Over 30 Activities for
Indoor & Outdoor Adventures!

Camp Nakanawa offers the opportunity to explore over 30 activities led by highly skilled and caring staff. 
Each girl can try activities in leadership, aquatics, sports, horseback riding, creative and performing arts, nature exploration, and more!

Junior Camp Activities

Younger girls require encouragement and motivation to try all activities, both for the experience as well as for gaining knowledge of basic fundamentals. The two-week and four-week programs are well organized with scheduled activities to meet the camper’s needs.
Junior campers receive instruction in tennis, swimming, diving, canoeing, games, glee club, drama, dance, nature, archery, arts and crafts, and riding.

Intermediate & Senior Camp Activities

Many girls of intermediate and senior camp age have good foundations in some activities and are anxious to pursue their special skills and interests. There are multiple elective activities to choose from and only four are required – swimming, tennis, glee club, and canoeing.

Elective activities include arts and crafts, softball, diving, drama, handbells, lifeguard training, sailing, dance, fencing, archery, riflery, riding, soccer, climbing wall, and zip line.

  • All Activities
  • Arts & Crafts2
  • Climbing2
  • Dance1
  • Drama/Music7
  • Land Sports14
  • Nature1
  • Water Sports5
  • 32

Archery

The classic precision sport of archery enjoys great popularity in all age groups. From the first day, campers lift a bow and begin to learn stance, grip, focus, vocabulary and safety. Instructors teach shooting techniques and equipment care on our well-supervised ranges where tournaments are held throughout the sessions. We award National Archery Association ranks, certificates and pins.

  • All Levels
  • All
  • 2 Week, 4 Week

Arts & Crafts

Express your creativity! Arts and Crafts buildings are situated beside the lake for the enjoyment of cool breezes while we build friendships and craft camp masterpieces. From friendship bracelets and lapboards in Junior Camp to stitchery, needlepoint, jewelry, block printing and painting in Senior Camp, campers are presented with an array of media and age-appropriate projects.
  • Easy
  • All
  • 2 Week, 4 Week

Bouldering Wall

Certified instructors teach all camp climbing activities. Junior campers learn bouldering, a climb sideways without harnesses, to give everyone the chance to be successful. A short wall introduces campers to climbing on belay with the accompanying knots, and safety. Shark Attack, a favorite game, encourages climbers to boulder quickly and efficiently.
  • All Levels
  • All
  • 2 Week, 4 Week

Canoeing

Gliding over the lake in our unique wood-and-canvas canoes is one of the memorable hallmarks of Nakanawa. The youngest campers learn paddle strokes on the dock, then master boating skills and teamwork for accurate, safe landings in two-seat canoes. Intermediate and Senior campers work to advance to the rank of “blade” when they canoe solo and perform a unique set of graceful strokes. Blades compete in finesse and accuracy in weekly waterfront meets.
  • All Levels
  • All
  • 2 Week, 4 Week

Ceramics / Pottery

Get your hands messy in Senior Camp where we teach both hand-building and wheel-thrown ceramics. From concept to glaze to kiln-firing, pieces are ready to take home at each session’s end. Many Nakanawa campers develop a life-long ability in pottery from their early enjoyment here.
  • All Levels
  • All
  • 4 Week

Choir / Octet

We take singing seriously at Nakanawa, and we do it - in harmony - all the time. Young melodious voices are heard daily throughout Camp.  In Junior and Senior Camp, we learn treasured camp songs as well as music for church, vespers and team gatherings. Junior campers perform a musical revue in Two-Week Camp and an inclusive Operetta in Four-Week. These theatrical experiences include costumes and a bit of dance for every camper. Choir in Intermediate and Senior Camps is an elective for all who love group singing; they prepare lovely selections for both church and Fine Arts Day. Stars are indeed born at Nakanawa! While Choir is open to anyone on the Senior side of the lake, the elite eight singers of Octet are chosen based on auditions. Nakanawa commemorates special gatherings and awards ceremonies with beautiful songs written for Camp and performed by Octet.
  • All Levels
  • Intermediate Senior
  • 4 Week

