After a fantastic First Session all of us at Stone Mountain Adventures were thrilled to welcome our Second Session Campers on Sunday, July 7th. We had about 15 “hold over” campers from First Session who stayed on to join us for second Session. Opening day was full of greeting new families, unpacking leaning names and generally getting settled at camp. We started off the week with the first of many ‘Nuke ‘Em’ games, followed by a dip at Greenwood Lake (otherwise known as Freezewood!). After a delicious meal, some camp games & a wonderful evening meeting, we were off to the cabins to get a good night’s sleep ahead of a big first full day of camp!
Traditional Overnight Summer Camp has it's benefits. But for some families, a Non-Traditional Overnight Summer Camp is just the right fit! I challenge you to Declare Your Independence Traditional Overnight Camp and see if a Non-Traditional Overnight Camp Experience is the right one for your child!
What are the differences between Traditional and Non-Traditional Overnight Camps?
This is a great question and good place to start. In this blog post I will explore the major differences between "Traditional Overnight Camp" and "Non-Traditional Overnight Camp".
On Sunday we were excited to welcome our much anticipated first session of campers back to camp after an incredible ten days of staff training! We started off the week with the first of many ‘Nuke ‘Em’ games, followed by a dip at Greenwood Lake (otherwise known as Freezewood!). After a delicious meal, some camp games & a wonderful evening meeting, we were off to the cabins to get a good night’s sleep ahead of a big first full day of camp!
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 19th from 10am to 1pm
Where: Meet at the Bakers Hollow Parking Lot at 10am
The Details:
This ride will begin at 10am on Sunday, May 19th at the Bakers Hollow Parking Lot.
This ride is open to kids and teens between the ages of 10 and 17
Stone Mountain Adventures staff and volunteers will join in and supervise the ride.
Riders must come with their own helmet and bike, or they can demo a bike as well.
Parents and Riders must complete a liability release waiver
Lunch will be provided to all riders at the Expo at 1pm
The Ride:
Meet in the Bakers Hollow Parking Lot at 9.45am
The Ride Begins in the Bakers Hollow Parking Lot at 10am
Buck to
Fawn to
Osprey to
The Hydro Loop to
Eagle
Then back to the Expo
Lunch will be provided to all riders: Following the ride there will be a group lunch at the Expo
Mom and dad: this is not a babysitting service, this is a teen and tween mountain bike ride open to beginner, intermediate and advanced riders. Riders must come with their own helmet and bike, or they can demo a bike as well. Parents must sign a Liability Release Form.
Registration:Riders must pre-register either on the Stone Mountain Adventures website or at our booth in the Expo area of Dirt Fest.Click Here to Register for the Teen Ride
2016 Dirt Fest Youth Ride: Very Muddy!
Tell me more about the SMA Mountain Bike Masters Program:
The SMA Mountain Bike Masters Program is ideal for campers who are passionate about mountain biking excited about the opportunity to ride world class trails on a daily basis. Campers in the program ride everymorning on single track trails at Raystown Lake called the Allegrippis Trail System. They were described in a Dirt Rag Magazine article as "Thirty-three miles of buttery smooth single-track bliss". Our knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff are excited to ride every day and help campers hone their riding skills and confidence. The MOUNTAIN BIKE MASTERS PROGRAM is limited to eight campers. SMA is an incredible Mountain Biking Summer Camp. Campers not enrolled in the Mt Bike Masters Program will get ample time to mountain bike during their time at SMA.
Stone Mountain Adventures (SMA)is a co-ed overnight teen and "tween" summer camp for 60 teenagers ages 12-16 located in the mountains of central Pennsylvania.
We offer exciting and engaging activities and events everyday including:
Our teen “tween” campers learn new skills, gain self confidence, make strong friendships and become members of our strong, value centered summer community.
Today is the day that we set aside time to express our gratitude for all that Moms do. Moms are special, they are patient and supportive and most importantly there when we need her most. The great Stevie Wonder said "Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love."
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 for?"
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.
Kids and Teens today are often referred to as “screenagers”. According to a report by Common Sense Media tweens age 8 to 12 spend 6 hours a day in front of screen while teens spend 9 hours on screens. Mountain biking inherently takes place in nature. Kid and teens who mountain bike reconnect with nature often without even realizing it. There really isn’t anything like being outside and breathing fresh air. Kids who take time to unplug connect with nature can have a positive effect on their entire mind, body and spirit.
For many Americans attending a summer camp of some sort what a huge part of their childhood. For those who attended an overnight summer camp in their tween and teen years the impact of camp on their lives is even greater. Here are five life lessons you can learn at an overnight summer camp:
Build Relationships and Make New Friends
The friendships that you build at summer camp are strong and enduring. When you attend an overnight camp, everything is new:
You are sleeping and living in a in a new place
The food you may be eating is different than what you are used to
Your daily routine is totally different and new
You are trying new activities everyday
When have all these experiences you can’t help but feel connected to the people you are sharing them with. The memories, the friendships and the bonds built at summer camp are unique, special and enduring.
