Outdoor Camp Skills
Throughout camp, we learn outdoor camp skills such as building a campfire, reading a topographical map, purifying drinking water, cooking on camp stoves & open fires, Leave No Trace, knots, archery, and so much more. Campers may choose to participate in earning "camp skill beads" by successfully completing tasks as outlined on Camp W skill cards. During our weekly awards ceremony, each camper receives a Camp Wilderness Skills Token to display the "Camp Skill Beads" that they have earned during their camp session, and returning campers continue to earn and add beads as they progress towards a Camp W “Rover”. Regardless if campers earn camp skill beads, each camper receives a Token and will have at least 3 "Camp W Beads" on it for attending camp.
Skills token
Camp W Wilderness Skills Token are designed to grow by adding more beads each year (or each session) that a camper returns to camp. Tokens are for campers to keep as camp mementos for many years to come and the beads will help each camper recall all that they gained from their camp experiences as well as allow us to follow year to year skills progression.
"Camp W Beads"
The first bead you will receive is the Annual Camp Bead, which represents the year you went to Camp W; it’s the signature Camp W bead. This bead is LARGER than all the other beads and is always purple in color. Wearing this bead acknowledges that you are not only a part of your immediate Camp W group, but are a member of a larger group of all campers who have attended Camp W. This bead also acknowledges your accomplishment of joining camp and being a part of our movement – youth adventuring outdoors in an inclusive loving environment: a healthy and physically fit lifestyle choice that they can continue to incorporate into their daily lives at home.
The Camp Session Bead, represents your immediate Camp W group. Each wave of campers throughout the summer will receive a corresponding bead for the session.
The Camper Expedition Bead is given if your camper goes on an Expedition session they will receive a bead for their adventure experience.
The Solo Bead is earned through completion of a solo camping experience during the season. Campers hone their skills learned at camp to culminate in a solo camping trip.
The Camper Award Bead is given during closing ceremony. You’ll select this bead for yourself. Wearing this bead acknowledges your personal accomplishments at camp and recognizes your personal strengths. The award bead can serve you for many years in a lifetime of achievements yet to come.
“Rover Beads”
These are the beads that indicate a progression of skills within each Guild. Rover Beads are the last bead for each guild which indicate mastery of the specific curriculum. Campers can earn by “testing out” on Guild specific skills.
The "Camp Skill Beads"
In addition to the other camp beads, you can earn beads of recognition for specific camp skills accomplished at Camp W. These "camp skill beads" are additional, optional beads that you can earn by “testing out” on camp specific skills. You can choose to earn these skill beads once you’re at camp.
During the first day or two at camp, your Counselors will explain each camp skill and hand out the skill bead cards for you to look over. Typically on day 2 of camp, you'll be asked to announce which bead or beads you are going for. Your Counselors will assist you in attaining the skills beads by teaching you what you need to know, but ultimately it is up to you to meet the criteria as defined on each skill card. Each skill is designed to be earned in a designated time frame with specific criteria so that earning the bead is able to be accomplished and uniform across the board of all campers and camp sessions.
At the time of this writing, there are 18 Camp W Skill Beads, here are 11 examples:
Shelter (represented by a Green bead). To earn this bead you do things like sleeping under the stars and building a shelter.
Fire (represented by a Red bead). To earn this bead you do things like starting a fire and cooking over a fire.
Water (represented by a Blue bead). To earn this bead you do things that demonstrate how to conserve, protect, and purify water.
Navigation (represented by a Brown bead). To earn this bead you do things that demonstrate your understanding of maps in regards to location, direction, route, time and distance.
Wilderness First Aid (represented by a Yellow bead). To earn this bead you will do things that demonstrate your understanding of first aid and CPR skills in a wilderness environment.
Camp Group Living (represented by a Pink bead). To earn this bead you will do things that demonstrate your skills in team building, communication, participation, tolerance and cooperation.
Yoga (represented by a Purple bead). To earn this bead you will do things that demonstrate your skills in yoga. You'll lead the group in a yoga session, create your own yoga pose, and practice yoga postures with dedication.
Camp Cooking (represented by a Orange bead). To earn this bead you will do things that demonstrate your ability to safely use camp stoves, your understanding of planning a healthy and balanced group meal and your skills in cooking and serving a meal you made to the group.
Climbing (represented by a Black bead). To earn this bead you will do things that demonstrate your skills in knots, anchor systems, terminology usage and on-trail LNT and group leadership skills.
Backpacking (represented by a Boot bead). To earn this bead you will do things that demonstrate your skills in packing and carrying your backpack correctly, backcountry food storing skills, and on-trail LNT and group leadership skills.
Canoeing (represented by a Canoe bead). To earn this bead you will do things that demonstrate your skills in rigging, paddling, hydrology and LNT and group leadership skills.
Camp W encourages fun and fair play with integrity in all activities and campers are expected to adhere those ideals in regards to camp skill beads. If a camper doesn't meet all criteria necessary to earn a camp skill bead in the given time frame and under the given circumstances, campers may not earn the bead and are encouraged to continue efforts to earn it in their next camp session.
Bead Replacement Policy
All Camp W beads are one of a kind for each session and for each year. Therefore, beads can't be replaced if necklaces are lost or broken. For the purpose of maintaining a historical bead record, Camp W keeps a museum-like box that contains original beads since Camp W’s inception of Wilderness Bead Necklaces for campers.
Returning Campers / Campers Attending Multiple Sessions
If a camper attends 2 camp sessions in the same summer, they will receive the "camp beads" for each session their attend, as well as any skill bead they earn during their stay. Returning campers are asked to bring their necklaces from previous Camp W sessions with them and we'll add 3 more "camp beads" to it for each new session they attend plus more "camp skill beads" that they earn during the session. Returning campers will receive a new necklace if they forget to bring or lost a previous necklace.