Kids’ Groups

Hey there Camp Family! You might notice we've made a change to our Kids Group names this year! We've made a pivot over to animals in the High Sierra – we present to you the Guppies, Crawdads, Mergansers, Chickarees, Marmots, Ospreys, and Teens!

We are so excited to have our Kids Group names more closely align with our mission to be an educational, family-friendly Camp environment for all folks. We've been working on changing our Kids Group names for a couple of years now, and are excited to finally be able to announce names that we believe will further our mission, root our children's programming back into nature, and celebrate the growing family that we host at Camp every year.

We want to acknowledge that as times continue to evolve, and over the last few years as we continue to see a growing diversity in our guest base, we want to celebrate the presence of all peoples and histories. Several of the previous names had derogatory connotations for marginalized peoples. For instance, we have found that Munchkins described little people and Menehunes have cultural significance for Hawaiian peoples.

If you have further questions or concerns, please reach out to our Assistant Camp Director, A.J. Aldana.

Young Kids

Guppies (3-4 years old) meet by “The Patch.” Children spend much of their time outdoors in Camp’s enclosed playground. Reading stories, playing make believe games and creating simple crafts are activities that enhance the week’s theme and incorporate lessons about the environment. All-day activities include well-supervised boat trips (in rowboats or on Camp’s pontoon boat) and “hikes” to nearby areas of interest. Your Guppy’s belongings should be well-labeled and brought to each day’s program in a backpack. Regardless of age, all Guppies must be potty-trained to join the program.

Crawdads (5-6 years old) are notorious for wandering around Camp looking for clues and adventures that help them learn about the environment. Crawdads hang around the Ski Dock fishing, ride in boats, take hikes, sing and play music, and make crafts or other “tools” to aid them in their exploration. Counselors take special care to incorporate education in their activities so children learn while having fun. All of your child’s belongings should be well-labeled and carried with them in a backpack.

Mid Kids

Mergansers (7-8), Chickarees (9-10), and Marmots (11-12) seek outdoor adventures like hiking, canoeing, playing games and making crafts. They participate in activities designed to enhance their spontaneity, self-esteem and sense of wonder. Counselors incorporate many aspects of the natural environment such as water clarity, crawdad population and solar power into the program and use these natural resources as enrichment for your child’s personal growth. All of your child’s belongings should be well-labeled and carried with them in a backpack.

Old Kids

Ospreys (13-14), and Teens (15-17, or 18 yo’s who are not yet in college) can be found monkeying around on Sierra Camp’s ropes course, exploring uncharted territory on hikes and problem-solving in teamwork situations. They might learn to sail, visit local beaches or participate in improvisational theater activities that foster awareness and cooperation. Osprey and Teen groups go overnight backpacking and should bring backpacks, sleeping mats and sleeping bags if available.

Overnight Hikes

Each week, the Ospreys and Teens backpack overnight in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The Teens’ overnight is Sunday and the Ospreys’ overnight is Thursday. The hike to the campsite varies depending on the overnight location, but typically averages about three miles of moderate terrain. Before and during the hike, counselors will cover “Leave no Trace” principles and proper camping habits so as to minimize human impact on the environment. The overnight hike is a great opportunity for group bonding over the course of a wilderness adventure.

Camp supplies all ground tarps, food, stoves, and other camping necessities. Supplies are divided up amongst the group for the hike to the campsite. If your child has special overnight needs, please talk to the Kids’ Group Coordinator or your child’s counselors upon arrival. Overnight activities may fluctuate due to weather.

Overnight supplies to bring (if you have them):

Backpack (large enough for personal/group suppplies, sleeping bag, and other needed supplies)

Hiking Boots or stury athletic shoes

Sleeping bag (30º Fahrenheit or warmer)

Sleeping pad

Hiking Boots or stury athletic shoes

Warm layers of clothing (fleece jacket and warm pants)

Water bottle (at least 1 liter in size [can be purchased at Camp])

Other necessities: medication, first aid, hiking clothes, swimsuit, towel, toothbrush, etc.oes

Accommodations

Here at Sierra Camp, we do everything possible to accommodate children regardless of special circumstances. Please notify us prior to your arrival if your child has any medical ailments, disabilities, allergy needs, dietary restrictions, or any other circumstances that you would like for us to know. Furthermore, please notify us if your child carries an EpiPen for specific allergies.

For children with food allergies, all meals are served buffet style which affords you the ability to carefully select labeled items that are appropriate for your children. Occasionally, kids’ groups serve snacks so please make kids’ counselors aware of any food allergies that your child may have.
For children with medical ailments or disabilities, our counselors are well-trained and adaptable to a variety of circumstances. So that your child’s counselors can be best prepared throughout the week, please let our counselors know any pertinent information on how to best accommodate your son or daughter so that each child can fully enjoy their week at Camp.