Director Jud's Blog

Stone Mountain Adventures 3rd Session Campers arrived at camp this past Sunday, July 22nd.  As new and returning campers arrived at camp for the opening day of third session, there was a mix of excited and nervous energy.  That energy was quickly harnessed into action with camp counselors leading "ice-breaker" and team-building games.

And then the rains came... the good news for us at Stone Mountain Adventures is that our facility is location in a mountainous region of central Pennsylvania so we are in no danger of flash floods.  

How do we deal with rainy days at SMA?  With positive energy and action!  There are some activities that must be modified or postponed because of heavy rain.  However, most activities we just put the word "MUD" in front of them and run them anyway including:

• Mud Soccer

• Mud Mountain Biking

• Mud Ultimate Frisbee

• Mud Hiking

• Mud Volleyball

• and more!

It’s wild to think we are already 6 days into SMA session 2! – and what a 6 days it has been. We have crammed in many adventures and belly laughs into our session 2 summer days and we are certain there are many more in store.

 Stone Mountain Adventures was excited to welcome our second session campers after an incredible first session ! We started off the week with the first Volley Ball Game and swim at Greenwood Lake, which we affectionately (and accurately) call Freezewood here at SMA. After a delicious meal, some knockout basketball and a wonderful evening meeting, we were off to the bunks to get some rest before the first full day of camp!

On this lazy all camp day morning (we even got to sleep in!), there is some time during breakfast of bagels and donuts to reflect on this crazy fun week that session 1 has become. Since they arrived, session 1 campers have been going none stop! We have had four overnights (some wetter than others!), mud-ultimate, mud-soccer, bunnies adopted, rocks scaled, tie-dye, birdhouses made, frisbee golf, LAZER TAG, mountain biking, horse-back riding, and wakeboarding!

Today our Mountain Bike Masters decided to stay close to camp and have some fun!

            Stone Mountain Adventures was excited to welcome our much anticipated first session of campers back to the farm on Saturday afternoon after ten days of staff training! We started off the week with the first ‘Nuke ‘Em’ game of summer and a swim at Greenwood Lake, which we affectionately (and accurately) call Freezewood here at SMA. After a delicious meal, some ultimate frisbee in the rain, and a wonderful evening meeting, we were off to the bunks to get some rest before the first full day of camp!

All of us at Stone Mountain Adventures are excited to introduce our 2018 All Star Staff Team:

Introducing Matthew Dyer (aka Flat Matt)

Age: 23

Home Town: Perth, NY

Recently graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, this particular counsellor can often be found shredding the gnarly bike trails as one of our mountain biking instructors. If he isn’t living up to the self-proclaimed title “the songbird of his generation” or being mistaken for Jimmy Hendrix, you may find him skiing or instigating search parties for his sister with reindeers in blizzards. Matt’s life aspirations include, but are not limited to, living within walking distance of a Chipotle and Chikfila, performing 6 continuous backflips on a bike, and riding the whole Encilada.

As a vegan, eating away from home can be a worry, as you wonder whether you and your family’s needs will be catered for without causing a fuss. Many teen summer camps now provide proper, nutritionally balanced, vegetarian and vegan meals, essential for when your kids are at camp without you. It's important to communicate with the camp director their camp camp can accommodate vegetarians and vegans because kids need healthy snacks and packed lunches for days out. When kids are on camping trips, where physical activity and fresh air can work up an appetite very quickly.

Convenient meals

The convenience of a vegan diet lends itself well to camping and eating on the go as you can eat plenty of raw fruit, nuts, and vegetables and there is no need to think about storing perishable dairy and meat products and worry about them becoming contaminated. For a great start to a busy day, just add water to an oatmeal or pancake mix. Pita bread filled with salad and homemade hummus makes a nutritious lunch and, in the evening, your kids can cook delicious grilled soy dogs and veggie burgers with beans or organic ketchup. Keep meals interesting with plenty of variety and taste as well as nutritional value. Grill vegetable kebabs or put some corn on the cob on the campfire and, for a tasty and filling late night supper, place some foil wrapped baking potatoes in the embers.  

Stone Mountain Adventures is excited to announce that we are offering an  Teen Day Camp this August!

We are thrilled to offer a new Explorers Teen Day Camp this August for 12 to 16 year olds.  Each week campers will experience adventure activities, water sports, traditional sports, and creative arts.  Explorers will have the opportunity to challenge themselves on activities while making new friends. Transportation will be provided from State College. 

