Camp Friedlander Older Scouts

We know how to keep older Scouts engaged...

Many troops suffer from the same problem - older boys have been summer camp year after year, earned plenty of merit badges, and don't think there's anything left for them to do. At Camp Friedlander, they couldn't be more wrong. The camp offers many programs designed just for older Scouts that will sharpen their Scouting skills and give them an experience they will never forget.

The trick to keeping older boys excited about Scouting is to give them new challenges. Our High Adventure activites set us apart from many summer camps because we offer a variety of options for all sorts of interests. And younger Scouts will have programs to look forward to for years to come.

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Perfect for older Scouts looking for something different, the Voyager High Adventure Program at Camp Friedlander is a challenging and exciting experience. While your troop stays at Camp Friedlander, Voyager participants will be brought out of camp on a variety of treks and outings at nearby parks.

The treks are organized and run by highly knowledgeable and motivated staff. Every Voyager experience provides lifelong memories and opportunities to do things that Scouts may not do on a regular troop outing. In addition to the activities, Voyager participants learn valuable lessons and gain experience in high adventure planning, trek leadership, and advanced outdoor skills. Your Scouts will not be disappointed!

Building on the success of past years’ programs, for the summer of 2008, we will offer a combination of some of the most popular outings for each Voyager session. Please note that this year’s line-up is still tentative and subject to change due to weather and other factors, and that participants will have a say at the beginning of the week on which activities interest them. We will be sure to take in the group’s input on what they want to do, and the program is purposefully structured somewhat flexibly to allow for participants to choose an activity. Here’s what we're looking at for 2007 Voyager:

Mountain Biking at a local state park. Camp will provide the bikes and equipment. Voyager participants will bike through the challenging trails of a local state park. Leave your training wheels at home!

Canoeing on the Little Miami or Whitewater Rivers. Participants will be transported to a landing spot on a local river. Will this be a lazy float down the river or a challenging trek through some wild waterways?

Backpacking and Caving at Carter Caves. This will be a 2-3 day trek of hiking and spelunking in the beautiful Carter Caves State Park of Northeastern Kentucky. You bring the backpack; we’ll provide the hard hat.

This program is all inclusive, and all transportation and program equipment is provided (except backpacks). Scouts will leave Monday morning and return on Friday evening in time for the Family Dinner. Scouts participating in Voyager should not register for any other programs or merit badges. Voyager is only open to Scouts 14 or older, and participants should be classified as a swimmer (swim checks can be done at camp). Voyager participants will be required to submit a Class 3 Medical Form and a Element of Danger Statement. There is an additional $30 fee for Voyager participants.

Project C.O.P.E. (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience) is an activity for youth over the age of 13 and adults, comprised of group initiatives, team building, problem solving, and physical challenge. Although COPE uses some of the skills, techniques and tools of rock-climbing, it is not a climbing course. Rather, it uses climbing situations as one of several means to achieve its goals. These goals include the development of trust, communication, self-esteem, leadership, problem solving, decision making and teamwork.

COPE challenges participants to become more aware of themselves and others, their strengths and limitations. COPE improves communication and leadership skills and for rapidly develops a strong sense of team membership. Beyond all these lofty objectives, COPE is fun!

The first half of a COPE program consists of group initiative activities and events on our “low course." This is a series of about a dozen structures, each one of which presents a problem intended for a group solution. The climax of the low course is a group effort to scale a 12-foot wall. The second half of a complete COPE program is the “high course."

This consists of 15 elements that require participants to negotiate cables, swings and nets high in the air. An elaborate, redundant safety system protects participants at all times. The “low course” is geared toward team-building and the "high course" is geared toward self -esteem.

All COPE participants must complete a Element of Danger Statement. There is an $30 additional fee per COPE participant to be paid with the regular camp fees.

Located near the southeast end of camp is the impressive 60-foot-tall rappelling tower. Looking over treetops with a view north across the lake and views both up and down the Little Miami River Valley, the rappelling tower is a signature landmark of Camp Friedlander.

One one side of the tower is the climbing wall, with varying levels of difficulty for novice and experienced climbers alike. Four portals, one at 20 feet, one at 30 feet, one at 40 feet, and one at 50 feet offer increasing degrees of challenge.

Rappelling or climb is open to all scouts. Climbing merit badge is offered, as well as recreational climb and rappell times throughout the week, and Climb-on-Safely training.

All climbing participants must complete a Element of Danger Statement.

Not many camps in the midwest can say they offer SCUBA and Snorkeling classes. Scouts looking for a new challenge, preparing for a trip to Seabase, or who just have an interest in underwater adventures, will be thrilled by the SCUBA and Snorkeling programs at Camp Friedlander.

The PADI SCUBA program is offered by a local certified SCUBA-diving group, taking advantage of the skill and equipment they have available. Scouts will learn basic SCUBA-diving techniques and will be able to practice in our large swimming pool. Participants will receive the BSA Snorkeling certification card. There is a $45 additional fee per participant to be paid with camp registration fees. Participants must be at least 14 years old and classified as a swimmer. All PADI SCUBA participants must complete the SCUBA Medical Statement, requiring a physician signature, and the SCUBA and Snorkeling Release Form.

The PADI Snorkeling program will give Scouts a chance to explore Lake Marge Schott from underwater. Scouts will learn how to properly use snorkeling equipment and practice good techniques. Participants can earn the BSA Snorkeling certification card. There is an additional $35 fee per participant to be paid with camp registration fees. This program is not recommended for younger Scouts, and all participants must be classified as swimmers. All PADI Snorkeling participants must complete the SCUBA and Snorkeling Release Form.

Scouts looking to prove their aquatics skills and become a certified lifeguard will benefit from the BSA Lifeguard training program. This intense course teaches advanced swim strokes, lifesaving and rescuing techniques, and water safety and lifeguarding practices. Troops with members that have earned BSA Lifeguard may safely run aqautics programs in their own unit.

BSA Lifeguard is a three-hour class taught every day of camp. Participants must be at least 14 years old or have completed the eight grade. Advanced swimming skills is recommended and Scouts must be able to swim 400 yards with stopping. Participants can earn the BSA Lifeguard certification card, good for three years and recognized by most water safety organizations for emplyoment of lifeguarding positions.

While all badges at Camp Friedlander are available to Scouts of any age, some merit badge programs require more advanced skill, higher maturity, or greater physical development. Many of our badges will appeal to older Scouts that have already earned a lot of merit badges or who are ready to explore new fields. In addition to our other older Scout programs, we especially recommend these exciting badges: