Summer Camp 2011
“After 8 hours outside in the woods my two boys come home dirty, tired, and full of energy, stories, ideas and new skills. They are healthy, strong, self assured; we are building the leaders of tomorrow.” -camp parent
Nature-based adventure-filled summer camp!
Primitive Pursuits Summer Camp is an all-outdoors nature awareness journey that offers wilderness survival skills, nature mentoring and peer-based community building. It is a unique opportunity for your kids to immerse themselves in the natural world for days at at time. This year we are pleased to expand our camp offerings to include a broader age range, new locations and advanced level camps with overnights. Grab a friend and come along for the un-matched adventure!
Age Groupings:
Please note unique age ranges for each of the following:
Day Camp - age 6-12
Advanced Camps - Age 10-14
Forest Pre-School - Age 4-5
Overnights - Age 10 & up
Treks - varies see description
Cost and locations? See bottom of this page.
Current Camp Descriptions - More to Come!
Wildcrafting I&II (day camp)
Harvesting and crafting the raw materials of the land is the focus this week. Our hands and creative minds will keep busy as we transform wood, stone, feathers, and bones with water, fire, and steel. In gratitude for what each unique week has to offer we'll eat roots and drink teas that nourish our growth. You will take home crafts made with seasonally available resources along with stories to last a life time.
Wild Crafting 1: June 27th - July 1st
Wild Crafting 2: August 29th - September 2nd
Scout Week I&II (day camp)
Traveling light, finding your edges, coming to your senses, and moving invisibly through the landscape are skills that belong to the ancient scouts. In these two weeks we will hone our own skills of self-reliance through challenges and awareness routines. We will read more deeply into the landscape, camouflage with our surroundings, learn aidless navigation techniques and practice mastering survival skills on the move.
Scout 1: July 11th - July 15th
Scout 2: August 15th - 19th
Primitive Camp I & II (day camp)
For all those kids who ever scorned using matches! This is your chance to find out what it would take to replace your gear in a REAL survival situation. We will travel to uncharted territory and create a new primitive camp from raw materials. Try your hand at using stone tools, building a rain proof shelter and carving your own primitive fire kit out of the forest around you.
Primitive Camp I: July 18th - 22nd
Primitive Camp II: August 8th - 12th
Advanced Primitive (advanced day camp)
Journey to our new primitive outpost camp for an advanced immersion in wilderness living. Prior experience is not required, but we are offering this only to older youth. We'll be making stone blades, harvesting meals from the wild and preparing for an optional overnight campout.
Advanced Primitive: August 8th - 12th (optional overnight below)
Advanced Primitive Overnight: August 11th-12th
Bringing together the threads woven in Advanced Primitive participants will have the option of spending a night in a group survival shelter. Led by our most experienced wilderness instructors, this is a not to be missed opportunity!
Hunter-Gatherer I&II
(day camp)
"For three million years we were hunter gatherers, and it was through that way of life that a brain so adaptable and so creative eventually emerged. Today we stand with the brains of hunter gatherers in our heads, looking out on a modern world..." -Richard Leakey
Summon the sleeping human within! Reawaken your ancestral self while using the tools of the eldest hunters: atl-atl, rabbit stick and bow. Explore plant cultivation by harvesting from fields and forests with ancient tools made by your hands. This week we will be joined by special guests who have mastered some of these ancient arts. Participants may complete a special project, such as a bow or planting stick, under the guidance of a craftsman.
Hunter-Gatherer 1: August 1st - 5th
Hunter-Gatherer 2: August 22nd - 26th
Wilderness I, II & III (day camp)
Travel with us into the wilderness of the Finger Lakes National Forest. Celebrate the peak of summer feasting on wild berries, tracking beavers, telling tall tails around the fires and navigating the boundless resources of this public land. Going beyond "survival", this will be a time to learn about caring for our forest while caring for ourselves.
Wilderness 1: July 5th - 8th (please note this is a 4 day program)
Wilderness 2: July 25th - 29th
Wilderness 3: August 22nd - 26th
Wilderness 3 Overnight: August 25th-26th
During our final week in the wilderness, older participants will have the option of spending a night in a solo survival shelter of their own making. This will be an opportunity to safely test all the skills they have practiced under the guidance of our most experienced wilderness instructors.
Ellis Hollow Week (day camp)
In collaboration with the Ellis Hollow Community Center, we are pleased to offer this opportunity to learn about and explore the unique creatures and landscapes of the Ellis Hollow Creek valley. Though not part of our camp, use of the pool after camp hours can be arranged by becoming a member of The Ellis Hollow Community Center for a fee.
Ellis Hollow Week: TBA
Trailblazers I & II (day camp and advanced day camp options)
On the road with Primitive Pursuits! Picking up the trail of our most popular school year program, we are offering this summer adventure two weeks this summer. Meet downtown at Cooperative Extension, jump into a van and head out to a different wilderness area each day. Discover the wilderness all around Ithaca that you never knew existed, while you continue practicing your routines of gathering water, shelter, fire and food in all kinds of terrain. Please note that groups are limited to 10 participants. Register early to reserve your space.
Trailblazers: July 5th - July 8th (please note this is a 4 day program) (advanced day camp only)
Trailblazers: August 29th - September 2nd (day camp and advanced day camp options)
SUMMER CAMP TIMES, COSTS, AGES & LOCATIONS
Times:
Day camp programs run from 9am - 3pm with staff supervision from 8:30am - 3:30pm for your added convenience.
New for 2011: Epic Adventure Day! Extend each day from 8am - 4:30pm for an additional $45 each week.
Costs:
5 Day programs $225-$325*
4 Day programs $195-$295*
Overnight option add $75
Transportation (Trailblazers) add $20
Epic Adventure Day option add $45
*All programs are on a self determined sliding scale.
Funds received above the base rate are tax-deductible and used for scholarships.
Ages:
Please note unique age ranges for each of the following:
Day Camp - age 6-12
Advanced Camps - Age 10-14
Growing Wild - Age 4-5
Overnights - Age 10 & up
Treks - varies see description
Locations:
4H Acres - 418 Lower Creek Rd. Ithaca NY
Wildcrafting I & II, Scout Week I & II, Primitive Camp, Advanced Primitive, Hunter Gatherer I & II
Finger Lakes National Forest - 7 miles west of Trumansburg NY at "Teeter Pond"
Wilderness Week I, II & III
Ellis Hollow Community Center - 111 Genung Rd, Ithaca
Ellis Hollow Week
Meeting @ CCE - 615 willow Ave. Ithaca N.Y & exploring unique natural areas outside Ithaca
Trailblazers I & II
