Director Jud's Blog

They say that summer camp experiences have the potential to create lasting memories and provide a sense of adventure and fun that teens often cherish for a lifetime, that was certainly true during SMA Session 4 this summer. 

We had an incredible summer at Stone Mountain Adventures Summer Camp.  Third Session was so awesome. 

Here is the Stone Mountain Adventures Session 2, 2023 Slideshow! Photos in this awesome slideshow include: Rock Climbing, Mountain Biking, White Water Rafting, Evening Activities and So Much More!

Every summer, every session at Stone Mountain Adventures has the potential to be amazing and Session 1, 2023 did not disappoint.  Every camper and staff arrived at camp ready to give their best shot. 

On August 16, 2023 every SMA Session 4 camper and staff member woke early and had a cold breakfast which would give us the fuel we needed for the day ahead.  We loaded into our camp vans and began the road trip that would take us from Stone Mountain Adventures to Ohiopyle, PA.  Home of the mighty Youghiogheny river (aha The Yough).  Here we met our Wilderness Voyagers White Water Guides, got geared up for the day and did a in depth safety briefing.  We were about to embark on our 4th and final White Water Rafting Day!  We had an AMAZING Day on the river!! All would later agree that we saved the best for last!!

The final session of the year has launched and the challenging, fun and awesome activities that we have on offer have enabled everyone to create beautiful memories. We began the final session of the year with introductions so that everyone can get to know each other and speed up the transition into being a camper and living the sma lifestyle. Together as a camp we know everyone and have created friendships that will last a lifetime!

On August 2nd, 2023 every SMA Session 3 camper and staff member woke early and had a cold breakfast which would give us the fuel we needed for the day ahead.  We loaded into our camp vans and began the road trip that would take us from Stone Mountain Adventures to Ohiopyle, PA.  Home of the mighty Youghiogheny river (aha The Yough).  Here we met our Wilderness Voyagers White Water Guides, got geared up for the day and did a in depth safety briefing.  We had an AMAZING Day on the river!!

Everyday at Camp  starts the same way for our campers and staff:

The second session of SMA has taken off and the activities we have on offer are fun, challenging and are creating awesome memories. We started session 2 with introductions and are now at a stage where everyone knows each other and are trying new things together, learnt new skills and developed lifelong friendships.

This session includes a big talented group of mountain bikers who have rocked on the SMA trails, the Allegrippis trails and the skills park at Raystown lake. The view of the lake while shredding on the trails at Raystown is an experience the group are so happy to have. This activity is offered for both biking masters and non-biking masters allowing many kids to feel the need for speed!

Everyday at Stone Mountain Adventures starts the same way for campers:

• Campers are woken up by staff singing "The Birdie Song"
• Then Campers brush their teeth and break their fast in the Rhino Dining Hall
• Followed by campers gathering with their "Crew"!

Every camper at SMA Teen Camp is a member of a "crew" and crews are basically chore groups.  We have a rotating job chat so each crew knows what their chores are each morning.  Crew time and morning chores are not a huge part of our daily life at camp as they only take about 15 minutes each day.  Crew time and chores are, however a large part of our summer camp philosophy: That every member of camp (campers included) must contribute to make our summer camp community "work".  During the first few mornings of crew time each session we take the opportunity to play name games and team building games.  Today we play what is far the loudest teambuilding game called "Pole Barn". 

On July 3rd, 2023 every camper and staff member woke early and had a cold breakfast which would give us the fuel we needed for the day ahead.  We loaded into our camp vans and began the road trip that would take us from Stone Mountain Adventures to Ohiopyle, PA.  Home of the might Youghiogheny river (aha The Yough).  Here we met our Wilderness Voyagers White Water Guides, got geared up for the day and did a in depth safety briefing.  Our guides were all So Excited as it had recently stormed and the water levels rose from a shallow 1.5ft to an excited 3.5ft (see photo):

We can't believe it's already All Camp Day for Session 1, 2023! We started off this summer with an enthusiastic group of 47 campers, 13 Camp Counselors and 4 AOP's and we are loving having so many staff and campers from all around the globe. Whether it is new campers or returners, we are on our way to making lifelong friends and memories. We are halfway through the session and have already sent out six overnights which include the much-anticipated rock climbing and wakeboarding overnights.

This morning we had an awesome mountain biking activity session at Stone Mountain Adventures and we mad a video!

All of us at Stone Mountain Adventures are thrilled to introduce the SMA Staff Team of Summer 2023

Pam Hayes-Houldin co-founded Stone Mountain Adventures in 1983 with her husband (my dad) Biff. Since then, Pam has been the Equestrian and Horsemasters Director at camp.

A Little Bit of “Herstory”

Pam has been a horse lover her entire life. She grew up on a dairy farm in “Big Valley” (where the Amish Market is) named “The Heide” as the second oldest of six children (two boys and four girls). Her first love was showing cows, which she did with some success at Harrisburg Farm Show and eventually to Chicago.

Pam’s father Reed Hayes had a deep love for horses and competed in “Harness Racing” when Pam was a child. Pam and her brothers and sisters each had their own horse; they would ride deep into the mountains connected to their family farm. Riding and training with 4-H, Pony club and many instructors has allowed Pam to hone her balanced seat teaching skills to work with both children and adults.

All of us at Stone Mountain Adventures (SMA) are excited to announce that for the SMA Summer of 2023we will add a new unground piping system to to deliver steaming hot coffee from The Rhino Dining Room to each cabin.  Each cabin will feature a Caffeine Faucet and campers will each be given a personal mug that they will store in each cabin.  For campers who want more variety the Rhino Dining Room will have a Caffeine Café offering campers and staff specialty coffee drinks including:

• Espresso
• Americano
• Long Black
• Cappuccino
• Flat White
• Macchiato
• Latte
• Mocha

This is Camp Director Jud Millar and I'm posting to let you know that a pair of ravens have built a nest in the rock face of Damnation Wall (the wall above the upper parking lot).

Our Donation Rock Access Fund Ambassador, Ken Hull  recently met with a bird expert from Penn State's Shaver's Creek Nature Center at the wall to determine what, if anything to do about it. Collaboratively we have made the decision to close off the Damnation Wall area until we at least see if the pair lays eggs.  Damnation Wall is the wall furthest up the hollow that makes up Donation Rock Climbing Area.

Riding bikes is fun. Whether you are riding a bike on a paved street, a gravel roadway, a logging road or a single track trail you can’t help but have fun riding a bike. Something magical happens when you are moving (flying) through the world on 2 wheels not evening thinking about balance and agility, just feeling the wind in your face and enjoying the scenery as it flies by.