Program Overview:
Improve your skills in skiing, wakeboarding, and wakesurfing while learning more about leadership, teamwork, and following Christ.
Home base for this year's Ski Camp will be the 50-acre Junior Leadership facility, with its Dome home, Treehouse, and Palace dining hall, kitchen, and rec space. All these spaces will be air-conditioned and offset by solar power. The site provides a supportive, family atmosphere with many opportunities for team and skill building, reading the Bible Lesson together, and meaningful discussions. There are also meaningful leadership and service opportunities, including facilitating an all-camp Water Olympics, hosting CIP ski days, planning and prepping meals, and learning how to take care of the camp's boats.
Each week, the program will head out to lake Pomme de Terre for a multi-day ski trip. You'll live in lakeside cabins and train behind CedarS four ski school boats. Receive expert instruction from CedarS certified ski counselors in two skis, slalom, wakeboarding, kneeboarding, and wake surfing. Enjoy opportunities for sunrise and sunset ski sessions. Experience the support of a Christian Science practitioner who will accompany Ski Camp’s adventures.
Sample Week 1 Schedule- subject to change
Sunday- Sunday School, introductions and get-to-know you games, program goals and expectations, cable ski session, meal planning in groups, hymn sing
Monday- Pack for the lake, grocery shop in town, head to Lake Pomme de Terre, move into cabins, sunset ski
Tuesday- Skiing at Pomme de Terre
Wednesday- Skiing at Pomme de Terre, host CIP for lunch
Thursday- Skiing at Pomme de Terre, Join camp for Big Surf afternoon/evening
Friday- Skiing at Pomme de Terre, clean the boats, return to camp for dinner and the Musical Theater
Saturday- Zipline, laundry, horseback ride, pool party
Sample Week 2 Schedule- subject to change
Sunday- Grand inspection, Sunday School, lead the all-camp Water Olympics, treat the Crew Program to a dinner off, hymn sing
Monday- Pack, Grocery shop in town, head to Lake Pomme de Terre, move into cabins, sunset ski set
Tuesday- Skiing at Pomme de Terre
Wednesday- Skiing at Pomme de Terre, help coach CIP campers on ski boats and host CIP for dinner
Thursday- Morning ski set, clean the boats, return to camp, join in final camp activities, council fire
Friday- packing, quality awards and end-of-session celebration, 2-4pm goodbyes
Eligibility: Rising 8th graders may participate with special permission. Participation in this program requires a high degree of trustworthiness, maturity, and willigness to help the group. Rising 8th graders who want to participate in ski camp need to love watersports, have experience in skiing/wakeboarding, be interested in applying Christian Science, and be a proven hard worker and team player.
Length: The program will be opened first to those who register for two weeks. A waiting list will be kept for those who can only come for one week. If additional spots are open at the end of Spring registration (April 30), one-week registrants will be accepted. Please contact the office (office@cedarscamps.org or 636-394-6162) if you want to be placed on the waiting list for attending one week.
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.
Weekend activities that ski campers might participate in at camp:
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.)
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.
High & Low Ropes Courses and Zip Line
Whether working as a team to solve a low-ropes course challenge, experiencing the high elevation challenges on our high ropes course, or zipping over the lake, campers will have the opportunity to experience challenge-by-choice while they are pushed out of their comfort zone and into their growth zone!
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!
Meals:
While at Lake Pomme de Terre State Park, campers will cook all of their own meals at the Hickory Grove Lake House. Counselors will support this process and help the campers learn valuable kitchen skills!
