Everything we do at Shaffer's High Sierra Camp is with an eye toward helping kids take another step toward becoming happy, healthy, well-adjusted adults. When it comes to activities, we do this through a summer camp program that includes the summer camp classics but focuses on fun noncompetitive, team-oriented wilderness adventure activities.
The Camp subscribes to the "Challenge-by-Choice" philosophy. Campers select their activities and how far to pursue them while the camp provides the encouragement and support. For instance, if a camper chooses mountain biking, s/he can choose easy rides, intermediate rides, or pursue his or her interest all the way up to our "black diamond" 14 mile ride with a 4,000 foot vertical drop. Building skills and conquering challenges that they set for themselves also helps build self confidence and self esteem. We encourage campers to try new activities. Being willing to try new things helps build a sense of adventure and a can-do attitude that we believe helps kids face a future which will have its ups and downs.
The Camp focuses on noncompetitive, team-oriented activities because we believe this helps foster a sense of community and of belonging, which in turn helps build friendships and encourages campers to stretch and try new experiences. So, in a sentence, we want your child to be safe, both physically and emotionally, to have fun, to make friends, to stretch and try new activities, and to grow in the process, all while gaining an appreciation of nature.
