Core Activities
The following activities will be included in your ELP schedule as core activities.
- Nature Hike—Soon after arrival, students will have the chance to explore the grounds of Camp Omega and become immersed in God’s creation.
- Morning Devotions and Campfires—Each morning after breakfast, Camp Omega staff will lead students in camp songs and prayer. At night, everyone will join around the campfire for more camp songs and a devotional message.
- Canteen—Students (and adults!) have the opportunity to purchase food and drinks and relax and re-energize before the next activity.
- Cookout– Students will have the opportunity to participate in a campfire cook out.
- Service Project—Students will participate in a work project around Camp Omega and learn to be stewards of the environment around them. The projects vary and may include ravine clean-up, hauling wood, raking and clearing brush from outpost villages, or working in the Camp Omega garden.
Discovery Units
Camp Omega currently offers the following Environmental Learning units. Please read through and indicate on the Program Request form the units in which you are interested. A two-night ELP group typically completes six or seven units, and a one night group may fit in four or five. The size of the group may affect the length of the activity and scheduling may vary with each group.
- Animal Tracks—After learning about animal tracks, students locate animal tracks and make a cast of the track they have found.
- Tree Identification (Fall Only) – Students will learn about the parts of a tree and its leaves, the characteristics of leaves and collect samples of leaves from different trees around Camp Omega.
- Wildflowers (Spring only) – May is a wonderful time to explore the beauty of spring. Students will identify and discover the wild flowers of Minnesota. This unit is dependant on seasonal availability.
- Lake Study—Students learn about the inhabitants in and surrounding a lake ecosystem.
- Arthropods (Bugs) – Students learn basic information about arthropods (insects, arachnids, centipedes, and millipedes), and mollusca (snails, slugs, etc.) and have an opportunity to gather and observe them for identification and discovery.
- Owls – Students will learn about the uniqueness of owls and those species that live in Minnesota and get a chance to inspect owl pellets to get a first hand look at what barn owls have eaten.
- Fish Hatchery – There are over 5,400 game fish lakes in Minnesota and 15,000 miles of fishable streams and rivers! This is just one of the few facts students can learn at the Fish Hatchery located in Waterville. School transportation is required. This unit is dependent on seasonal availability.
- Habitat Study – Oh Deer! A study of wildlife habitat and constant population changes and how they affect the delicate system of survival.
- Simulated Archaeological Dig—Students learn the archaeological process and get hands-on experience by participating in a simulated archaeological dig and interpret the data they have found.
- Farm Fundamentals – Students will take a trip to a local dairy farm to observe exactly how we get our daily dose of calcium. School transportation is required.
- Cemetery Study—Join us for a journey into the past as we study and analyze gravestones and learn about life and death at a local cemetery. Additional transportation required.
- Bible Scavenger Hunt—Students identify pieces of nature that are found in specific Bible passages and then locate them somewhere on camp.
- Fire Building—Students learn the basics of fire building, the proper ways to handle and use fire in camping situations, and will have an opportunity to build their own fires.
- Wilderness Survival—Students will discuss the basics of survival and test their knowledge by participating in a simulated survival activity.
- Shelter Building – Students have an opportunity to discover the forest first hand by constructing shelters using natural materials and creativity.
- Canoeing—After receiving instructions on canoeing techniques and safety, students get an opportunity to practice their canoeing skills on the water. Weather permitting.
- Archery—Students will learn archery terminology and safety and then practice their skills on the archery range.
- Snow Shelters – (Only when there’s snow!)
- Orienteering—Students learn the basics of working with a compass and have an opportunity to test their navigation skills.
- Pop Bottle Rocketry—Students learn the basics of aerodynamics and what components help to make a rocket fly. They then design and construct a rocket out of a 2-liter bottle. Each student needs to bring a roll of Duct Tape, 2-liter bottle and a smaller 20-ounce bottle to make their rocket (or they can work in pairs).
- Gun Safety Clinic—Students journey off-site to a nearby trap shooting range and receive training on gun safety and shooting techniques by a certified Minnesota Department of Natural Resources instructor. Shotguns and ammunition will be available. Additionally fees apply.
Alternate/Recreational Activities
We want to make sure that you tailor your ELP experience to meet the needs of your students. Feel free to look at the list below and ask about other possibilities to enhance your stay at camp.
- Extra Class Time—Teachers or other chaperones may use this time to lead an activity or unit not offered by Camp Omega.
- Kickball, Krazy Kricket, or Disc Golf – Challenge another school to a game or divide into teams to show your school spirit!
- Funnel Ball– This game is similar to ultimate Frisbee, but played with a ball, it’s a camp favorite!
- Soccer – Camp Omega is famous for its World Cup edition of this traditional game.
- Sand Volleyball – There are several variations to this game, some including Team Nukem, a variation were players are eliminated and the game is altered by catching the ball instead of hitting it, and a warm weather favorite -water balloon volleyball.
- Rock Wall – This is the newest addition to our program. Groups with students ages 12 and up can face the challenge of our rock tower. This is an excellent opportunity for students to challenge themselves and grow mentally, physically and spiritually.
- Wagon Ride – This activity allows teachers and students to enjoy all of God’s creation at Camp Omega by enjoying a scenic ride on a wagon around camp.
- Tubing (Winter Only)
- Broomball (Winter Only)