Earlier this year Blue Knob Ski Area announced that they were hosting the First Annual "Snow Fest" From Friday 2/8/19 through Sunday 2/10/19. Events included the following:
How can You Help an Anxious Teen Look Forward to Summer Camp?
If your child has anxiety about attending a sleepaway summer camp there are some strategies that you as a parent can use to help them prepare and stay calm in the weeks leading up to the opening day of camp. More than one in 20 kids and teens in America have anxiety or depression and for the majority, this won’t stop them from going to camp. If your child is excited about their upcoming adventure but is a little worried that anxiety may stop them from making the most of the experience, how can you help them keep their ‘fight or flight response’ in check?
Making Arrangements with Friends
Kids who have anxiety can feel much more comfortable about going to camp if friends they know will be joining them. It probably won’t be difficult to get friends excited about a camp at Stone Mountain Adventures, where kids can take part in so many amazing water and mountain activities. Even if friends are doing other things, let your child know that Stone Mountain Adventures is special because there are only about 60 campers per session. Therefore, there is a warm family atmosphere that will help your teen feel protected at all times.
SMA Teen Summer Camp Director and Owner Jud Millar will be traveling north to attend a Summer Opportunities Camp Fair hosted by the Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. The Summer Opportunities Camp Fair will be help on Sunday, January 27, 2019 from 12pm to 3pm. The will be the 29th year that the Phillips Academy has hosted this camp fair. This fair is designed to give middle and high school students and their families the chance to meet with representatives from approximately 100 local, national and international summer programs. A wide range of programs will be represented here, including those that focus on academics, language study, community service, sleepaway teen camps, sports, mountain biking summer camps for teenagers, arts, research, internships, outdoor adventure, and international travel.
What: Summer Opportunities Camp Fair
When: Sunday, January 27, 2019 from 12pm to 3pm
Where: The Phillips Academy, 180 Main St, Andover, MA 01810
SMA Summer Camp for TeensDirector and Owner Jud Millar will be in Darien, CT on Saturday, January 26 for a Camp Fair. The camp fair will be hosted by Tips on Trips and Camps and is designed to be a place where families with kids ages 8 to 18 can learn about sleepaway camps, creative and performing arts camps, sports camps, internships, community service opportunities, travel programs and more.
What: Camp Fair for kids ages 8 to 18
Where: Darien High School (cafeteria)
80 High School Lane, Darien, CT When: Saturday, January 26 from 1 to 3:30
Stone Mountain Adventures will be attending the Greenwich High School Camp Fair know as the "Summerfare" on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Come see Camp Director and Owner Jud Millar at the Summerfare!
When: Wednesday, January 23, 2019 6:00 - 8:00 PM
(snow date, Thursday, January 24, 2019)
Where: GHS Student Center 10 Hillside Road Greenwich, CT 06830
Camp Director Jud Millar will be on hand tonight at the Main Line Camp Fair. You will find him at the SMA booth chatting with families about the summer:
When: Wednesday, January 16, 2019 from 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Where: Conestoga High School, 200 Irish Road, Berwyn, PA
One lucy person who attend will win a $350 voucher towards any of the participating camps. The winner will be chosen at the end of the evening.
Irrespective of whether you are an new camper eight year- old battling with anxiety, a 12-year-old veteran camper struggling with concentration and expressive regulation, or a counselor who is just anxious and astounded, these three simple practices and breathing exercises can lessen tension, increase contentment, and generate permanent behaviors for wellness and pliability.
In February of 2018 one of Pam's prized horses was selected by Hope in the Saddle as the Therapy Horse of the year!
Selected from more than 120 entries, Ebony was chosen as the grand-prize winner of the contest. Ebony (along with her human friend, Pam Hayes-Houldin) received a one-year supply of Nutrena feed, a $250 Tractor Supply Co. Gift Card, Hope in the Saddle gear and a commemorative trophy. In addition a film crew traveled to Horsepower Farm from Boulder, Colorado to shoot the following video:
Camping is becoming increasingly popular in the United States, especially among millennials, with 77 million households having at least one person who camps occasionally. And what’s not to love? Being surrounded by nature, enjoying fresh air, and creating memorable experiences is all a part of the journey. Plus, being around nature has a very positive impact on kids and teens, and with organized trips such as Stone Mountain Adventures, you can rest assured that safety is guaranteed.
This blog will give you the "411" about everything that is Stone Mountain Adventures Teen Summer Camp! Everything from "Summer Updates" to useful family and camp resources. Check it out!