Climbing Wall / Zip Line / Ropes Course / Giant Swing

The 40-foot climbing tower in Senior Camp commands a choice spot along the lake where the correct use of gear and the combination of physical and mental acuity challenge novice and seasoned climbers alike. A thrilling zip line which soars over the lake waits at the summit. Senior campers also train on an indoor climbing wall and have the opportunity to problem-solve with creativity and teamwork as they traverse the challenges of our low ropes course in the woods. For sheer enjoyment, a 30-foot giant swing offers the free-fall of a lifetime.
  • All Levels
  • Intermediate, Senior
  • 2 Week, 4 Week

Dance

Modern and aerobic dance are offered in Senior Camp only. Counselors with experience in dance and choreography teach movement and routines which lead to original dance programs for Fine Arts Day at the close of the Four-Week session.
  • All Levels
  • All
  • 2 Week, 4 Week

Diving

Offered in all Nakanawa sessions, diving instruction occurs during swimming class periods. Junior Camp diving emphasizes approach and water entry so that everyone progresses safely and confidently from the “watermelon roll” to various dives from our one-meter boards. Those proficient in diving also advance in grace, skill and consistency with regular practice. The Intermediate and Senior diving programs welcome beginners while coaching experienced divers at a higher level of performance in front, back, piked and flip positions. Diving competitions on the lake are a picturesque part of all waterfront meets.
  • All Levels
  • All
  • 2 Week, 4 Week

Drama

Get on stage and let your inner star shine! Nakanawa’s Intermediate and Senior drama program familiarizes campers with both the performance and technical aspects of theater as they memorize lines, change scenes, design costumes, apply make-up and manage the stage. Everyone who signs up receives a part. Creative and critical group thinking result in innovative, enjoyable plays performed for families and the camp community on Fine Arts Day.
  • All Levels
  • Intermediate, Senior
  • 2 Week, 4 Week

Fencing

Offered to Intermediate and Senior campers, fencing is a century-old sport at Nakanawa. The dual physical and mental workout of fencing develops skill, strategy and sportsmanship against opponents of varying skill levels. Campers learn and practice the foundations of fencing in class as they build physical endurance, agility, and accuracy for final tournaments.
  • All Levels
  • Intermediate, Senior
  • 4 Week

Games

Our goal is to provide campers with varied games, many of them international, that they may not play at home. For both 2- and 4-week sessions, we practice creative relays and teamwork challenges for team meets. Each summer a new group dance becomes part of our Hoe-Down and rainy day fun. Four-week campers compete in high-energy “Mass Soccer” as well as in competitions using basic tumbling skills.
  • Easy to Medium
  • Junior, Intermediate
  • Junior (2 wk & 4 wk), Intermediate (2 wk only)

Glee Club

We take singing seriously at Nakanawa, and we do it - in harmony- all the time. Young melodious voices are heard daily throughout Camp.  In Junior and Senior Camp, we learn treasured camp songs as well as music for church, vespers and team gatherings. Junior campers perform a musical revue in Two-Week Camp and an inclusive Operetta in Four-Week. These theatrical experiences include costumes and a bit of dance for every camper.
  • Easy
  • All
  • 2 Week, 4 Week

Golf

Nakanawa’s driving cage and putting green provide a setting for Intermediate and Senior campers to learn and sharpen the fundamentals of this lifelong game. Instruction with clubs includes driving, chipping and putting along with golf vocabulary, etiquette and course rules. At the end of both Two-Week and Four-Week sessions, golfers take a trip to the local golf course. A nine-hole tournament for the golf medal is our Four-Week finale.
  • All Levels
  • Intermediate, Senior
  • 2 Week, 4 Week

Hand Bells

Come make joyful noise in this popular activity with Camp’s three octaves of brass hand bells. No experience is necessary with enthusiastic instructors who teach the basics of rhythm and sight-reading. The handbell choir plays for our Sunday services, special events, Fine Arts Day and in community settings in nearby Crossville.
  • All Levels
  • Intermediate, Senior
  • 4 Week

