Director Jud's Blog

SMA Session 1 All Camp Day Blog Post

The start of the SMA summer 2017 went off like all sessions do- an evening meeting in the barn, complete with a mix of both excitement and nerves. During our first full day of camp, we started off with our masters programs going out and since then they have been super busy each day-the Horsemasters in the barn each morning- working on position, rising and sitting trots, and going on trail rides through the woods. While, the bike masters are killing it on the Allegrippis- biking miles and miles of the winding, wooded, hardest single-track on the East Coast and learning bike maintenance as they go.

On the first day we also have belay school and swim check for all our campers, just to get everyone heading to kick SMA into high gear. Since then, we’ve had SMA biking, wakeboarding, tennis better than Wimbledon, freezing headlong sprints into Greenwood Furnace, games of ultimate, successful fishing trips (catching fish, sticks, and the occasional super secretive boots), soccer better than the pros, volleyball and ‘nuke ‘em’ tournaments, campers climbing conquering rocks, Power Hour games of basketball, knock-out, pool, touch rugby, keep-away, cuddle-puddles, ukulele jams, and many a relaxing afternoon doing SUP and sail on the shores of Raystown Lake.

Stone Mountain Explorers Dream Day Camp

We welcome you to join us this August 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
• An overnight at camp on Wednesday, August 16 complete with a campfire, s'mores, skits and sleeping in a cabin
• 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: Sunday, August 13 to Thursday, August 17 (5 Days)

Times: 9am to 4pm with an Overnight on Wednesday, August 16

Cost: $290

I was 14 when I first set foot on Stone Mountain Adventures.

I was gangly, in the midst of a growth spurt that never quite happened, and terrified. The summer before, I had a not-great camp experience and I thought that SMA Teen Summer Camp would be more of the same. Worst yet- I also thought I wouldn’t be strong enough or good enough to do any of the activities. I did not want to have my folks leave me for four weeks. I wanted to go home. Immediately. Safe to say- my parents left me. My fears were proven wrong. And I had the best summer of my life. I got the best nickname. I made some amazing friends. I learned how to rock climb, I failed at wake-boarding, and I went white water rafting and swam my first rapid. I continued to go to SMA until I was 17 before finally having to come to the realization that I had to wait to become a counselor.

After almost 2 years of waiting the Raystown Mountain Bike Skills Park will be Open for Dirt Fest 2017 + will feature a New Dirt Fest Expo Area!

This years edition of Dirt Rag Dirt Fest PA will take place Thu. May 18, 2017 12:00 pm - Sun. May 21, 2017 5:00 pm at the Allegrippis Trails of fantastic Raystown Lake.  This will be the first year that the Raystown Mountain Bike Skills Park will be open for Dirt Fest.  The folks at Dirt Rag expect this new feature to be very popular at Dirt Fest 2017.  It is also conveniently located adjacent to the Raystown Lake Visitors Center and closer to many of the outer campgrounds.  There also happens to be a big open field adjacent to the Raystown Mountain Bike Skills Park and this is where the New Expo will be located for Dirt Rag Dirt Fest.  

What: New Skills Park Expo Area

Where: Located adjacent to the Raystown Mountain Bike Skills Park and next to the Raystown Lake Visitor Center

When: Thu. May 18, 2017 12:00 pm - Sun. May 21, 2017 5:00 pm

You can still Register for the Teen Events at this years Dirt Rag Dirt Fest!

All of us at Stone Mountain Adventures (SMA) 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. We work hand-in-hand with Dirt Rag to continue to make Dirt Fest PA a family friendly event!

3 Summer Activities to Help Kids Unplug at a Summer Camp for Teens

Rothrock Outfitters is central PA's premier outdoor gear shop located in Historic Downtown Huntingdon at 418 Penns St.  Rothrock Outfitters opened its doors on November 13, 2000. This historic building was built in the early 1800's.  According to Rothrock's webiste the building was "originally home to Steeles pharmacy with two additional floors housing fine apartments. During the early part of the 20th century the top floor burned off in a cold january fire. After some remodeling the building was again reopened under the Steeles name. by the middle of the 1900's the building and ownership had changed hands later becoming a hardware store, army navy store, doctors office, and most recently the huntingdon drop in center."

Stone Mountain Adventures Summer Camp is excited to announce we will offer a Day Camp at Dirt Rag Dirt Fest PA 2017! We are excited to offer this service to families this year.  

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

• Adventure Activities (Including Mountain Biking)
• Water Sports
• Traditional Sports
• Creative Arts and
• Community Service
• We also have a specialized Mountain Biking program for kids who want to ride the Alligrippis Trails everyday that they are at SMA called Mountain Bike Masters.

What: Kids and Teen Day Camp at Dirt Rag Dirt Fest PA 2017!

When: Friday from 1-4pm; Saturday 9am to Noon, Saturday 1 to 4pm

Where: This Day Camp will take place in and around the Seven Points                Recreation Area

Who: Ages 8 to 16 (Campers will be split into groups)

Stone Mountain Adventures Summer Camp is excited to announce we will host a kids and teen ride on Sunday morning of Dirt Fest! We are thrilled 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 located in central PA offering Adventure Activities (Including Mountain Biking), Water Sports, Traditional Sports, Creative Arts and Community Service. We also have a specialized Mountain Biking program for kids who want to ride the Alligrippis Trails everyday that they are at SMA called Mountain Bike Masters.

