Camp Laurel Foundation

Winter Family Camp is unique because it is the one opportunity that parents/guardians of our campers get to experience what Camp Laurel is all about. Winter Family Camp is held over a long four day weekend in February. Campers are separated into cabins by age and gender, with cabin groups for moms and cabin groups for dads. Each cabin group attends a number of their activity periods together as a cabin in the morning. In the afternoon, each family travels to activities together. While we encourage parents/guardians to attend it is not mandatory. For campers who do not have their parents/guardians in attendance we make “family” groups that include campers and two counselors so they do not feel left out during these periods. 

This program focuses on building a strong family unit and creating support groups with peers.

p { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }Summer Camp is a seven day session designed to meet the needs of younger campers, ages 6-12.  Campers participate in traditional Summer Camp activities, including arts and crafts, swimming, archery, high and low ropes, nature studies, mountain biking, and canoeing. While these activities are fun, participants are also challenged to develop life skills, such as teamwork, communication, independence and perseverance, needed to become leaders through special challenges.  Campers set personal goals throughout the week while being supported by counselors and peers in achieving them.  An important component is the Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program for teens ages 15-17.  The CIT program was developed for older teens to learn and develop the skills needed to become volunteer counselors. They spend time in leadership and skills building workshops in the mornings, while implementing their newfound knowledge when integrated into cabin groups during the afternoon sessions. This successful program has resulted in eight former CIT campers being accepted as volunteer counselors within the last two years.

In an effort to develop new leadership potential in all of our teens, this seven day program focuses on programs that challenge campers to become self-motivated leaders with their peers. The design of the program helps quieter, less self-assured teens to step outside of their comfort zone to share new ideas and thoughts.  Program activities strive to teach youth the importance of medication adherence, HIV/AIDS basics, safer sex, and healthy life style practices.Since the need for guidance and support in dealing with HIV/AIDS is considerable, Teen Adventure Camp offers ongoing support groups every evening of the program.  Led by our on-site licensed social workers, campers can delve into issues of importance in their lives, including the struggle living with HIV/AIDS and the loss of a parent or other loved one. For many, this is the first time they have felt comfortable discussing these issues with anyone.  Crucial lifelong peer support groups are formed through participation in these groups and are an important source of assistance for campers.