Day Camp
Day Camp at Camp Tecumseh provides kids ages 5-12 a chance to grow, learn, and explore in a safe, structured, faith-based environment. When your child attends Day Camp, they join a community that cares for them, prays for them, and builds them up. More than a place to have fun and make memories, Day Camp helps kids make friends, grow in confidence, learn how to take appropriate risks, and unleash their imagination in a creative and collaborative outdoor setting.
Health and safety at Camp Tecumseh
We need everyone’s help to protect the health and safety of Camp
We are working diligently to provide the safest and healthiest experience we can. The following procedures are based on guidance and consultation from the American Camp Association, the CDC, our local health department, and our supervising physician and camp nurse. They are subject to change based on the most up-to-date information and recommendations from these entities.
Daily health screening
Each day at drop-off, campers will go through a temperature check and a short health screening, as well as be asked to show that they’ve brought their mask for the day. These proved effective tools to keep our camp environment as healthy as possible in 2021.
Masking
One of the tools that we currently feel will help us run a successful summer at Day Camp are masks. We will require masks to be worn during:
- All-camp times (chapels, chapel wrap-ups, all-camp game introductions, etc)
- During indoor times or activities
Most days, these times will cumulatively account for less than an hour of the Day Camp day where campers are required to wear a mask.
We will remind campers every day at the end of chapel that they will be allowed to take their masks off. Campers who wish to keep their masks on for longer portions of the day will not be forced to remove them.
We will continue to evaluate how masks will play a role in our summer. Local community spread levels will influence whether or not our policies change as the summer progresses. Our pre-camp communications will include any updates to our mask policy that may take place.
Helping Kids Grow
A Faith-based environment that facilitates growth, encourages exploration, and unleashes imagination
Growing in Character
Rooted in the “I’m Third motto”, which states that God is first, the other person is second, and we are third, our Day Camp program strives to instill the values of honesty, caring, respect, and responsibility in all of our campers through morning chapels, carefully designed programs, and intentional interactions with staff.
Exploring the Outdoors
Nestled on the banks of the Tippecanoe River, Camp Tecumseh offers campers over 600 acres of outdoor space to explore. From the 100 foot high trees of the pine forest, to the riverside trails that run alongside the Tippecanoe, to massive open fields perfect for large group games, our outdoor spaces provide the perfect environment for a week of laughing, playing, and learning.
Unleashing Imagination
From baking a cake on somebody’s head, to building a sand fortress in a fictional land, Camp Tecumseh offers kids countless opportunities to unleash their imagination in a collaborative and cooperative environment.
It Starts with Exceptional Staff
Loving counselors dedicated to your child’s growth
Great Day Camp experiences start with great counselors. Representing some of the best and brightest of their generation, our counselors are expertly trained, exceedingly friendly, and extraordinarily creative. They are masters of forging friendships, teaching new skills, leading adventures, and instilling kids with the confidence to take on the world. We put two of them in your child’s trail group so they have unparalleled access to great role models all week long who complement the lessons you’re already teaching at home.
Carefully Selected
Tecumseh counselors are the best of the best. Every year, hundreds of eager young men and women from all over the United States apply to be Day Camp counselors. Our rigorous interview and selection process identifies those best suited to serve as role models to your children.
Expertly Trained
Whether they are teaching their campers how to swim, leading morning chapel, or helping campers explore nature, our counselors undergo extensive training prior to your camper’s arrival to ensure all of our campers stay safe while growing in core values.
Role Models
Our counselors aren’t just role models here at camp. They are role models back at home. As leaders of clubs and organizations, captains of sports teams, diligent students, and members of churches, they demonstrate Tecumseh values all year long.
Trail Groups & Ages
Your child’s home team while at Camp.
Day campers take on their Tecumseh experience in trail groups. Composed of 10-12 co-ed campers within one year of age and 2-3 counselors, trail groups help kids build relationships, develop trust, and practice communication. Throughout the week, your child’s trail group will act as their home team.
Ages
The Day Camp experience evolves as our campers get older. With four distinct age groups, each step complements the values being taught at home and enhances the camper’s social, emotional, and spiritual development.
Blazers
5-6 years old. Our youngest unit in Day Camp, the Blazer experience is optimized for making friends and learning about respect. Favorite activities like parachute games, cake head, and cops & robbers ensure lots of fun, while opportunities to play in the pool and take a short pony ride help build confidence.
Rangers
7-8 years old. Building on the Blazer experience, Rangers learn about faith, friendship, and more through many of the same activities as Blazers including snow hikes and the Nature Center.
Explorers
9-10 years old. New activities like archery and aquatics time at the Richard G. Marsh Lake are available to Explorers.
Voyagers
11-12 years old. The oldest campers at Day Camp, Voyagers take full advantage of everything Day Camp has to offer. Shooting BB guns at the BB gun range, and a full trail ride through the pine forest are only some of the activities Voyagers enjoy.
