TBC Parent Slideshow 2013

125 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

VISIONYoungsters and young adults who are productive, responsible and compassionate citizens in their

communities

MISSIONTo facilitate the development of values and life skills

essential for productive citizenship in inner-city youngsters through outdoor experiential education, year-round

mentoring and leadership training

INTRODUCTIONIn 2012 Trail Blazers Camps celebrates its 125th

anniversary, making it the 2nd oldest summer camp program in the US and the 1st to offer

environmental education.

Trail Blazers’ unique approach to outdoor experiential education revolves around our

decentralized camping structure.

LOCATIONTrail Blazers is located in Sussex, Co

New Jersey.

1 ½ Hours Drive from Manhattan

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED TO AND FROM CAMP

Pick up Locations:• Manhattan: 91st and Park Ave• Brooklyn• Newark• (Elizabeth)• (Paterson)• (Jersey City)Not all locations are available for all

sessions

THE MASHIPACONG ESTATEWe are located on 1100 beautiful acres in Sussex County, NJ owned by The Nature Conservancy

OUR PROGRAMS•Experiential Adventures

• Sleepaway Camp• Day Camp • Counselors in Training (CIT) Program

•Environmental Education• Environmental Justice Leadership Program • Environmental Education Day Trip Offering

•Vagabond Expeditions

•Conference and Community

OUR PROGRAMSEXPERIENTIAL ADVENTURES: SLEEPAWAY & DAY CAMP

Rustic small camps ensure sleepaway campers receive the full outdoor experience:

Canvas shelters: teepees (on top) and hogans (bottom two) replace cabins

Bathroom amenities include outdoor sinks (above) and non-flushing latrines (right)

No iPods here; just songs around the pow-pow fire every night

(below)

OUR PROGRAMSEXPERIENTIAL ADVENTURES: SLEEPAWAY & DAY CAMP

Non-competitive activities foster team building, personal development and educational enrichment

COUNSELORS IN TRAINING (CIT)Some of our current staff were once campers at TBC

• For campers interested in careers working with children

• 15 year-old repeat-campers assist counselors in leading activities

• Piloted in 2011 we had 6 participants, some whom have camped at TBC for 7 summers!

OUR PROGRAMS

OUR PROGRAMSENIVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM: UNDER ONE

SKYConnecting camp to our communities

• Launched Summer 2011

• Empowers adolescents to use their personal connection to the environment to improve their own community

• Through the program, participants:– learn what environmental justice is and how it ties into social equality– develop into activists for the issues they care about– will design and lead a project for improving NYC and their community

OUR PROGRAMSENIVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION: DAY TRIPS FOR SCHOOLS

Enrichment through educational experiences in nature

• Year-round

• 2-hour morning activity, lunch and 2 hour afternoon activity

• Sample lessons •Star gazing •Maple sugar tapping •Survival skills •Lake and stream study

TBC is very different from the city…

With lots of trees, no paved roads or cars…

Lots of different insects, amphibians and wild life…

And our camp pets, donkeys!

THERE ARE NO CABINS AT TRAIL BLAZERS!

↑

Hogan

CANVAS SHELTERS, NO CABINS

Wagon

↓

↑

Tee Pee

OUR BATHROOMS…Wash your face and brush your teeth twice a day…

Non-flushing toilet that is cleaned every day!

The Pow-Wow Circle - for campfires,

stories planning

ALSO IN SMALL CAMP

A covered table for rainy day activities.

ON A TYPICAL DAY

Wake up around 7 AMWash your face/brush your teethAll campsites have running water

Make your bed Work with your shelter

mates Tidy your shelter and

belongings

LEARN TO BE RESPONSIBLE Light Maker – cleans lanterns, collects wood

Recorder – Keeps record of days events and Reports to community

Waiter/Waitress – Sets and clears table, brings food throughout meal

Handy One – cleans top of latrine, lights pow-wow fire

SO MANY ACTIVITIES1. Biking2. Hiking3. Climbing4. Swimming5. Canoeing6. Team Building7. Environmental

Education8. ArtsAnd so much more!

CAMPERS’ FAVORITE THINGS

Singing songs at meal time and at pow-

pow

Swimming and boating

in Lake Mashipacong

Vagabonds

Cinnamon rolls for Sunday

breakfast

PAST AND PRESENT FAVORITES – SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE AFTER 125 YEARS

Did we mention Lake Mashipacong?

Fire building

Go canoeing or row boating

Enjoy American Red Cross Swimming Lessons everyday!

FUN AT THE WATERFRONT

We also offer fishing

Non-competitive focus

No competitive sportsTeam-building activities and

initiativesLow ropes course to increase

communication and confidence

INTEGRATED EDUCATION

Daily Journaling

Poetry

Creative Writing

Two full Libraries on site!

Nature Discovery

Public Speaking

OUTDOOR SKILLS

Making fires…

…And outdoor cooking

Building shelters

• Overnight trip for campers ages 8 and up•By foot, bike or canoe!

• Ranges in length from 1 night to 4 nights•Put to use the skills you have learned at camp!

VAGABOND

Three bite rule Healthy, home cooked food No candy or soda

FOOD PROGRAM

How to have a successful summer…

• Open to new experiences

• Respect and listen to others

• Ready to meet new people

• Prepared for FUN!

Our Staff

At least 19 years old Most are college students Intensive interview Reference and Background check

Two week training

We also hire… LifeguardsRN nurse, EMT Specialist staff

Communicating with your child

• No telephones for Campers to use• Parents can call as often as you want and

speak with an administrator• Campers and Parents communicate by

writing letters or emails• Campers required to write 2 letters a week• Parents encouraged to write positive letters!

What not to bring…• Cell Phones• MP3 players• Portable tvs, dvd players, etc.• Knives or other weapons• Money• Candy, gum, or other food items

Hope To See You There!