ABOUT CAMP

We have on-going activities planned for each minute of a camper's day. We strive to have variety and balance between active and relaxing, large and small groups, funny and serious, hot and sweaty or wet and refreshing.

With their cabin group they attend three classes per day, and rotate through all our classes by the end of the week. These classes are taught by the VBYC staff. Other activities take participation from the entire camp like capture the flag. Also there is supervised free time where campers can choose the activities they like.

Lodge
The lodge is the heart of camp. Here we eat meals and hold all-camp activities. On the inside hangs souvenirs from 50+ years of camping, our archive of camp photos, a library, a couch area for free time and camp's mascot "Cleo the Moose," whom you'll have to kiss if you get caught with your elbows on the table. It is heated and has air conditioning. On the lake side of the lodge is a large deck facing Great Bear Lake and gets a cool breeze. A great place for activities and hanging out. 

Cabins
Our 15 cabins line up on "cabin row" which is centrally located at camp. They are very close to the bath house, the lodge (where meals are served) and all their classes. Cabins sleep eight campers in bunks and one non-bunk bed for the counselor. Cabins have electricity for lights but no outlets. Cabins are all equiped with speakers which play announcements from the staff, wake-up music and TAPS at night. 

Waterfront
Our private beach, dock and swim area is located here on Great Bear Lake, a small private lake. The swim area is divided into three sections that suit a swimmer's ability. Advanced swimmers can swim and dive in the deeper water and dive off of the raft. Next to the swim area is our canoe launch site and boat house. The swim area is guarded by three certified Life Guards and the Waterfront Director who is WSI certified. At their disposal are all necessary rescue equipment including a motorized rescue motor boat and row boat. 

Bath House
Remodeled in 1995, this modern facility has private showers, toilets and is the only place for electrical outlets for personal items such as blow dryers. It is divided in half for each gender. 

Covered Recreation Area
Located next to the lodge, our "rec area" is used all day for classes, all-camp activities, and small group activities. We use it for activities such as full court basketball, floor hockey, folk dancing, 4-square and chalk drawing etc. 

Sports Fields "The Bowl"
Cabin row wraps around an area called the bowl. It is used for soccer games, kickball, softball and lots of all-camp activities. Also on our “Upper 20” (20 acres of land just down the road from the main camp) there is full football field which is also perfect for band-camps. 

Low Ropes Challenge Course
This course is great for trust building and group unity. It is built into the natural settings around it. It uses some traditional low ropes obstacles like our climbing wall, as well as specially designed innovations using ropes, cable and trees. 

Rifle Range
The rifle range is clearly delineated and known to the entire camp population. It has an earth-berm backstop, clear rear and side buffer and clearly designated covered shooting platform. This class is taught by a certified instructor who uses clear safety signals and range commands to control the course activity. It is open during Riflery class and often during choice period. 

Archery Range
The archery range includes an arrow stop, bag targets, clearly designated shooting lines, and a covered shooting platform. This class is taught by a certified instructor who uses clear safety signals and range commands to control the course activity. It is open during Archery class and often during choice period.

Art & Crafts Hut
The craft hut is located on top of the hill in the corner of camp. Inside there are an abundance of supplies for doing any kind of art or craft project you could imagine. A tradition since the 70's is for campers to sign or paint their names on the walls of the craft hut. Now, it is covered with 1000+ names of campers from the past 30 years! When visiting, this is a favorite spot for alumni campers to come to try and spot their name. The craft hut is used during Arts and Crafts class and is often open during choice period. 

Nature Hut
Just down the hill from the Crafts Hut is the Nature Hut. Inside we have lots of insects and animals for campers to get a close look at (in their respective aquariums and cages of course.) These are usually critters we find around this area such as turtles, frogs, toads, snakes, rabbits and fish. Campers sometimes catch turtles or frogs and can bring them to the Nature Hut. Campers also love coming here to feed the animals, which we let go at the end of the summer. It is open during Nature class and often during choice period. 

Observation Deck
Just past the Nature Hut a short trail of planks leads through the reeds and cat tails to our observation deck which rests on the edge of Great Bear lake. There is plenty of room on the benches for sitting and noticing the sounds and critters that live in and around the lake. Nature class often uses this facility during their lesson. It is open for hanging-out and even fishing with a staff member during free time and choice periods. 

Volleyball Pit
Down by the lake is our volleyball pit. Used during Sports classand choice period. 

Theatrical Stage
Set next to the bowl, this stage is used for performances at Evening Rec or other activities. It's also used as a place for activities throughout the day includingchoice period. 

Campfire Bowl 
A wooded path leads to the campfire bowl, which illuminates beautifully at night when the fire is going. The fire area is surrounded with a circle of logs, large enough to seat the entire camp. This is the last activity of the day. Each night different cabin groups perform skits, songs and stories. This has been the location of the campfire bowl even before VBYC was founded. 

Meditation Area "Thought"
This is a serene location among cat tails and reeds right next to the lake with enough logs for seating the whole camp. This is where we hold the "Thought" ceremony daily after dinner. It's a reflective presentation put on by cabin groups. Also, campers can come here whenever there is free time to just relax. 

Flag Area 
Between the lodge and the waterfront is our flag area. Campers raise and lower the flag at the beginning and end of each day.

Store 
Our camp store is open daily. Parents and visitors will have the opportunity to visit it during registration and deregistration. Campers will make purchases using the camper account set up by their parents at registration. We recommend "pre-shoppin" at this link: what we sell, prices and proceedures and to learn how it works.

The Upper 20
Pioneer campers make their campsite on the “Upper 20” (20 acres of land just down the road from the main camp). The
Upper 20 has its ownpavilion for picnics, a soccer/football field perfect for band camps. This is also the location of our Nature Trail. 

