Ohio Summer Camp for the Non Sport Kids - Expedition Earth

Expedition Earth is the summer camp for great acitivites for the non-sporty kid!

It took me a long time to find a camp that was well rounded that was not related to girl or boy scouts, but also non-sports. Public Schools offer many different types of camps for the sports kids, however what they offer to the non-sports kids is greatly lacking. After searching the Internet for days I finally found one a couple of years ago. I was extremely happy I found this camp. It gave my child a full list of different activities to choose from that was associated with team play but were different from your typically sports programs.

Expedition Earth had what I was seeking. They provided both indoor and outdoor activities. The list included these activities: Mini Bike Course, Wave Runners, Whitewater Rafting, Paintball Games, GPS Laser Tag, Go-Carts, 1,000 ft. Zip Line, The Great Race, Hot Tubing, Power Pole, High Ropes Course, Adventure Lake, Water Trampoline, Fear Factor Games, Salt Fork Excursion, Tubing, Beach Party, Shaving Cream Fight, Horseback Riding, Giant Swing, Scavenger Hunts, Initiative Games, Rock Climbing, Fun Night Games

Highlights of some of these activities:

1. Mini Bike Course - Bikes and helmets are provided. Riders will learn how to ride safely, turn correctly, jump obstacles and ride figure eights.

2. Wave Runners - To operate the wave runners your child must be fourteen years of age and complete the on-line boating safety course. Which can be found at http://www.boat-ed.com/oh/index.htm . There is a $15.00 charge for this course, and you can download and print the study guide to pass the test.

"The Ohio Boating Education Course (OBEC) online course has been approved by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Watercraft and is the official boat course material used by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in their classroom courses. It also satisfies other states' requirements for Ohio residents who boat out of state." [i]

"The contents of the Ohio Boating Education Course is also approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) as both a boat and personal watercraft (PWC) safety course and is recognized by the U. S. Coast Guard."[ii]

3. Whitewater Rafting - This adventure is done at to Ohiopyle, PA to raft on the Lower Youghigheny River as a day trip.

4. Paintball Games - Be sure to send your child with cloths that you don't mind getting paint on them for this game!

5. GPS Laser Tag - Laser tag says it all. Does your child want to be a commando!

6. Go-Carts - A little competition around the racecourse.

7. Hot Tubing - After all these activities, who wouldn't want to spend your evening in the hot tub. (Do they let adults go too?)

8. Shaving Cream Fight - They pick the best spot to do this activity, at the beech, it makes it for easy clean up.

My daughter has attended this camp for two years in a row now; she has enjoyed the mixed company (the camp is co-ed). When she gets home from camp that is all she can talk about for a week. Another nice feature about this camp is if your child doesn't wish to do an activity that is ok, the counselors allow them to help in other ways. For instance, my daughter is afraid of heights and choose not to do the High Ropes course, the counselors at the camp let her help be a spotter.

Some of the activities I hear the most about is Banana tubing and the white water rafting. These activities are the highlight of her week. Did I mention that all your child needs to bring is them-selves? (Of course you will need basics such as your cloths of toothbrush and a pillow) Expedition Earth provides all equipment for them to use.

Can't afford to send your kid to camp that is ok. If you sign up early, they offer opportunities for your child to participate in fundraising activities to help you pay for the camp. They offer other discount programs such as a sibling discount and early registration.

At the end of the camp, they mail you a DVD of the filming that they did while they were at the camp. It is such a nice touch to watch the movie with your child several weeks after they return home. You can see the light in their eyes.

For more information you can visit Expedition Earth at expeditionearth.com

[i] Boat Ed, 2003, "Ohio Boating Education Course", [Electronic Version] retrieved on January 18, 2007, from http://www.boat-ed.com/oh/oh_internet.htm

[ii] Boat Ed, 2003, "Ohio Boating Education Course", [Electronic Version] retrieved on January 18, 2007, from http://www.boat-ed.com/oh/oh_internet.htm