Horseback Riding

Junior Camp riding, geared to beginners, promotes confidence and safety on our calm, child-friendly horses and ponies. Through games, steering patterns and short trail rides, the staff teaches English riding in the shaded Centennial Arena. Experienced riders may enjoy a faster pace. In Intermediate and Senior Camps, riding is a beloved elective in which campers receive individual equitation coaching on livelier horses, participate in horse care and take trail rides around Nakanawa.
  • All Levels
  • All
  • 2 Week, 4 Week

Musical Instruments

Those who play a musical instrument, whether camper or staff member, are encouraged to bring the instrument to Camp to share at the talent shows, church, vespers and the many musical activities so integral to life at Nakanawa. Portable instruments such as flutes, ukuleles, violins, trumpets, guitars, cellos and harmonicas have been heard over the summers at Camp; campers who play the piano are invited to play Camp’s keyboards for church and other performances.

  • All Levels
  • Intermediate, Senior
  • 4 Week

Musical Production

In Two-Week Junior and Intermediate Camps, final activities include brief, clever thirty-minute musicals involving every camper. Teaching groups, arranged by age,  each have a singing role and simple costume for these cooperative productions.

  • All Levels
  • Junior, Intermediate
  • 2 Week

Nature

Rabbits and turtles and snakes - oh my! In Junior Camp, the Margaret Matens Nature Hut is home to fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, insects and woodland creatures from whom campers learn identification, responsible care-taking and respect for the natural world. Certified Wildlife Rehabilitators guide campers in safe understanding of all facets of the Nakanawa ecosystem. Exploration of private trails, so rare today, ignites an early sense of adventure and love for the outdoors. We also teach beginning camping skills such as fire building, safety and pathfinding.
  • Easy
  • Junior
  • 2 Week, 4 Week

Operetta

From the earliest days of Junior Camp, the Operetta has been a meaningful musical gift performed for the sister Camps in Intermediate and Senior; parents and guests enjoy the production on the closing day of Four-Week Camp. Consistent group effort among the staff and Junior campers produces hand-painted sets, creative props and original costumes, The all-inclusive cast takes the stage in the Junior Council House for an hour of song, dance and drama that no former camper ever forgets. Nakanawa’s collection of scripts, music and set designs includes adaptations of well known musicals such as The Lion King, Annie, Mary Poppins and Aladdin.

  • All Levels
  • Junior
  • 4 Week

Riflery

Offered only to Senior campers aged fifteen and older, riflery remains a distinct and much anticipated Nakanawa privilege. Observing National Rifle Association regulations, safety standards and range commands, shooters are schooled in the techniques, skill and control required to shoot a .22 caliber rifle accurately on a 50-foot range. Campers progress through four skill levels on the scale to Expert in this classic individual sport.
  • Medium
  • Senior
  • 4 Week

Running

Cross country athletes and novice runners join the fun yet rigorous running program in Senior Camp. We combine training for endurance and speed with proper warm-up, stretching habits, drills and distance workouts. Campers set individual goals for improving overall fitness and performance. Counselors supervise and support all campers in their aims, and runners enthusiastically track achievements over the summer. A lively 5K at the end of the Four-Week session allows runners to measure their progress.
  • Easy
  • Intermediate, Senior
  • 4 Week

Sailing

Sail away on a Sunfish with your friends . . . After learning to rig a sailboat, tie proper knots and follow safety procedures of Red Cross sailing basics, campers may attain different levels of expertise and eventually be classified as Skippers. Practical application of sailing principles and techniques is important in the program which culminates in a regatta at the close of the season.
  • All Levels
  • Intermediate, Senior
  • 2 Week, 4 Week

