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Right activity is protected by divine law; safety is established as we are continuously present with our supreme care-giver. In following best practices provided by The American Camp Association (ACA), we outline the degree of difficulty or physical challenge required by camp activities and the associated risks. God gives us the possibilities of perfection. Camp activities allow us to reflect that sense of God's unlimited all, and our place within that perfection. The following are deemed "high-risk" activities by some. To us, they are well within the realm of God.

Aerial Arts

In Aerial Arts, campers perform acrobatics on silk ribbons, hoops, and other elements suspended above safety mats.  This activity is always under the supervision of certified instructors with harnesses and lifts, mats, and cushions. Students start at lower heights and move upward, as their skills improve.  Aerial Arts gives campers a chance to express grace and courage.

Archery

In Archery, campers use bows and arrows and learn safety commands under the supervision of certified instructors. Only when all bows are stowed, will campers enter the range to retrieve arrows. Advanced campers will shoot targets farther from the line of fire. Archery is an opportunity to demonstrate accuracy and precision.

Big Surf

Big Surf is a family water park about an hour’s drive from camp.  It has an assortment of water activities including a wave pool, slides, "lazy river," and more. See their website for more information. Our usual 3-to-1 camper to counselor ratio is fully enforced during our trips away from camp, and our staff receive specialized training in how to keep a protective watchful eye in public spaces.  Big Surf trips emphasize CedarS fifth fundamental: “We expect to make camping at Cedars fun!”

Cable Water Sports

Cable Water Sports happens on CedarS’ own 8-pole cable ski system, at our Mediterranean Lake.  It allows campers to kneeboard, water ski, or wakeboard around the lake. Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) are worn by all participants. Our lake includes a small jump (Rixson mini-kicker) for those who are ready for added challenge. If campers “wipe-out,” the cable operator will pause the system as campers make a quick swim to shore to get out of the water and take a short walk back to the starting location. Lifeguards and counselors circle the lake watching each camper’s progress.

Camp Crafts and Nature

Camp crafts and nature classes are about providing space and time to contemplate our world, and our place in it. Nature classes include hiking, catching crawdads, and bird watching. Camp craft classes includes rope making, lashing, and fire building. Fire building begins with education about location, safety, and environmental practices and proceeds with a guided curriculum taking campers through the proper steps in fire starting, tending, and extinguishing properly.

Cave Trip and Rock Climbing

The cave and rock climbing trip is for 5th graders and older, and allows for personal growth and for campers to conquer fear. Typically a dozen campers and 3 counselors hike a mile through CedarS property that is not adjoined to the main camp location. At least one counselor is certified in wilderness first aid. At some points on the trip, the group will be a minimum of 30-45 minutes from professional medical care. Campers are fit with a harness and helmet. Campers take turns climbing a two-story rock face using a bottom belay, meaning a trained counselor will be managing a rope system to prevent the camper from falling with use of a rope and harness. Campers also take turns rappelling down a 20 foot rock face, using a top belay, and self-belay system, meaning a trained counselor will be maintaining one rope system for control, while the camper is also controlling his rate of descent with the use of a redundant system. Campers wear helmets to prevent injury from falling rocks. Campers spend 10-50 minutes on-belay, depending on how long they take to climb or rappel the rock face. Staff are trained annually and skill verified in the climbing, rappelling, and rock skills. Panther Cave is a 5-level cave in which campers experience tight, muddy spaces, and an opportunity to be in total darkness. Participants must wiggle and crawl through small openings, and slink along rock tunnels for several body lengths before having space to walk uprightly and explore more formations. Upon exiting the cave, campers rinse off in the nearby river, under the watchful eye of Red Cross certified lifeguards.

Climbing Wall

Take your love for camp and adventure to new heights at our climbing wall. The climbing wall is located on the back porch of Dawn Lodge and is equipped with two single-pitch climbs. Because of the strategic placement of the hand and foot holds, there are several different routes and varying difficulties. Scale to the top of the wall and ring a bell to announce a successful climb with a “ding! ding!” Each camper is fitted with a harness and helmet and given safety instructions specifically in spotting other climbers and safe repelling practices. Certified staff belay all participants.  “Climbing? *Climb On!” 

Fish and Watersports Trip

A day-long adventure trip for all-ages, the Fish Trip allows for a new appreciation of nature. Campers fish CedarS' Crown and Mediterranean Lakes, stocked good-sized bass, sunfish, and catfish. They also hike around our property to observe bird species and other wildlife and catch crawdads in our creek. Campers then get to enjoy an afternoon of fun at our own CedarS Aquatic Center and Waterslide!

Float Trip 

"RIVER. When smooth and unobstructed, it typifies the course of Truth; but muddy, foaming, and dashing, it is a type of error." (SH 593:14–17) As Mrs. Eddy's definition implies, at times the Gasconade River, which we canoe down, is calm with low water, and other times the spring rains cause a fast current. In either case, canoes float above the water, bringing campers down river in an all-day adventure. Each of a dozen canoes will have 1 or 2 campers and a staff member. There is at minimum one lifeguard for every 3 canoes. Each lifeguard is trained in water rescue and first aid. One trip leader is certified in wilderness first aid. At some points on the trip, the group will be a minimum of 30-45 minutes from professional medical care. Trip leaders carry cellular phones that are in cellular service areas for some but not all parts of the trip.

