil Pastels
Scrapbooking
Rube Goldberg Machines
Synchronized Swimming
Mural Painting
Soap Making
Thunder Buddies
Trail Building
Axe Throwing
Obstacle Course
Geocaching
Beach Glass Jewelry
Knitting
Embossing
Wiffle Ball
Calligraphy
Origami
Birding