• Leadership training workshops
• Assisting SDAC teachers and staff in the classroom
• Spending time / helping out with younger campers
• Helping set up for Fun Friday activities
• Learning about how camp works “behind the scenes”
• Leading games with our younger campers
• Working together with our CITs
• Cultivating our camp garden
• Helping with set design for play performances
• And Lots More!
Why is it called the “Bridge” Program?
It is called the “Bridge” program because, in addition to all the fun experiences it has to offer our 6th - 8th graders as campers, it is also the perfect stepping stone between being a camper and becoming a CIT (Counselor In Training).
What’s Different?
In the “camper” portion of their program (75% off the program), 6th - 8th graders get to have more of a say in which activities they participate, more freedom, more “hang time” in the Livin’ Large Lounge and more frequent (and cooler) field trips.
While 3rd - 5th grade campers head out on a different field trip each session, our “Bridge” Program participants get to double up on their Field Trip fun, heading out on TWO field trips each session (once per week - every Thursday).
6th - 8th graders go to all the same destinations the other campers do, but IN ADDITION, they also go out on another field trip just for them.
3rd - 5th grade camepers are also eligible to attend one (or both) of our two optional overnight retreats to Camp JCA Shalom in Malibu.
Each retreat is 3 days and 2 nights of amazing outdoor fun and adventure, designed to provide an introduction to the overnight camp experience. (Retreats take place from Tuesday morning to Thursday afternoon in the first week of their respective session.)
The experience includes all the classic sleep-away camp activities, and more, including:
L3 +
The Livin’ Large Lounge is a lounge & recreation room where older campers can hang out, listen to music, read magazines or books, play cards, board games or puzzle games, or enjoy the bounty of traditional rec-room games like pool, ping pong, foosball, indoor mini-hoops or air hockey. The “plus” in L3+ is that 6th - 8th graders also have access to Nintendo Wii and/or Xbox Kinnect, for some motion activated video game action. (Dont worry, our game selection is all non-violent and all heavy on the physical movement, focusing on dance, fitness & sports games. Also, the video game element is a rare/occasional treat. We dont spend a lot of time playing video games).
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What’s the Same?
In addition to Wednesday Swim Days and all the Fun Friday festivities and events, 6th - 8th graders still enjoy some of the classic SDAC activities, such as (Art, Cooking, Improv, Theater, Circus Arts, Dance, Stunts & Yoga) and all of the upper echelon of activities and media that the 3rd - 5th graders enjoy, including:
Activities
Since their days are also scheduled with Counselor-In-Training type activities and they go on field trips once per week, 6th-8th graders spend less time with the basic SDAC activities and more time with the more advanced stuff (listed above). Each Session will feature 2-3 of the digital media and other specialty activities listed above, and 6th-8th graders will enjoy the opportunity to spend time delving into more in-depth exploration and broader-scoped projects.
They’ll also have more time to spend on their favorite game periods and L3 (see below).
Photography
Woodworking
Musical Theater
Architecture
Mural
Music Recording
Theater Performance
Advanced Stunt Choreography
Advanced Dance Choreography
Streetwear Design
Film-Making
Animation
Music Video
Puppetry
Stomp
Groups
Campers are grouped by grade level. Each group has between 12-18 campers, depending on enrollment. Grouping requests are accepted, but not guaranteed.
Counselors/Staff
Each group has 2 adult counselors who are with the group for the duration of the session, plus one CIT (subject to CIT enrollment/availability). Additionally, each activity is led by a specialist instructor, so there are at least 3 adults with each group almost at all times. The overall ratio of staff to campers at SDAC is about 1:6. read more
Nature Hikes
Swimming
Field Games
Ga-Ga
Zip Line
Sing Alongs
Ropes Course
Pioneer Living Workshops
Night Adventures
Roasting Marshmallows
Wilderness Learning
Mess Hall Dining
Trust Walks
Night Swims
Slip n’ Slide
Campfires
Outdoor Cooking
and More
Swimming / Waterplay
Campers have swimming and water play out on the field 1-2 times per week, depending on programming and scheduling for that session.
While St James School does not have it’s own pool, we will be setting up a pretty good sized above ground pool (4ft deep) out on the field.
Campers in this age group will get to enjoy time in the pool, under the watchful supervision of SDAC counselors and staff, as well as some good-ol’ fashioned splish-splashy fun with hoses, sprinklers, slip n slides, buckets, sponges, water cannons, etc.
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Fun Fridays
Every Friday is Fun Friday, when we have a different fun theme each week. Campers dress according to theme and our normal schedule is suspended for special activities, visitors and events. read more
At this age, many kids are eager for a new and expansive experience beyond what they’ve been doing as campers, learning new skills and taking on new responsibilities, assisting counselors and teachers, or helping out with younger campers. At the same time, we’ve found that they’re not quite ready for the full time responsibility of being completely focused on helping others. They still want to be care-free and thirst for new levels of fun and adventure.
The “Bridge” program offers them the best of both worlds, building the maturity, responsibility and leadership skills that the next step requires, while still getting to have all the fun of being a camper, participate in their favorite activities and attend all field trips.
Bridge Program participants also still get to go on all the field trips that the 3rd-5th graders go on, although they also get to go on an additional field trip each session that is just for them (and to more adventurous destinations - see below).
Destination
Date
Session
Leadership / Counselor-In-Training Activities
In addition to swimming, field trips, Fun Fridays and all the SDAC arts & activities, the “Bridge” program also begins to transition campers into future leaders, giving them more responsibility to go along with their expanded freedom and privilege, equipping them with the tools, skills and awareness they’ll need as they get older, whether or not they choose to continue on as CITs .
Leadership / Counselor-In-Training aspects of the program include:
Young Teen “Bridge” Program
The “Bridge” Program for young teens (or pre-teens) entering 6th - 8th grade is the next/final/most awesome stage at SDAC before moving beyond camper status and graduating into CIT eligibility.
The 6th - 8th grade “Bridge” program takes the camper experience to the next level, phasing out everything our ever-evolving young teens our growing out of, and phasing in more of everything they love and are growing into, including more freedom, more choice, more privilege, more responsibility and more fun (including more frequent field trips to more adventurous destinations).
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Session 5
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Programs