Soccer

Decades before young women were crazy for soccer, the field at Nakanawa was covered with teams in red and blue dedicated to victory with that black and white ball. Conditioning, strategy, teamwork and secrecy build suspense for weekend Intermediate and Senior games which culminate in the grand finale, Varsity Soccer. Alumnae of all ages plan their visits to Nakanawa to enjoy Varsity!
  • All Levels
  • Intermediate, Senior
  • 4 Week

Softball

Move over, soccer! Intermediate and Senior softball players say that this is THE game of Four-Week Camp. Coached in teamwork, fielding, and batting, softball players participate in fun drills and practice games as the weeks advance toward a rousing and hotly contested final game in a league truly Nakanawa’s own.
  • Easy, Medium
  • Intermediate, Senior
  • 4 Week

Swimming

The daily required supervised dip into refreshing Lake Aloaloa is pure bliss. Every counselor and camper must pass a swimming safety test. Life preservers are used for those new to swimming, and no one goes on the dock without waterfront staff present. Certified Red Cross Lifeguards teach safety and a variety of basic strokes in Junior Camp; strong Junior swimmers can begin Nakanawa Form Swimming, go for endurance in Swim-a-Mile or increase their competitive speed skills. Intermediate and Senior Camp swimming continues these offerings at more advanced levels in both form and stamina. Achieving distinction as a Dolphin, Shark, Sting Ray or Whale inspires mature campers in every facet of swimming with expert coaching by our waterfront staff. Weekend team competitions along our expansive lakefront include fun games, form swimming, relays and speed races. Swim team members will put in their laps at Camp!
  • All Levels
  • All
  • 2 Week, 4 Week

Table Tennis

Since the 1990s, enthusiasm for fast-paced, competitive table tennis at Camp has never waned. Not difficult to learn but challenging to master, table tennis requires quick reflexes and hand-to-eye coordination. Intermediate and Senior campers play this fun game on tables in our shaded pavilion and compete in both singles and doubles.
  • Easy
  • Intermediate, Senior
  • 4 Week

Tennis

Our recently resurfaced tennis courts are busy places. Junior campers hone skills daily to perfect the forehand and backhand and enjoy games of Queen of the Court. At all levels, Nakanawa teaches tennis etiquette, proper scoring, and match strategy. Campers advance to perfect their net games and serve in Intermediate and Senior Camps. Our custom of Sunday matches continues with experienced tennis team members and novices enjoying skill-appropriate round-robin play that leads to bracketed tournament matches in Junior, Intermediate and Senior Camps. A new court sensation: PickleBall!
  • All Levels
  • All
  • 2 Week, 4 Week

Tone Chimes

Durable and simpler to learn than hand bells, tone chimes provide Junior campers a hand-held percussion instrument to learn in a group and play for church and special programs. Part of Glee Club, tone chimes introduce campers to musical timing, note recognition and ensemble experience. At bedtime, the soft notes of Taps played on the tone chimes ring out in the peaceful night air over Junior Camp.

  • Easy
  • Junior
  • 2 Week, 4 Week

Tumbling

As a part of the Games activity, Tumbling is offered in Junior Camp only. Loads of fun, campers enjoy playing on the mats and learning tumbling basics from a qualified Physical Education Instructor.
  • All Levels
  • Junior
  • 4 Week

Volleyball

An elective sport offered when demand and experienced coaching allow, volleyball has a time-honored place among the team games in Intermediate and Senior Camp. Requiring agility, strength, communication and specific skills for the set-up, spike and serve, volleyball attracts experienced players and interested beginners.

  • Easy
  • Intermediate, Senior
  • 4 Week

War Canoe

A prized team tradition in both Intermediate and Senior Camps, Nakanawa’s wooden war canoes seat a crew of ten selected paddlers and an elected coxswain, much like competitive rowing. The calls and decisions of the “cox” guide the crew’s teamwork and speed as they train in endurance for victory on the momentous race day. A war canoe drill competition, held on the last day of camp, explores a creative side of canoeing with a seated, timed paddle routine performed to music by each team. Drill judges review form, precision, content and originality in the unique moving “paddle dances.”
  • Difficult
  • Intermediate, Senior
  • 4 Week
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