This year marks 50 years of Camp Tuhsmeheta (Camp T)! From swimming in the lake to putting on a camp play, campers and staff came together to create lasting memories at a variety of events this spring and summer. We also hosted a few new events we plan to repeat this next school year, including a Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) Summer Fun Camp and a Fine Arts Camp. Read on to learn more about each event.
Little Explorers Events
This spring, Camp T welcomed young children and their families to a new event series called Little Explorers. Families with children ages birth to 5 who are Blind/Visually Impaired or Deaf/Hard of Hearing enjoyed a morning exploration of nature, stories, songs, and activities.
Our theme for April was The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Children learned a song about the life cycle of a butterfly and enjoyed creating caterpillar headbands, making food at the play kitchen, and blowing bubbles. Our snack included fruits the caterpillar character enjoyed, such as apples, strawberries, and watermelon. Families were sent home with a copy of the book and activities to continue learning.
May’s theme was Going on a Bear Hunt. After listening to the story, families experienced it themselves by going on their own “bear hunt.” Children touched the cold grass, squished their hands in mud, and threw white cotton snowballs. The bear-shaped balloon was found in the back of a tent and received hugs from the children for being a nice bear. The fun continued with stations where children could learn more about real bears, touch a bear’s fur, and create a textured bear hunt experience map.
Five Little Explorers events are planned for the 2024-2025 school year. We would love to have more children and families join us to play, learn, and enjoy nature. We hope children will enjoy the amazing experiences Camp T has to offer and return for more opportunities as they continue to grow.
DHH Summer Fun Camp
Camp T kicked off summer with a weekend camp in June for middle- and high-school students who are DHH. Seven students from across the state experienced a weekend of fun and new experiences. This camp was the first time most of the students had attended an overnight event at Camp T.
During the camp, students were challenged to work together to complete a scavenger hunt and achieve their goals on various challenge courses. They pushed their own comfort levels while navigating the ropes course and scaling the climbing tower. A few campers even hit a bullseye at the archery range! Joy was in the air at the Flannigan Lake waterfront, where students swam, canoed, and fished. A little rain didn’t stop the fun; everyone transitioned smoothly to indoor activities, such as making duct tape bags, performing paper bag skits, and completing an “escape room” challenge. The favorite board game of the weekend was Clue.
Camp T is planning to host an annual DHH summer camp for students to connect, challenge themselves, and enjoy the outdoors. We hope more campers will join us in the future.
Outdoor Adventure Camp
What a great time to be outdoors! In June, Camp T hosted its third annual Outdoor Adventure Camp, with a record number of campers attending compared to the previous two years. Campers enjoyed hiking, swimming, canoeing, arts and crafts, archery, rock wall climbing, field games, campfire songs and treats, challenge courses, team-building activities, and much more. Some also opted to set up their own tents to experience sleeping under the stars. One camp highlight was an early morning bird hike, where Camp T volunteer and birding guide Donna Posont enlightened the campers to the many sounds, habitats, and stories of birds around camp. They explored woodpecker holes and food that birds like to eat. They even discovered a hidden robin’s nest with blue eggs inside!
At the end of the four-day, three-night camp, our outdoor adventurers were sad to leave but were happy with the fun they had, the great food and snacks they ate, and the friends they made, along with many lifelong memories.
Fine Arts Camp
In mid-July, Camp T was filled with music and laughter as campers enjoyed their first camp dedicated to fine arts. Theater, art, set design, and musical talents came together in just four days. Not only were students encouraged to bring and play their own instruments, but many other instruments were also on display for them to experience.
Campers, parents, and loved ones were treated to a picnic lunch followed by a camper-led talent performance and then a play that combined everything they learned and created at camp. Campers were proud to show off their clay sculptures and took them home at the end of camp. In addition to fine arts, campers enjoyed some traditional camp activities such as the challenge course and swimming in the lake on a beautiful sunny day. The days went by quickly, and both campers and counselors said they are already looking forward to more fine arts camps in the future.