Takodah’s Mini Camp for boys and girls is a premier experience for younger, first-time campers. It’s the first step in the Cheshire YMCA’s Resident Camping Progression, aimed at campers between 7 and 10 who are ready for their first extended stay away from home. We pack the excitement of a Takodah session into five fun-filled days where campers get their first taste of all that sleepaway camp has to offer!
The Mini Camp program is designed as a highly structured experience with a strong camper-to-staff ratio (less than 4:1). Children move through all scheduled activities with the same cabin group and leaders, ensuring that there are always familiar faces nearby. Daily Activities in Crafts, Sports, and Swimming are augmented with special festivals, Archery, Fishing, and much more. Our Mini Campers get a strong taste of things to come with age appropriate campfires, candlelight ceremonies, delicious meals and other camp traditions in line with those experienced by their big sisters and brothers at two-week camp!
Mini-Camp Staff
Our Mini Camp Staff is truly special. Assembled from YMCA volunteers, Takodah alumni, parents, and grandparents, Mini Camp Staff provide energetic cabin and program leadership that is second-to-none. Our staff have years of experience working with youth, and have come to specialize in easing the big adjustments campers make in their first stay at camp.
staff of Camp Takodah mini camp Three state-licensed nurses will work together to provide 24-hour emergency coverage, to store and distribute medications, and to ensure that our community practices remain safe and healthy. Many Takodah staff keep current with first aid and CPR certifications, and all receive basic training on the use of first aid equipment in their cabins.
The key to Health and Safety is teaching good practices amongst our campers. We accomplish this by holding to traditions like daily cabin inspections, where we make certain that camper living areas are staying sanitary. Kids at camp learn to use a clothesline, to wash their hands before setting tables, and many other practices that keep our community safe and healthy.
Daily Schedule
7:00 Wake-up
7:30 Breakfast, Camp Cleanup (Kapers)
9:00 Morning rotation of Crafts,
10:00 Swimming, and Sports
11:00 by Cabin Groups
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Siesta
3:00 Recreational swimming & boating
4:00 Cabin Activity Time
5:30 Supper
7:15 Evening Program
9:00 Taps/Bedtime
Activities
The theme of Mini camp this year is Dr. Seuss! Oh, the Places You’ll Go!–we’ll visit the Truffula Forest of the Lorax, swim with Red Fish and Blue Fish, and eat Green Eggs and Ham with Sam I Am–playing games all along the way, of course!
Mini Camp program activities include swim instruction, arts and crafts, sports, rowboating, canoeing, and fishing. All skill instruction is targeted at the introductory level. Mini campers get to sample every activity, so no one is left out on the fun. Our Evening Programs move through a logical progression from Opening Campfire to Scavenger Hunts, a Hoe-Down Festival, a Closing Campfire, and Candlelight Ceremony where campers are given their CT patch. Other special events like the Water Festival and Backwards Day make sure that each day of Mini Camp is an experience to remember!
