CAMP BERNIE OVERVIEW

Camp Bernie

The Fourth and Fifth Overnighter

Each year students, teachers, and chaperones head out on a one-night overnight trip. Last year we changed our destination to Camp Bernie. Camp Bernie is a YMCA Camp Bernie that sits within the Schooley Mountains in the northernmost area of Hunterdon County, New Jersey; approximately 1.5 hours from New York City. The camp resides on 285 acres of hilly forests and beautiful streams feeding the Musconetcong River. YMCA Camp Bernie offers a wide range of programs, from Outdoor Education to Weekend Retreats and Conferences to Summer Camps. The surrounding areas include an additional 500 acres of protected county park property including trails and outdoor opportunities in our own backyard.

This year’s activities include: stream ecology, sensory trail, low ropes course, and team building challenges. We will end the night with a campfire and s’mores. Here are the descriptions of the activities:

Teambuilding Challenges (ASEs)
The core of our Teambuilding Challenges presents each group with various obstacles, some more physical in nature than others. Although success is the focus, we determine the group’s success not by whether they complete a challenge or how fast, but by the degree to which they make progress working together as a group. There are various levels of difficulty among the elements.

Low Ropes Course
Low Ropes give individuals direct control over their own success and safety. Team members use encouraging words and physical techniques (spotting) to develop trust, a positive team spirit, and the courage and confidence to overcome mental and physical obstacles together in small groups. We have two low ropes courses to maximize participation!

Stream Ecology
Developing an awareness of life within an aquatic ecosystem, participants will have the opportunity to sample plant and animal life in our on-site stream. Different stages of life development are presented, focusing on each organism’s importance and impact on the food chain. Does a frozen pond or stream still support life? Do fish and other aquatic life head south for the winter? How do they survive? In the winter months, students will explore the frozen environs of the stream to answer these and other questions. Participants may get wet.

Sensory Trail
Includes a blindfold rope trail through the woods of Camp Bernie. Designed to explore the environment through the four other senses apart from sight. Heightens awareness of all environs, seen and unseen.

Students stay in one huge cabin with two separate quarters for males and females. Bathrooms are separated as well. The camp is aware of our dietary restrictions and quite competent at handling these. You can find out more about Camp Bernie at www.campbernieymca.org

We will email two Google forms during the first full week. One is just saying you know that your child is going. The other is a medical form.


Camp Bernie Packing List

• 2 snacks
• Water bottle
• Flashlight
• Sleeping bag (or sheet and blanket)
• Pillow
• Towel
• Wash cloth
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrush
• Deodorant
* Bug Spray/sunscreen
• Hair brush
* Hat (optional)
• A sweatshirt


• 1-2 pairs of pants (jeans, joggers)


• 2 t-shirts and long-sleeved t-shirts


• 2 pairs of socks


• 2 pairs of underwear


• Pajamas


• 1 extra pair of sneakers


• 1 jacket (something waterproof in case it rains)





Packing List Notes:





-Bring clothes and supplies that can get dirty


-Bring a small plastic grocery bag to use as a “dirty clothes” bag


-Make sure your name is on all of the items you bring


-In a large garbage bag, roll your sleeping bag, pillow, and towel


-Use masking tape and a Sharpie to mark your name on the outside of your bag


-Pack all liquids in 2 ziplock bags (toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, etc.)





Do Not Pack List:





Of course we have not listed all of the things you cannot bring. That would be ridiculous. We


want students to pack only the items on the list above. We have listed some specifics just to be


extra clear.





• Money


• Electronic devices of any sort: Camera, MP3 players, phones, gaming systems


• Umbrella


• Food (aside from snack for Wednesday)