Nature Trail

VBYC sits on a wonderful environmentally diverse piece of property which includes streams, a lake, fields, wooded trails, deciduous forest, and wetlands, offering the ideal spot environmental education program. We developed a series of nature trails through the woods, an open sand terrain, next to open fields and over planks through a murky wet area. Some of the resting spots are near a swamp full of wildlife, a bog and our camping sites (also available to those renting our public campground). Our trails are used during nature classes, for supervised hike, for all camp activities, and during choice period. 

Infirmary 
The on-site Health Officer's station is on the end of cabin row. All medication is kept here only, where campers come to retrieve necessary doses. The Health Officer is available 24 hours a day. 

Emergency Weather Shelter
VBYC has an emergency weather shelter, known as the Bear's Den. It is located in the lodge basement. Our shelter has first aid supplies, two bathroom, and bench seating. During hazardous weather conditions, campers, counselors, and staff retreat to the Bear's Den where we sing camp songs, tell stories, and safely wait for the weather to clear. 

Emergency Vehicles
VBYC always has two emergency vehicles on hand, as well as two rescue boats. 

ACTIVITY

Archery
Our archery range is on our "upper 20" property, separate from main camp. Campers learn proper safety in shooting recurve bows at targets against a hay wall. Campers develop accuracy and learn terminology for the parts of the bow and arrow. This is always a favorite class. Cabins having the class more than once get more time to develop their accuracy. Campers hitting bulls eyes or other noteworthy achievements may become members of the famed VBYC Archery Club, one of our traditions.

Number of cabins per class: 1-2
Instructor Certification: National Archery Association, Basic Instructor

Arts and Crafts
This class teaches how to use imagination with simple, household, easy-to-find or natural materials. The Craft Hut sits on top of a hill and gets a great breeze from the lake. It's so pleasant to sit and chat making new friends while your imagination goes to work. Though specific projects are assigned, plenty of latitude for creativity and alternatives is allowed.

Number of cabins per class: 1-2

Canoeing
Campers learn basic canoeing strokes such as "J" stroke, "Draw" stroke, forward and back. Also, how to steer the canoe working with your partner, how to keep the canoe level and stable all with an emphasis on safety. After 15-20 minutes of instruction campers hit the lake canoeing as a group. Places classes like to go are near our cat tails, to the sandbar, the creek or out into the middle of the lake, which is gorgeous.

Campers must be at least a "B" Swimmer to participate and may choose another class that period if they are not. Canoes are always in visual contact with the Waterfront Director who is on-shore who can be signaled of emergencies through whistles. One rescue motor boat and one rescue row boat is always on-hand.

Number of cabins per class: 1-2
Instructor Certification: Lifeguard and Boater Safety Certified

Low Ropes a.k.a. Initiatives or Team Building
This class focuses on group problem solving through cooperation. Some activities involve blocks of wood and imaginary rivers to cross with complex restriction or simple goals of getting the entire group over our 10' climbing wall.

Safety is the first priority here. Campers learn a series of "calls" and procedures that are part of these challenges. Other items on our course are a grid of climbing rope, suspended cable walk (4' high) and other obstacles which can be used in different ways for different games.

This class can be very challenging, the physical part being the least of it. The challenges are intended to be unsolvable by individuals and must have group cooperation to succeed. This can really bring a cabin together and allow campers to achieve things they did not think they could do.

Number of cabins per class: 1-3
Instructor Training: Trained by certified instructor

Nature
This class focuses on fun ways of learning about nature's role in our lives. The class might take place in the Nature Hut, on the observation deck, which is in the middle of cat tails next to the lake, or could be anywhere at camp.

The Nature Hut keeps lots of insects and animals for campers to get a close look at (in their respective aquariums and cages of course.) Usually critters we find around this area such as turtles, frogs, toads, snakes, rabbits and fish, all of which we release at the end of the summer.

Number of cabins per class: 1-2

Riflery
This class focuses on gun safety. Our rifle range is located on our "upper 20" property, separate from main camp.

Campers shoot five-at-a-time from a covered pavilion with a wooden floor and use .22 caliber rifles to shoot at paper targets which hang in front of a sand mound.

Some campers feel more comfortable not shooting, which is fine, although with most campers this is a favorite class. Many camps no longer teach this course. We choose to keep it because it gives us the opportunity to promote the seriousness and the safe use of guns.

Number of cabins per class: 1
Instructor Certification: Gun Safety Certification

Song and Dance
Campers learn traditional camp songs that have been sung at summer camps for years. We sing these songs throughout the day. This class can get new campers up-to-speed and veteran campers can learn new songs out of our song book. Folk Dancing is a long-time tradition at VBYC. Campers learn some of these group dances.

Number of cabins per class: 2-3

Sports
This class teaches competitive and non-competitive games with a emphasis on cooperation and fair play. We play some traditional games like soccer, but the most fun is with games we've made up here at camp or aren't ones campers commonly get to play outside of camp such as roof ball or frisbee golf. This class can take place all over camp depending on the activity.

Number of cabins per class: 2-3

Swimming
On registration day, all campers take a swim test. campers are assigned to a swimming area with appropriate depth for their ability. Thes are called A, B and C water.

During class time everyone learns basic strokes and swim techniques from the lifeguards and waterfront director. Campers who improve during the week may be promoted to more advanced swim levels. Class is filled with instructions but there is time for free swim daily duringchoice period.

Number of cabins per class: 2-4
Instructor certifications: WSI (Water Safety Instructor) Certification

经历了…

1095天

186000公里

Soucamp，由乐行机构倾力打造

为青少年精选全球

5大洲，

26个国家，

5372个营地，

24185个活动项目，

It is all for LOVE.

So，Camping！