Athletics &
Activities
There’s something for everyone at Camp Walden, and each day is filled with multiple activities!
See below for our complete list of activity options.
During the week, campers participate in five activities each day. Campers are encouraged to try everything and are scheduled most often for swimming, canoeing and tennis.
Activities Scheduling Independent Activities
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Archery
land -
Arts & Crafts
art -
Basketball
land -
Canoeing
water -
Climbing & Ropes Course
land -
Conditioning for Sports
land -
Dance
art -
Drama
art -
Evening Activities & Bunk Shows
art -
Field Hockey
land -
Gymnastics
land -
Horseback Riding
land -
Kayaking
water -
Lacrosse
land -
Paddleboarding
water -
Pickleball
land -
Sailing
water -
Soccer
land -
Softball
land -
Swimming
water -
Team Sports
land -
Tennis
land -
Ultimate Frisbee
land -
Volleyball
land -
Waterskiing & Wakeboarding
water -
Wilderness Trips
land -
Ziplining
Archery
LandLearning to shoot with a bow and arrow is an exciting first for many Walden campers! Archery lessons are great opportunities to practice focus, stillness and patience.
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Arts & Crafts
ArtArts & Crafts include Ceramics, 2D art, Jewelry Making and Textiles. Our instructors design open-ended projects that excite and engage campers of all ages.
In ceramics, campers learn how to throw pottery on electric wheels, utilize hand-built methods and experiment with glazing techniques.
Our 2-dimensional program explores projects in drawing, painting (watercolor and acrylic), mixed-media collage and relief and monotype printmaking.
In our metals department, campers saw, solder, stamp and enamel copper and silver to create their own jewelry.
Our Art building is located on Walden Pond. Many campers will grab an easel and paint the spectacular view out on the porch.
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Basketball
LandCampers love their time playing basketball on our outdoor and indoor courts. Instruction focuses on passing, dribbling, shooting, defensive plays and of course, sportsmanship and teamwork. “Knockout” is a favorite game up on the courts and a fun reward after a great lesson or scrimmage.
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Canoeing
WaterCanoeing is a cornerstone activity at Walden. Our instructors blend skill development with fun games, activities and adventures, such as rubber duck races, explorations around the lake and waterfront capture-the-flag.
Instruction at camp, centers around stroke development, proper entry and exit and paddle, as well as shallow- and deep-water rescues.
All campers participate in at least one overnight canoe trip each summer. While out on their canoe trips, campers put their skills to the test and gain additional skills such as reading the river for safer and easier paddling.
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Climbing & Ropes Course
LandCampers of all ages love the personalized challenge of our two-faced Climbing Wall. Our Ropes staff are trained to meet each camper at their level and provide manageable challenges for all. Climbers are boosted by hearing the cheers from fellow campers and staff, and all take pride in signing their names at the top of the Wall!
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Conditioning for Sports
LandConditioning or, “Walden Workout,” is an elective for campers interested in maintaining fitness levels over the summer in preparation for a fall sport. Walden Workouts are fun and adaptable. Conditioning focuses on building strength, speed and agility.
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Dance
ArtPop over to our dance studio to explore a variety of genres of dance including contemporary, lyrical, ballet and hip-hop.
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Drama
ArtCalling all thespians! Tap into your most dramatic side at Drama. Engaging group lessons encourage campers to think and act creatively and cooperatively. Campers will focus on improvisation, writing, directing and performing.
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Evening Activities & Bunk Shows
ArtEach night after dinner campers participate in evening activities, giving everyone a few minutes to unwind from the busy camp day and enjoy time with bunkmates.
On Saturday nights we attend Bunk Shows, a musical performed by a different age group each week. On Sunday evenings we gather for a traditional campfire by the lake to sing songs written by Waldenites, led by our Bunk 12 song leaders. On Monday evenings we watch a movie in the Ark or play board games in the Main House Living Room.
Tuesday through Friday evening activities are planned and run by Bunk 12 campers and include lip-sync contests, sing downs and a variety of skit nights.
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Field Hockey
LandField Hockey is a fun, fast-paced activity for our campers. While younger campers focus on the fundamentals of the sport, our older campers hone their skills through drills on our hard-top court and grass field.
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Gymnastics
LandCampers of all ages love their time in our outdoor Gymnastics pavilion! Our gymnastics instructors are trained to spot campers safely on all four elements of the sport — floor, balance beam, uneven bars and vault. Routines and performances are performed throughout the summer.
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Horseback Riding
LandWe teach English-style horseback riding to campers of all levels in our two outdoor riding rings. Campers learn how to walk, trot, canter and jump and can recognize diagonals and leads. The emphasis is on participation in all aspects of riding, including horse care and barn help.