“I love listening to my children recap their experiences at camp over and over. My kids come home stronger in their faith, leadership, and self-confidence.” – Camper Parent
Activities
Action-packed days that help kids grow.
Ride a horse through the pine forest. Shoot down the black hole slide. Hold a turtle at the Nature Center. Get your face painted. Every Day Camp day is packed with an exciting variety of activities that help our campers grow, discover the world around them, and unleash their imagination.
Note: Activities canceled due to inclement weather may not be rescheduled.
Trail Group Activities
Most activities throughout the week take place with a camper’s trail group! Day Camp activities vary by age level and may include:
- Nature Center
- Black Hole
- Sand Castles
- Finger painting
- Archery
- BB Guns
- Mini Farm
- Pool
- Mt. Wood
- Bubbles & Chalk
- The playground at Fort Discovery
- Optimist Challenge obstacle course
- Arts & Crafts
- Horseback Riding
- Cakehead/Cheetohead
- Parachute Games
- Dodgeball
- Lake time
- Mudhikes
- Fishing
- Water Balloon Volleyball
- Capture the Flag
- 3 House Tree House
- The Nature Center
- Soccer
Daily Schedule
| Time | Activity | Notes |
| 9:30- 9:50 | Drop Off | If you are running late, please call the office. |
| 10:00 | Day Camp Chapel | |
| 10:20 | Activity Period 1 | Activities include arts and crafts, sports, games, nature hikes, team building activities, etc. |
| 11:00 | Activity Period 2 | Thursday: Periods 1 and 2 are all-camp Gold Rush Friday: Periods 1 and 2 are all-camp World Service Carnival |
| 11:45 | Sack Lunch | Campers bring a sack lunch each day which is refrigerated upon arrival |
| 12:30 | Activity Period 3/Pool | Campers will swim each day, during either activity period 3 or 4 |
| 1:30 | Pool/Activity Period 4 | Campers will swim each day, during either activity period 3 or 4 |
| 2:30 | Group Games and Activities | |
| 2:45 | Daily Wrap-Up | |
| 3:00- 3:20 | Pick Up | If you are running late, please call the office. |
So Much to See and Do
With over 600 acres, a lake, two pools, and so much more, there is always something new to do at Camp Tecumseh.
Learn to Swim at Day Camp
With two full size pools carefully supervised by trained lifeguards, Camp Tecumseh is the perfect place to learn how to swim. Every day, the one hour pool time is divided between swim instruction and free swim. With lesson plans designed for every swimming ability, your camper will improve as a swimmer while growing in confidence and having fun. A swim check on Monday will determine your camper’s swim lesson plan for the week.
Starfish
For campers who demonstrate nervousness swimming on their own, the starfish lesson plan is designed to introduce kids to swimming in a fun and safe way. Simple exercises like sitting on the edge of the pool and kicking their legs, blowing bubbles, and floating on their back help kids acclimate to feeling independent in the water while teaching basic swimming techniques.
Minnows
For campers who love the water but don’t demonstrate knowledge or mastery of one competitive swimming stroke, the minnow lesson plan is designed to teach basic swimming techniques while keeping kids safe. With the help of pool noodles and kick boards, campers learn how to float, kick their legs, and go underwater.
Salmon and Trout
For campers who demonstrate knowledge and technique in the front-crawl stroke, the salmon and trout lesson plans are designed to continue developing proper swimming techniques. Campers learn and practice proper kicking technique for both the front-crawl and either the breast stroke or the back stroke, while learning breathing techniques and arm movements.
Bluegill
For campers who demonstrate knowledge and technique in the front-crawl and either the breast stroke or back stroke, but are still working to master them, the bluegill plan seeks to shore up techniques to improve swimming ability, endurance, and breathing. Kicking exercises, lots of practice, and fun games all help campers nail their swimming strokes.
Barracudas
For competent swimmers who can demonstrate mastery of the front-crawl, and a second competitive swimming stroke, the barracuda lesson plan provides lots of games and practice that help campers perfect their skills in treading water, diving deep, and building endurance.
Horseback Riding
With over sixty horses, a world-class equestrian staff, and beautiful trails that lead through the pine forest, there is no better place to ride a horse than Camp Tecumseh. Every camper who attends Day Camp has the opportunity to ride a horse. Our equestrian staff and our counselors lead our campers on a trail ride through the pine forest that varies in length depending on camper age. Certified by the American Camp Association and the Certified Horsemanship Association, Camp Tecumseh’s equestrian programs are abundantly safe while helping kids grow in confidence.
Camp Registration & Preparation
Day Camp 2022 registration cost is $165.
$40 of the fee is due with registration.