Stone Mountain Explorers Dream Day Camp (8 to 11)

We welcome your child to join us this summer at the Stone Mountain Explorers Dream Day Camp!  This program is designed to introduce younger campers to everything that is Stone Mountain Adventures. Campers will explore the wonders of the natural world around our camp and be exposed to many of the summer camp activities that we offer for older campers. A daily lunch will be provided while campers will need to bring a daypack, a full water bottle, sunscreen, and their sense of adventure!! Dream Day Camp activities may include:

• Team building activities and events
• Disc Golf
• Arts and Crafts
• Horseback Riding!
• Rock Climbing
• Traditional Sports
• Stream Exploration
• Hiking
• Scavenger Hunts
• Biking
• Swimming
• Shelter Building
• Day trips to Greenwood Furnace and/or Whipples Dam State Parks
• Parents are invited to join us for an ice cream social on the closing day of camp - Thursday, August 17 from 2 to 4pm

Dream Day Camp Ages: 8-12

Dates: Session 1: Monday 7/23 to Friday 7/27

            Session 2: Monday 8/13 to Friday 8/17

Times: 9am to 4pm 

Transportation Provided from State College at no extra cost. 

   - Pick up and Drop Off will be at the Uni Mart on the corner of White Hall Road and Route 26

 Cost: $385

Stone Mountain Adventures Summer Camp is excited to announce we will once again host a youth ride on Sunday morning of Dirt Fest! We are excited to be able to share the magic of mountain biking AND the incredible Allegrippis trails with the kids and teens who attend Dirt Fest.

Stone Mountain Adventures (SMA) is a co-ed, overnight summer camp for teenagers (12 to 16) located in central PA offering:

• Adventure Activities (Including Mountain Biking)
• Water Sports
• Traditional Sports
• Creative Arts
• Community Service.
• We also have a specialized Mountain Biking Program for kids who want to ride the Alligrippis Trails everyday 
  

What: Kids and Teen Mountain Bike Ride at Dirt Rage Dirt Fest PA       

When: Sunday, May 20th from 9.30am to 1pm

Where: (Option 1): Meet at 9.30am at the SMA Both at the Expo to catch the shuttle up to the Bakers Hollow Lot

             (Option 2): Meet at the Bakers Hollow Parking Lot at 10am

It is hard for me to believe that it's already May 4th, 2018.  My son Wyatt packed his school backpack because it's "May the 4th Be With You" day.  As I looked closer at my calendar this morning I realized there are only 50 days until the Grand Opening of Stone Mountain Adventures Summer Camp for Teens 2018!

That means we only have 4,320,000 seconds until SMA Teen Camp begins.

72,000 minutes until the first Party Wash Crew of 2018.

1200 hours unitl the first "Evening Meeting on the Front Lawn".

Just 50 days until camp begins - it's So Exciting!

                   - Camp Director Jud Millar!

We are excited to announce that SMA Teen Summer Camp is now a sponsor Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour hosted by the Moshannon Sierra Club. This will be the 15th year the Mashannon Group is hosting the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour in State College!  Come see Camp Director Jud Millar at the Banff Mountain Film Festival!

What: Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour 

When: "Friday The 13th" of April: Doors Open at 6pm

Where: The State Theatre in Downtown State College

All of us at Stone Mountain Adventures are excited to announce that for the summer of 2018 we are starting an "Adopt a Possum" Program. This program will replace the very popular "Adopt a Bunny Rabbit" Program which has been operating since the founding of Stone Mountain Adventures in 1983.  

Penn State Outing Club and Appalachian Outdoors are hosting a Rock Climbing Film at the HUB next Thursday!

What: Reel Rock Film Tour

When: Thursday, March 15 at 7 PM - 9:30 PM

Where: HUB Flex Theater

Check out this awesome trailer:

According the the description on YouTube this is what we have in store for you at the Reel Rock Flim Tour:  "We’ve been following the world’s most exciting climbers, documenting their gripping tales and groundbreaking sends. REEL ROCK 12 brings you stories from the edge, featuring big names and breakout stars. Starring Margo Hayes, the first woman to climb 5.15; Brad Gobright, an up-and-coming free soloist with a donut addiction; the return of Chris Sharma to the deep water soloing stage; and introducing Maureen Beck, a one-handed crusher who's gonna knock your socks off."

Tickets will be $4.99 for students and $8 for community members, and will soon be available at Appalachian Outdoors on Allen Street and at Outing Club meetings on Tuesdays at 8pm.

Calling All SMA Alumni and Friends in the Centre County Area: Come see Jud Millar at the State College Summer Youth Fair!

SMA Teen Summer Camp Director Jud Millar will be in Arlington, VA for the Summer Activities Fair:

What: Arlington, VA Summer Activities Fair

When: Friday, February 9th from 6-8pm

Where: (New location this year) Kenmore Middle School (200 S. Carlin Springs Rd. Arlington, VA 22204

This is a great time to get ready for summer by exploring the available summer activity programs throughout the region and the various enrichment programs they offer to children of all ages.