Camp Activites & Programs
Camp O-AT-KA has a wide selection of activities and programs for boys of all ages and experience. Each summer there are more opportunities for campers than one could possibly imagine. Boys who return each year are able to improve their skills, earn higher levels of achievement and constantly try new things.
Activities at camp are divided into categories:
For additional information, head to a specific section, or view all of our activities below:
Aquatics
Boating: Campers develop canoeing and kayaking knowledge, paddling skills, and water safety technique. Enjoy trips out on Lake Sebago.
Swimming: Campers participate in the American Red Cross swimming program, which focuses on improving technique, increasing confidence in the water, and developing water safety skills. Required for all juniors; optional for middlers and seniors who have passed Red Cross Level 6.
Lifeguarding (Session I only): Campers participate in the American Red Cross lifeguard training program, a 36-hour course in theoretical and practical skills. Successful candidates will earn their LGT certificate, as well as First Aid and CPR certification from the American Red Cross. Meets for two periods every day during session I only. Ages 15 and up only.
Sailing: Novice and intermediate sailors develop and improve their sailing skills. We use Town Class sailboats – an excellent learning platform.
Racing Sailing: An advanced level of sailing, offered to campers who are interested in sailing competitively. Sailors will use our fleet of Vanguard Club 420’s. Campers sail in races against other camps. Meets for two periods every day in the late afternoon.
Waterskiing: Campers learn to water ski, kneeboard, and wake board. Open to Seniors only.
Outdoor Living
Fishing: Fun for all ages and skill levels. Campers enjoy fishing for bass, perch, salmon, and more off our rocky-shores and out on a boat on Lake Sebago. Campers do not have to have their own equipment.
Fly Tying: This instructional craft teaches campers how to tie flies for later use in fishing for trout and salmon. Campers gain experience tying dry flies, wet flies, and streamers. Once the basic tools, techniques, and materials are mastered and several standard flies are tied, campers are encouraged to tie additional patterns.
Rock Climbing: This instructional class focuses on the fundamentals of rock climbing. Classes will take place on our climbing wall, in local indoor rock gyms, and at nearby “top roping” and bouldering spots.
Nature/Environmental Science: Are you curious about the world around you? We use camp as an outdoor classroom for both exploration and experimentation. Activities include nature hikes, rock and soil samples, plant identification, astronomy, animal collection, bird watching, weather, conservation, spider feeding, water testing and more!
Campcraft: Do you enjoy the outdoors? Do you want to learn how to be comfortable in the woods? This craft offers campers the opportunity to develop outdoor skills such as fire building, axmanship, cooking, orienteering, and more. As campers get older, skills taught become progressively more challenging. The junior and middler programs prepare campers for the Junior Maine Guide (JMG) Program, while the senior level gives campers a chance to continue learning outdoor living skills without needing to enroll in the JMG Program.
Junior Maine Guide (JMG, Session I only): Campers work each day on developing and learning new outdoor living skills, such as fire building, cooking, map and compass skills, shelter building and more. The fifth week, campers go to a testing camp on the Kennebago River near Oguossic, Maine, where experienced guides test candidates’ skills. Campers who pass the test earn the Junior Maine Guide (JMG) certification. Meets for two full periods every day during session I only. Open to Seniors only.
Land Sports
Archery: This craft teaches basic archery range safety skills and shooting technique. Participants will work on NAA award progression, physical and mental skill development, and competition preparation. Campers will be eligible to compete on the intercamp team.
Baseball: Instructional level craft where boys will focus on improving their offensive, defensive, and pitching skills. Boys are grouped by age. Campers can choose to join a team and compete with other camps.
Basketball: Beginner to intermediate level craft. Instructional craft with an emphasis on drills and skills and understanding the game. Campers can choose to join a team and compete with other camps.
Conditioning: O-AT-KA realizes many senior campers will play fall sports soon after summer camp ends and coaches intend that athletes return and perform at a high level of physical fitness. So that these campers may maintain or even improve their personal level of physical fitness, we offer a Physical Conditioning craft. Emphasis will be on speed/quickness, cardiovascular and strength development. Open to Seniors only.
Lacrosse: Instructional craft, teaching cradling, shooting, offensive and defensive skills. Campers can choose to join a team and compete with other teams. Bring your helmet, pads and stick if possible.
Riflery: This craft teaches basic rifle range safety skills and shooting technique. Participants will work on NRA award progression, physical and mental skill development, and competition preparation. Campers will be eligible to compete on the intercamp team.
Riflery Clinic: This intensive craft will offer campers extra opportunity to receive more one-one- one attention, work through individual form and technique, and progress through the NRA awards. Through assorted mini-competitions and drills, campers will refine their skills in preparation for intercamp competitions. Meets for two full periods every day. Priority given to seven-weekers. Not open to two-weekers.
Soccer: Campers learn or improve their skills in passing, dribbling, shooting, ball control, and defensive skills. Boys are grouped by age and may choose to compete on an intercamp team.
Tennis: Campers improve their strokes, serves, and volleying skills on hard surface and clay courts. Campers may choose to join the camp team and compete against other camps.
Track: This small group activity focuses on conditioning athletes for a variety of activities, including stretching, short and medium distance running, and other track and field events. Campers can choose to compete in community-sponsored races.
The Arts
Studio Art: Studio Art will introduce texture, perspective and composition at first, and will provide each camper with the skills needed to create great sketches. While in this craft campers will use pencil, charcoal and oil pastel to create still life, landscape and portrait drawings. Open to Middlers and Seniors only.