High Ropes Course

The Ropes Course is intended to make demands of campers to give them the opportunity to grow personally. With the 'Choose Your Challenge' philosophy, participants will set and realize their goals. The course is usually undertaken in a full morning or an afternoon at camp. Each camper is fitted with a harness and helmet and given safety training in the proper use of lanyards which are the safety equipment connecting them to the safety lines/ropes which are suspended 30-40 feet above the ground. Participants climb into the course while on belay with a certified staff member. Then while at height, they are connected to the course using the "LockD" caribiner system, where they will attempt obstacles such as walking across a log, crossing rope bridges, and more, all suspended high in the air. Participants then have the opportunity to exit the course via a zipline. Certified staff is always present, both on the ground and in the course.

Horseback Riding and Equestrian Activities

"All of God's creatures, moving in the harmony of Science, are harmless, useful, indestructible." (SH 514:28–30)

Horseback riding and equestrian activities could include any of the following: horse care, trail rides, arena work, vaulting, miniature horse driving, Belgian Wagon rides, jumping, cattle work, Gymkhana activities, pony games, horse training, groundwork, and natural horsemanship. Campers may ride English or Western.  These activities could occur at a walk, trot, or canter as a rider proves their ability through skills progressions as outlined by the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA). This activity is classified by ACA purposes as one with a higher degree of inherent risk due to “the unpredictable nature” of horses; we know that Mind is speaking to our 4-legged friends just as readily as Mind speaks to us. Helmets are required for all horseback riding and mini-cart driving. Helmets are not required for ground work, vaulting, and wagon rides.  CedarS Camps is a Certified Horsemanship Association site and employs certified riding instructors and experienced riding specialists.

Horse Trip

Our 4-legged friends are creatures of God, governed by Mind. On the pack trip, campers will spend 2 days with these 4-legged friends. Once campers have groomed, saddled, and provided for their horse, the trip will spend most of the day, on and off horseback exploring CedarS beautiful property. Each trail group of 3-6 campers will always contain at least one Camp Horse Association (CHA) certified staff. One trip leader is certified in first aid and CPR.  At some points on the trip, the group will be a minimum of 30-45 minutes from professional medical care. Trip leaders carry cellular phones that are in cellular service areas for some but not all parts of the trip.

Junior Leadership trip to Silver Dollar City

As the program name implies, Junior Leaders learn to direct their peers as they manage the responsibility for an extended trip. When the program attends Silver Dollar City (a popular theme park in Branson, MO) for two days, they will camp overnight at a nearby public campground.  The facilities are large 10-person tents which are set up by the campers, assigned to identified genders and include staff in every quarter. Certified staff over 21 years old will drive vans as local transportation.  At SDC, campers are arranged in groups each with multiple staff leaders to explore the elements of the park including a mining cave, interpretive craft centers, shops, entertainment events, and rides ranging from scenic cruisers to roller coasters.  Emergency clinics are within close proximity to the campground and onsite in the theme park.

Low Ropes Course

How many friends can fit on a log? Can you and your new camp friends find a way to travel from one platform to the next, without touching the ground, using no words? These are the types of group activities that are conquered in the Low Ropes Course. Completed as a team, the togetherness promotes group work and thinking in new ways. Campers are also put in physical contact with others, as they work as a group. These activities are usually less than 3 feet off the ground. There are some elements that go higher, including the 12-foot team wall.  These require organized teamwork to physically support moving teammates from point to point. Counselors are certified low ropes facilitators and ensure that campers and staff are using proper spotting techniques. Working together for a mutual goal is a life-long skill that can be honed at camp.

Main Camp Overnight Camp Out

"The light of spiritual understanding gives gleams of the infinite only, even as nebulæ indicate the immensity of space." (SH 509:16)

One or two nights of the session, campers have the opportunity to camp out in a sleeping bag on a tarp. Not far from the lodge and all main camp facilities, campers will have the opportunity to experience the night sky and count stars, gleaming the infinite. In small groups, under counselor supervision, campers will roast marshmallows and learn fire safety.

Maker Activities

Campers will learn safe and proper use of age appropriate tools as they learn and experience do-it-yourself creation, engineering principles, spatial reasoning, coding concepts, and problem solving skills.  Campers of all ages will start with proper and effective use of hand tools: hammer, screwdriver, hacksaws.  Near the age of 12 years old, campers demonstrating sufficient maturity will be provided with PPE (personal protective equipment) such as safety glasses, and taught the use of power tools such as electric drills and band saws.

Trampoline

Patience is often learned at trampoline class, as campers wait their turn and are reminded that this is what being a good cabin-mate looks like. Campers proceed through skill development, or jump for joy. All trampolines are netted, ensuring campers stay on the trampoline.

Zipline

“And he will raise you up on eagles’ wings” (Michael Joncas, Isaiah 40:31)

Ever wondered what it would be like to fly like an eagle? Enjoy boundless bliss as you soar across land and lake on our two ziplines. Each run has two cables, so you can race in flight with another participant. On the first zip, Ruth’s Run, participants have an eagle’s eye view of Bible Lands Park. Participants then travel through biblical time and stories as they hike up the trail to the next zipline platform. Then, they zip back to main camp soaring over Crown Lake. Each camper is fitted with a harness and helmet, and given safety training in proper use of the zip trolleys. Our ziplines are each equipped with a zipSTOP which uses a self-regulating magnetic braking system to brake the zipline participants safely, smoothly, comfortably, and consistently. Certified staff are always present on both the sending and receiving platform. “Zipping? *Zip On!”

American Camp Association

MAIN OFFICE
(November - May)
410 Sovereign Court #8
Ballwin, MO 63011
(636) 394-6162

CAMP OFFICE
(Memorial Day Weekend - October)
19772 Sugar Dr.
Lebanon, MO 65536
(417) 532-6699

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