Our campers enjoy exploring the riding trails around our property and participating in Horse Shows with other camps. Horseback riding is included for all interested campers, and our Intensive Riding program (campers spend at least an hour at the barn every day they are in camp) has a small additional fee.
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Kayaking
WaterKayaking is another fun paddling option for campers of all ages! Our campers enjoy setting off in a group to explore new areas of our beautiful lake. Beginner kayak skills include safe entry and exit, forward and reverse strokes and steering.
Advanced skills include mastering wet exit and kayak roll.
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Lacrosse
LandLacrosse lessons focus on mastering the basics of throwing, catching and cradling. Our lacrosse instructors use a variety of hand-eye coordination games and drills, and more experienced campers participate in scrimmages and games.
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Paddleboarding
WaterCampers and counselors love exploring Walden Pond by paddleboard, taking in the serenity of the lake and can even be spotted doing Paddleboard Yoga!
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Pickleball
LandOur newest activity at Walden and an instant favorite! Campers learn the rules of the game and enjoy match-play with friends. The smaller Pickleball court is a great introduction for younger campers just beginning a racquet sport.
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Sailing
WaterWalden campers learn to sail first by learning the basics — names for parts of the boat, points of sail, reading the wind and rules of the water. They quickly progress to master rigging and de-rigging the boats and capsizing safety.
Our small yet windy lake allows campers the opportunity to sail under different wind conditions, gaining experience and confidence in their sailing skills each time they sail.
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Soccer
LandSoccer lessons focus on footwork, passing, shooting, dribbling and identifying open space on the field. These skills are put to the test in gameplay during our Saturday all-camp Team-sports and Inter-camp games against other camps.
As with all team sports, our soccer instructors emphasize the importance of skill building, sportsmanship and teamwork.
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Softball
LandSoftball lessons and games take place on our beautiful pitch. Games are played weekly during Team-sports. In a much-loved tradition on the 4th of July, the oldest campers challenge the counselors to a softball game, with the entire camp cheering on the sidelines!
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Swimming
WaterCampers are scheduled to instructional swim at least three times weekly. Upon arrival at camp, campers' swimming abilities are assessed and then they are placed into swim lesson groups according to the American Red Cross swim levels.
Our certified swim instructors tailor lessons to the needs of each camper and assist with their progression through the benchmarks of each level.
A beloved tradition is our Counselors’ Rock early morning swim across the lake for any campers who have passed out of the highest level.
Free swim, which is offered a few times during the week, is also a camper favorite when they can splash around, play, or jump off our diving board and waterslide.
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Team Sports
LandWaldenites learn and practice their playing skills during activities and apply them during Team Sports, a friendly rivalry that takes place on the weekends. Each camper is selected to be a member of one of the teams at the beginning of each summer. The Brown and Tan teams play land sports on Saturday mornings and water sports on Sunday afternoons.
Why Team Sports and not Color War? At Walden, we feel the most valuable part of competitive sports is sportsmanship. Our campers love competing against their rival team during Team Sports but learn to leave these rivalries on the field. Before and after competing, both teams gather together to sing “Unity Songs,” original songs that celebrate unity, spirit and friendly competition.
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Tennis
LandTennis is a top activity at Walden! Lessons and matches are played on our two hard courts and four clay courts. Our tennis instructors are competitive players and coaches. Beginning and intermediate players focus on stroke technique, serves, overheads, footwork and volleys.
Advanced players continue to hone their skills and work on developing their gameplay. A variety of Intra-camp and Inter-camp matches provide ample opportunity for competitive players to improve their play. Our Intensive Tennis program is a workshop-style elective for campers interested in spending more time playing tennis.
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Ultimate Frisbee
LandCampers work on communicating with teammates, throwing, catching and having lots of fun!
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Volleyball
LandPractice your set, serve or spike on our sand court. Younger campers begin with the simpler game of Newcomb, and more experienced players are instructed in the rules of volleyball. A quick game of Prisoner at the end of a lesson is always a fun reward!
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Waterskiing & Wakeboarding
WaterNot much can top the moment a camper gets up on waterskis for the first time! Whether a camper is gaining confidence on two skis, testing out their 180 on a wakeboard or double slaloming with a friend, we know there will be many happy faces down at ski.
Our ski boats are kept busy all summer long as campers progress through skills and pass levels.
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Wilderness Trips
LandEvery camper goes on three overnight trips that are tailored to meet the abilities of their age group. Younger campers take one-night camping trips and older campers go on mountain climbing and canoeing excursions that take them out of camp for three or four days at a time.
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Ziplining
Campers find their love of adventure and challenge as they climb up to the Zipline and swing down through the woods. Our Ropes-trained counselors provide encouragement as campers take their first leap on the Zipline and campers below cheer on their friends!
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