Arts & Crafts: This craft will bring favorite projects to the table. Covering great camp favorites like tie dye and popsicle stick art isn’t all. Basketry and pillow making will make their appearance while splatter, glitter and sand arts will also play a big role in this craft, allow campers’ creative side to come out to play.
Drama: Campers play theater games, create mini-skits to perform informally or at camp gatherings and learn miming techniques.
O-AT-KA Builders: Campers work with our carpentry director and assist with building projects around camp.
Music: Campers bring their own instrument and spend the summer collaborating and jamming with fellow musicians! Campers in music craft perform in the end-of-session concert, Password and Sunday services.
Photography: Campers learn to use a 35mm camera and take black and white photos. Campers learn to compose, shoot, develop, and print their own photos in the darkroom.
Printing & Graphic Arts: Printing and Graphic Arts will allow campers to express their artistic sides. Starting with linoleum block printing, campers will learn how to utilize space and color to create vivid and colorful prints. Moving into graphic collage, campers will use construction and magazine paper to create a mosaic image. Finishing the craft with silk screening, campers will learn to use a silk screen and Diazo Photo Emulsion to create their own, personalized t-shirts. Open to Middlers and Seniors only.
Pottery: An introductory craft which teaches campers to make pinch, coil, and slab pots, sculptures and wheel thrown pots. Campers practice their skills on five electronic wheels and then personalize their projects with a wide array of glazes. Our large kiln brings projects to a close. Campers also play Sculpturades which enhance their ability to work with clay.
Rocketry: Instructional craft where students learn to build their own rocket design from scratch or from a kit. Campers enjoy painting their finished rocket and launching them skyward!
Stained Glass: Instructional craft exposing campers to the art and techniques of stained glass
Stained Glass Clinic: This intensive craft will provide more-experienced campers an opportunity to refine their skills and work on larger and more intricate projects. Meets for two full periods every craft day. Not open to novices.
Steel Drums: Campers learn to play this popular Caribbean instrument and participate in the end- of-session concert.
Woodworking: Campers choose from newer building projects such as building DownEaster boxes and cutting boards to our camper favorites including making pens, puzzle boards, birdhouses, clocks, and more! Not only do campers learn the aesthetic value of woodworking but learn the practical skills of using various building tools safely.
Special Programs
Junior Maine Guide (JMG) Program: For Seniors. Session 1 only. Campers work each day to develop new outdoor living skills, such as fire building, cooking, map and compass skills, shelter building and more. The fifth week, campers go to a JMG testing camp where state officials test and observe a candidate’s skills. Campers who pass the test earn a Junior Maine Guide (JMG) certification from the State of Maine.
Note: Campers meet two full periods per day during Session 1 (four weeks) and attend the JMG
test week offsite during a fifth additional week.
Cost for the JMG test week is $1,350. O-AT-KA pays the JMG Test Fee and expenses.
Discover SCUBA Program: For ages 10 and up. This half-day PADI program offers an introduction to the experience of SCUBA diving. Participants will learn basic SCUBA skills and will have the opportunity to complete a dive in Sebago Lake under the direct supervision of a PADI professional.
Cost for the Discover SCUBA program is $125. All needed equipment will be provided. The Discover SCUBA registration form and medical release must be completed by a parent prior to participation.
Scuba Certification Program: For ages 12 and up. Are you interested in becoming a certified PADI Open Water Diver? This one-week half-day program includes in-water training, four confined water dives, four open-water dives, and a culmination trip to O-AT-KA’s Knights’ Cove or Portland Harbor for an open-ocean dive. An advanced open-water certification course is also available for anyone already certified.
Cost for the PADI certification program is $650. All needed equipment will be provided. The SCUBA
certification registration form and medical release must be completed by a parent prior to participation. Also, each student is required to complete the academics component online prior to the start of camp.
Lifeguard Training Program: For ages 15 and up. Campers participate in the American Red Cross lifeguard training program, a 36-hour course in theoretical and practical skills. Successful candidates will earn their LGT certificate, as well as First Aid and CPR certification from the American Red Cross. The course meets two
periods a day during the first session only.
There are no extra costs for the lifeguard training program.
Clinics: In 2012, O-AT-KA will offer two intensive clinics – riflery and stained glass. Both meet for two full periods every day.
The riflery clinic will offer campers extra opportunity to receive more one-one-one attention, work through individual form and technique, and progress through the NRA awards. Through
assorted mini-competitions and drills, campers will refine their skills in preparation for intercamp competitions. Priority is given to seven-weekers; the clinic is not open to two-weekers.
The stained glass clinic will provide more-experienced campers an opportunity to refine their skills and work on larger and more intricate projects. The clinic is not open to novices.
There are no extra costs for Clinics.
2012 Maine Adventure Program (CO-MAP)
Click Here for more information about the 2012 Adventure Program.
This summer O-AT-KA is offering a two week wilderness trip for 15 - 17 year old boys. A maximum of ten boys will spend the two weeks camping, cooking, mountain biking, sea-kayaking, rock climbing, white water rafting, and mountain climbing. In addition they will be involved in the planning and shopping for their meals. There will also be a community service component during the program. The group will be lead by long time O-AT-KA trip leader Bubba Brownley and assisted by a second trip leader. Their itinerary includes stays at O-AT-KA’s Knight’s Cove property in South Bristol, islands in Muscongus Bay, Acadia National Park, the Poplar Steam Hut & Grand Falls Hut located in the Flagstaff lake area and ending up with a day trip white water rafting on the Kennebec River.