From registration forms to pick-up and drop-off, there is a lot to get ready. Don’t worry though. We make it as easy as possible to prepare for your child’s week at Camp. Details coming soon.
| Boys Overnight Camp Week 1 | June 12-18 | Waitlisted | $760 |
| Boys Overnight Camp Week 2 | June 19-25 | Waitlisted | $760 |
| Boys Overnight Camp Week 3 | June 26-July 2 | Waitlisted | $760 |
| Boys Overnight Camp Week 4 | July 3-9 | Waitlisted | $760 |
| Boys Overnight Camp Week 5 | July 10-16 | Waitlisted | $760 |
| Boys Overnight Camp Week 6 | July 17-23 | Waitlisted | $760 |
| Boys Overnight Camp Week 7 | July 24-30 | Waitlisted | $760 |
| Boys Overnight Camp Week 8 | July 31-August 6 | Waitlisted | $760 |
| Boys Overnight Camp Week 9 | August 7-13 | Waitlisted | $760 |
| Girls Overnight Camp Week 1 | June 12-18 | Waitlisted | $760 |
| Girls Overnight Camp Week 2 | June 19-25 | Waitlisted | $760 |
| Girls Overnight Camp Week 3 | June 26-July 2 | Waitlisted | $760 |
| Girls Overnight Camp Week 4 | July 3-9 | Waitlisted | $760 |
| Girls Overnight Camp Week 5 | July 10-16 | Waitlisted | $760 |
| Girls Overnight Camp Week 6 | July 17-23 | Waitlisted | $760 |
| Girls Overnight Camp Week 7 | July 24-30 | Waitlisted | $760 |
| Girls Overnight Camp Week 8 | July 31-August 6 | Waitlisted | $760 |
| Girls Overnight Camp Week 9 | August 7-13 | Waitlisted | $760 |
| Boys Equestrian Camp Week 1 | June 12-18 | Waitlisted | $850 |
| Boys Equestrian Camp Week 2 | June 19-25 | Waitlisted | $850 |
| Boys Equestrian Camp Week 3 | June 26-July 2 | Waitlisted | $850 |
| Boys Equestrian Camp Week 4 | July 3-9 | Available | $850 |
| Boys Equestrian Camp Week 5 | July 10-16 | Waitlisted | $850 |
| Boys Equestrian Camp Week 6 | July 17-23 | Waitlisted | $850 |
| Boys Equestrian Camp Week 7 | July 24-30 | Available | $850 |
| Boys Equestrian Camp Week 8 | July 31-August 6 | Available | $850 |
| Girls Equestrian Camp Week 1 | June 12-18 | Waitlisted | $850 |
| Girls Equestrian Camp Week 2 | June 19-25 | Waitlisted | $850 |
| Girls Equestrian Camp Week 3 | June 26-July 2 | Waitlisted | $850 |
| Girls Equestrian Camp Week 4 | July 3-9 | Waitlisted | $850 |
| Girls Equestrian Camp Week 5 | July 10-16 | Waitlisted | $850 |
| Girls Equestrian Camp Week 6 | July 17-23 | Waitlisted | $850 |
| Girls Equestrian Camp Week 7 | July 24-30 | Waitlisted | $850 |
| Girls Equestrian Camp Week 8 | July 31-August 6 | Waitlisted | $850 |
| Boys CILT Session 1 | June 12-25 | Waitlisted | $1,650 |
| Boys CILT Session 2 | June 26-July 9 | Waitlisted | $1,650 |
| Boys CILT Session 3 | July 10-23 | Waitlisted | $1,650 |
| Boys CILT Session 4 | July 24-Aug 6 | Available | $1,650 |
| Girls CILT Session 1 | June 12-25 | Waitlisted | $1,650 |
| Girls CILT Session 2 | June 26-July 9 | Waitlisted | $1,650 |
| Girls CILT Session 3 | July 10-23 | Waitlisted | $1,650 |
| Girls CILT Session 4 | July 24-Aug 6 | Waitlisted | $1,650 |
| Whitewater Rafting 1 | June 19-25 | Waitlisted | $1,100 |
| Whitewater Rafting 3 (NEW!) | July 10-16 | Available | $1,200 |
| Horsepack Trip | July 24-30 | Available | $1,250 |
| Whitewater Rafting 2 | July 31-August 6 | Waitlisted | $1,100 |
| Day Camp Week 1 | June 20-24 | Waitlisted | $165 |
| Day Camp Week 2 | June 27-July 1 | Waitlisted | $165 |
| Day Camp Week 3 | July 4-8 | Waitlisted | $165 |
| Day Camp Week 4 | July 11-15 | Waitlisted | $165 |
| Day Camp Week 5 | July 18-22 | Waitlisted | $165 |
| Day Camp Week 6 | July 25-29 | Waitlisted | $165 |
| Day Camp Week 7 | August 1-5 | Waitlisted | $165 |
Day Camp Themes
2022 Themes
| Week | Dates | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | June 20 – June 24 | Tecumseh Saurus |
| Week 2 | June 27 – July 1 | Cartoons |
| Week 3 | July 4 – July 8 | American Spirit |
| Week 4 | July 11 - July 15 | Superheroes |
| Week 5 | July 18 – July 22 | Sports Mania |
| Week 6 | July 25 – July 29 | Pirates and Princesses |
| Week 7 | August 1 – August 5 | Wild Wild West |
