Program Overview:
Experience the freedom, adventure, challenge, and joy of aerial arts. Spend week one learning skills in silks, lyra (aerial hoop), trapeze, flying styles, and dance. Spend week two preparing for a Cirque du CedarS performance at the end of the session. Instructors are professionals Jennifer Ragan (CedarS alumni camper, counselor, and parent) and Jason Whicker of On The FLY Productions. Their company made it to the finals of America's Got Talent and performs around the world. Come grow in grace, courage, strength, teamwork, and confidence.
On The FLY's 90-second YouTube Reel
Daily Schedule: 1/2-days of aerial arts and 1/2-days of camp activities as listed below, plus a daily free swim.
Program Video:
Other Activities:
Christian Science Focus
Our goal is to apply Christian Science to each activity with joy! All programs include daily Bible Lesson study, “mets” before activities, Sunday School, Wednesday testimony meetings, hymn sings, and talks by the resident Christian Science Practitioner.
Enjoy five activity periods each day, taught by expert counselors. When you’re not at your specialty camp, you’ll be scheduled to rotate through a variety of fun camp activities with your cabin (see list below). Across a two-week session, you will have the opportunity to experience some other nearby adventures, such as a canoe trip, an extended hike to a local cave, a pack trip on horseback, and a possible overnight camp-out.
Here are some of the activities that you’ll get to enjoy:
Horseback Riding
Ride nearly every day on one of Cedars' 70+ excellent horses (at no extra charge). Improve your riding skills in one of our seven arenas, including two that are covered. Enjoy our extensive camp trail network with over 800 acres and miles of riding trails. Interact with miniature horses and learn how to drive a mini horse cart (5th grade and up). Showcase your new skills in an end-of-session Horse Show. All riding classes are taught by a Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) instructor.
Swimming
Swim daily at free swim and/or classes in our Aquatic Center with its Junior Olympic Lap Pool and Diving Pool. Red Cross Lifeguards and swimming instructors are eager to help you learn or improve your strokes and earn certificates. Other fun water activities at our Aquatic Center include diving, synchronized swimming, water polo, pool volleyball, and a swim meet.
Arts & Crafts
Learn to make creative nature art, tool leather work, weave thread bracelets and make jewelry, create with clay, paint pens, tie dye, make paper stationery, bead work, wood work, puppets, upcycling creations, and much more.
Cable Ski
Learn to kneeboard, wakeboard, and waterski on our 6-tower cable ski system on our very own onsite lake. Learn to navigate turns and try our optional ramp jump as you enjoy ½-mile laps. The cable ski system can accommodate six riders at once, so your whole cabin can be active at once. Cheer on your friends as they make their way around the lake, taking on new challenges. Will you be the one to set the new record for most cable ski laps? (Requirement: pass a basic swim and board navigation assessment. This activity is typically appropriate for rising 4th graders and up. During Family Camp, we often accommodate younger campers.)
Archery
"Aim for perfection," for archery awards or just for fun with the support of our trained archery instructors.
Canoeing, Kayaking, and Stand-Up Paddleboarding
Guide your canoe around our own lake or down a local river with confidence after you learn each paddle stroke. Learn the basics of sit-on-top kayaking at Kayak Cove, and then play a round of kayak polo. Test your balance as you paddleboard: learn basic strokes and graduate up to obstacle courses.
Log Rolling
Demonstrate grace and balance as you learn to stand, walk, and run atop a synthetic rolling log. Our instructors will teach you the basic skills, and you can advance to log rolling contests. The log is weighted to accommodate the beginner or more advanced camper. This activity takes place in our Junior Olympic lap pool or in Kayak Cove.
Nature & Fishing
Enjoy CedarS nature program while exploring our new trails and learning conservation practices. Hike over hills and streams to explore our CedarS cave. Go birding in the forest; catch crayfish and frogs in the creek; or go fishing for bass, sunfish and catfish in our stocked lakes.
Sports
Come experience the CedarS Sports Center, with its open-air garage doors and jumbo high-velocity fans. Improve your fundamental skills in soccer, basketball, and volleyball with the help of experienced players and coaches who are committed to helping you excel. Additional sports to enjoy include aerial arts (2nd session only), disc golf, ultimate frisbee, ga-ga, ping pong, foosball, and modified capture the flag.
Fire Building and Camp Crafts
Learn fire safety and fire building skills, as you work to start your own one-match campfire. Work on your lashing, knot-tying, shelter-building, outdoor cooking, and compass skills.
Trampoline
Bounce safely and joyfully on our trampolines, which have 360 degree net enclosures.
Water Sliding
Twist and turn your way down CedarS very own waterslide, which is one of the longest in the state of Missouri. Enjoy a refreshing splash at the bottom, then hike back up the winding ramp and do it again!
Trips
Enjoy a half day or full day outdoor adventure trip (float, fish, cave and rock climb, or pack). Your cabin may also choose to sleep out under the stars at the end of the day.
Evening Activities
Enjoy bonding with your cabin during evening activities such as s’mores over a campfire, sunset visits to the grazing horses, talent shows and skits, game nights, dance parties, extra rounds on the cable ski and waterslide, hymn sings, and testimony meetings.
Meal Choices:
We offer a variety of kid-friendly foods such as pizza, chicken nuggets, tacos, hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese, and spaghetti. Breakfasts have a main entree, plus selections of cereals, oatmeal, eggs, and fresh fruit. Lunches and dinners include a main and side entree, plus daily salad and PB&J options. Each meal comes with vegetarian and vegan options.
