Program
"Not all those who wander are lost." ~J.R.R. Tolkien
A Week at Camp Caverns
Sunday
2-4p CT: Check in. Location: The Caverns, 555 Charlie Roberts Road, Pelham TN, 37366
Camp Caverns Crew will check campers into their tribes. Parents will receive specific check in information. We will get campers gear and any paperwork we don’t have. After goodbyes are said, Camp Caverns Counselors and CITs will bring them to their yurts to unpack and get to know their fellow tribe members.
5p: Orientation.
Orientation will be done by Camp Caverns Director and Crew. This will be a fun and cool way to explain that they are about to become members of a special tribe and will always be members of that tribe once they have gone through the opening ceremony and complete the tasks expected of them. Campers will be given a totem that signifies their membership in the tribe one by one. They will each have a tribal name as well, only known to and spoken by members of the tribe.
6p: Dinner
7p: Each tribe will gather for initiation into their tribes and totem pole decorating.
8p: Opening Campfire and roasting marshmallows. Totem poles will be unveiled and lit.
9p: Campers return to yurts.
10p: Lights out.
Monday: Explore The Hero's Journey
8a: Wake up call.
While our official wake up is 8a we understand at Camp Caverns that all campers are unique. There will be supervised quiet activities for our early risers. We will have all campers clean up, brush teeth, etc.
9a: Breakfast.
10a: Head up to The Caverns Big Room Cave. In the darkness of the cave, campers will listen to a recorded presentation explaining the mythic “Hero’s Journey” and the history of The Caverns with an emphasis on the indigenous Woodland and Cherokee, buried gold, the Nunnehi’, and the mythological tale of the “lost tribe” of Woodland children.
1p: Lunch at The Caverns Shady Grove
2-4p: We're going caving! There are many age appropriate passages inside The Caverns and each of the tribes will find an underground adventure that involves cave helmets, knee pads and plenty of mud!
4-6p: Tribe Time Arts & Crafts. Tribes will decorate their bunk plaques.
6p: Dinner in Big Mouth Cave.
7p: Camp Caverns tradition - movie night with The Goonies in the cave!
10p: Campers will spend the night inside The Caverns music venue!
Tuesday: Explore History & Nature
8a: Wake up call.
9a: Breakfast.
10a: Trip to the historic home of the Highlander Folk School, the epicenter of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s. Rosa Parks and many others attended workshops at the Highlander Folk School to learn more about civil rights. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. attended a leadership conference at Highlander, and while visiting, Pete Seeger wrote “We Shall Overcome," an iconic civil rights anthem. Much like the folks who gathered at Highlander in the past, campers will learn that they, too, can change history through listening to others and working to find common ground. Campers' time at Highlander will end with a special "Pebble in the Lake" ceremony where each camper will throw a pebble into Highlander lake, proving that even small actions create ripples that lead to significant change.
12p: Picnic lunch at Highlander
1-3p: Trip to one of the top 25 hikes in North America according to Backpacker magazine, Fiery Gizzard trail followed by a trip to a Monteagle Mountain swimming hole.
4p: Bus back to Camp Caverns
5p: Free Time
6p-7p: Dinner.
7p-9p: Glow Games!
9p: Campers to yurts
10p: Lights Out
Wednesday: Explore Music
8a: Wake up call.
9a: Breakfast.
10a: Archery, Firemaking and Axe Throwing
12p: Lunch
1p-3p: Olympic Games - Campers will compete in an epic version of Camp Caverns Olympics. Which tribe will take home the coveted Camp Caverns trophy?
3p-5p: Arts & Crafts
5p-6p: Free Time
6p: Dinner.
7p-9p: Concert in the cave. We will have a band for the campers to enjoy some bluegrass, underground!
9p: Campers to yurts
10p: Lights out
Thursday: Explore New Heights of Adventure!
8a: Wake up call.
9a: Breakfast.
10a: Trip to Bigfoot Adventure for ziplining. Get ready to soar through the trees!
1p: Picnic lunch at Bigfoot
2-4p: Fishing and sports at Bigfoot
4p: Return to Camp
5p: Talent Show Prep
6p: Dinner
7-9p: Camp Caverns 2nd Annual Talent Show! Campers and crew get to show off their skills and talents. Singing, dancing, juggling and jokes - we can’t wait to see what new talents this summer brings! Costumes welcome!
9p: Campers to yurts
10p: Lights out.
Friday: Explore Teamwork
8a: Wake up call.
9a: Breakfast.
10a: Tribe Time: Arts & Crafts. Campers will make a Camp Caverns keepsake to go with their totem.
12p: Lunchtime
1p-3p: Camp Caverns 1st Annual Color Wars! Campers will participate in a variety of field games collecting colored items along the way for the ultimate scavenger hunt!
3-6p: Packing time
6p: Dinner.
7-9p: Closing Ceremony Campfire. Campers will be initiated into Camp Caverns family forever.
9p: Campers to yurts
11p: Lights out.
Saturday
8a: Wake up call.
9a: Breakfast.
Pick-up: 10a-12p CT
Contact: Jen Mayo, Camp Director • jen@thecaverns.com • (423) 228-0506