Survival Camp Recap

Desi Hagenbeck
Jul 31
2 min read

Whimsical Forest Adventures | June 2025

Our summer season kicked off with Survival Camp — and what a wild, wonderful week it was! Held the first week of June (whoops... some schools were still in session!), our first week of day camp was filled with nature skills, laughter, teamwork, and muddy boots. Despite a few hiccups — fire danger, rainy days, and air quality alerts — we made the most of every moment outdoors.

Play, Laugh, Explore

Each day balanced structured survival lessons with plenty of outdoor free play. Campers loved the forest play zones — especially the giant spider web climber!

We kicked things off with classic team-building games:

Pterodactyl (try saying it without showing your teeth!)
The Human Knot
Balance challenges on our log obstacle course

Giggles and teamwork set the tone for the week ahead!

Animal Encounters

Campers got up close and personal with our bunnies and chickens, helping feed and water

them each day.

One day, Pippy and Emily — two of our most spirited chickens — made a surprise escape, sparking a light-hearted, careful chase across the property to return them safely to the coop!

Journaling & Knot Tying

Each camper received a journal, and we made time each day for sketching, writing, and reflecting. We explored some of our favorite survival-themed books and learned to tie essential knots using wooden practice boards.

The “granny knot” name drew lots of laughter, but those skills came in handy later in the week!

Whittling & Knife Safety

Campers were introduced to basic knife safety, using cut-proof gloves for protection. Then came the fun — whittling sticks to create kindling for fire-building.

There’s something deeply satisfying about peeling curls of wood and preparing real survival supplies with your own hands!

Shelter Building

We practiced constructing two types of shelters:

A-frame
Lean-to using tarps

Both came in very handy when those afternoon rain clouds rolled in!

Later in the week, we ventured deeper into the woods and found the perfect fallen tree to build a natural forest shelter. It was magical to see the campers working together and building something real, with their own creativity and teamwork.

Compass Skills + Treasure Hunt

Campers learned how to use a compass, find north, and remember how to navigate using the fun trick: “Fred in the Shed” +

Once everyone was comfortable, we set off on a compass treasure hunt!

At each clue point, campers solved riddles to verify their location
After a few twists and turns… they discovered the secret stash of s’mores ingredients!

Ending our week around a fire with sticky fingers and chocolatey smiles? Perfection.