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

When: Sunday, May 21st from 9.30am to 1pm

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

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

Stone Mountain Adventures Teen Summer Camps will have a booth at the Spring Outdoor Expo this Saturday in State College on Allen Street!

What: the Appalachian Outdoors Spring Outdoor Exp

When: Saturday, April 8th from 10am to 6pm

Where: In front of the Appalachian Outdoors Store on Allen Street

    (123 S Allen St, State College, Pennsylvania 16801)

Who: Come see "Swaggers" Rose Miller and Nick Giltrow 

Stone Mountain Adventures is excited to announce that we will be hosting 2 Day Rock Climbing Clinic at Donation Rock and Stone Mountain Adventures Summer Camp in Central, PA.  The goal of this clinic is for participants to learn about the sports of rock climbing from experienced instructors.

What: 2 Day Rock Climbing Clinic

When: May 20th & May 21st 

Where: Donation Rocks and Stone Mountain Adventures

Ages: Adults / (Teens ages 13 to 17 with an Adult Guardian)

This Guided Rock Climbing Clinic is geared toward people who want to learn to rock climb safely while improving skills.  You will have the opportunity to challenge yourself on the rocks in a fun, supportive environment while learning skills to take your climbing to the next level.  This is targeted towards people who want to gain hands on rock climbing experience and knowledge.  This clinic is designed for first time to intermediate climbers who have a sense of adventure.  No previous experience is required, however a basic knowledge of popular climbing knots is helpful.

Pam and Biff led a Habitat for Humanity trip to Kenya in early February; a giant leap across the “pond” to Africa.   It was a trip of a lifetime.  Not easy.  Long miles to get there, wide spread poverty to witness, and equatorial sun to build a home under.   I can’t explain the feeling you get from the people, their sense of family, and making you part of their life.  Such gratitude.

The ever hopeful signs of Spring have begun to show itself around the eaves of the barn and in the spirit of the horses! They are anxiously waiting for the bits of green grass to grow in the pasture and are ever hopeful to lose that heavy winter coat of hair. And of course they are counting the days till the beginning of SMA when their 2 footed friends return!

How long should I send my child to sleep away camp for?

You have decided to send your child to a specific overnight camp summer. Now, the next big question is, "How long should I send my child to overnight camp?" Most overnight summer camps offer a variety of session length options, usually one to eight weeks and everything in between. In this blog post we'll explore some questions that you can answer for yourself that will assist you in finding the ideal session length for your child.

Summer Camp in the “Early Days”

Parents have been sending their children to overnight summer camps for over 140 years. This “summer camp tradition” started in large cities and urban areas in the northeast. In many communities, the majority of children and young teenagers attended summer camp each year and, if you did not attend camp, you felt “left out” because there were not many kids available to play with at home. Traditionally, almost all overnight summer camps ran for the entire summer, which is generally about 8 weeks.

Make Summer Camp Fun for First-Timers

As a parent, you are probably planning to send your kids or teenagers to one of the 14,000 camps that operate in the US (ACA Program Report, 2017).  Camping is an enjoyable and enriching experience that your children and teens with benefit from. However, for those who never went away, this can become a daunting experience. There are things though that you can do to prepare your kids and teens for summer camp to make the experience a happy and fulfilling one.  In this blog post you will learn how to prepare your teenager for an overnight summer camp.  

Come see Director Jud Millar at the SMA booth at the Cabin John Camp Fair!

Where: Cabin John Mall, 11301 Seven Locks Rd. Potomac, MD

When: March 12, 2017 10AM to 3PM

There are only 109 days until the Grand Opening of Stone Mountain Adventures Overnight Summer Camps for Teens 2017!

5 Important Life Lessons You Can Learn at an Overnight Summer Camp For Teens

Camping is a favorite pastime among Americans with statistics indicating that 14% of the population or 40 million aged 6 and above camped in 2013 (2014 American Camper Report). There are many reasons that camping is so popular, but a love of the outdoors and spending time with family or friends are often the main goals. For parents, signing up kids for overnight summer camps may be an important decision considering the benefits that camping provides in terms of education, social, physical and psychological development. There are in fact valuable life lessons that kids, tweens, teens and campers can learn when attending an overnight summer camp. These skills grow up with them and are useful into adulthood.

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

What: The State College Summer Youth Camp Fair

When: Saturday, February 18, 10am to 2pm

Where: Mount Nittany Middle School: 

             656 Brandywine Drive State College, PA 16801

How Extreme Sports Can Help in Youth Development

Extreme sports are not only for thrill-seekers, they may even have benefits for the countless youths who are attracted to these activities. While it is true that many parents have become fixated on the safety of children and teens enjoying these sports, there might be a side to it that they have not looked at. It’s not only the perceived harm that can occur to extreme sports participants, it is also the skills and mindset they acquire while doing them.

Defining Extreme Sports

Adventure or extreme sports are broadly defined as ‘individualistic sports containing structural components of real or perceived danger’ (Heggie and Caine, 2012). In the last decade, there has been an explosion of extreme sports participation among both youths and adults. These adventure sports include water rafting, sailing, SUPing, canoeing, mountain, biking, rock climbing, hiking and horseback riding, among others.

Stone Mountain Adventures will attend will attend the Teen Summer Expo hosted by The Shipley School .

What: Teen Summer Expo hosted by The Shipley School 

When: Monday, February 13, 2017 from 5.30 to 8pm

Where: The Shipley School - Commons, 825 Montgomery Ave, Bryn Mawr, PA