8-week
and 4-week campers are organized into four age-group divisions, each
with its own living area, its own unit head and staff, its own
base-camp program, its own program of wilderness trips and its own
capacity. When they are not on trips, all regular session campers come
together for meals and for many evening programs. During the rest of
the time their world revolves around the age-group division to which
they belong. It is not uncommon for brothers who are in different
age-group divisions to see very little of one another during their time
at camp.
Prep Camp
The Prep Unit is made up of 30-35 young men completing grades 3, 4 and 5.
In
2009, Camp Kooch-i-ching will embark on a new 3-week program for our
youngest age group. Preps will now have the option of coming to
Kooch-i-ching for 3-weeks, 4-weeks, or 7-weeks. This will give every
Kooch-i-ching camper who comes to the island the opportunity to choose
his own classes, go on an extended wilderness trip and participate in
Final Week.
The new 3-week program will take place during the
first half of the summer. 3-week Preps will arrive on June 21st, a week
after the first session starts and after all 4 and 8-week campers have
departed on trips. With the attention of the entire island staff, they
will get settled in, create a class schedule, learn traditional games
and prepare for their 5-night canoe trip. Upon returning to camp from
their voyage, the Junior Camp will be on the dock to greet them. Two
days later the Prep group will then have the chance to watch the "Big
Boys" return from their trips. It will be an exciting time at the trip
center, as the entire camp will be together sharing their stories as
they unpack their gear.
Once the trips have returned, the entire
camp will join in the celebration of the 2nd Annual Kooch-i-ching
Independence Day. The day will be filled with field games, a barbeque
and fireworks over the bay. Anyone who was with us last year will tell
you what a spectacular day it was on Deer Island. Final week will soon
follow and will once again be packed with tournaments and the
traditional Witches Broom Ride, Pillow Fighting, Friendship Dance and
Grand Council.
Part of the reasoning for creating the 3-week
Prep session was the opportunity to combine our first session Preps
with our Bantam campers to make for a more dynamic Prep camp. By
combining these two programs, our Prep camp will have more options, all
of our campers will experience a longer canoe trip and we will have the
whole camp community together during final week, which is very
important to us. We feel this will be a great option for both our
campers and their families.
Junior Camp
The
Junior Camp (1st Session (4 weeks), 2nd Session (4 weeks) & 8 week
options) includes 45-50 campers completing grades 6 and 7.
Intermediate Camp
The
Intermediate Camp (1st Session (4 weeks), 2nd Session (4 weeks) & 8
week options) is made up of 50-55 young men completing grades 8 and 9.
Senior Camp
The
largely self-governing Senior Unit (New Offering! 1st Session (4 weeks)
& 8 week options) includes approximately 30 young men completing
grades 10 and 11.
