Summer Camp

Summer Camp Gift Certificates

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Swift Nature Camp should be on your gift list!

The holidays are coming. And, once again, you're probably wondering what to get your children as a gift. Is your home already filled with every type of electronic item a child can want? We all have to much stuff so why not provide an experience that will live long past all the other stuff has been recycled.


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Finding the Best Camp Length

Visit: First Time at Summer Camp

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Gone are the days when most, or even many, camps offered only full sessions of seven or eight weeks. Shrinking summer vacations for all age groups, staggered college start dates for staff populations, and encroachment on dates of availability by an ever-increasing cadre of specialty camps (often offered, recommended, or even mandated by leaders/coaches of organized, year-round sports and other activities) have all made it more challenging for families to consider sending their children to traditional, full-season camps.

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Finding The Best Summer Camps

Visit Summer Camps
 
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The experience children get when they go to summer camp is something that will have an effect on the rest of their lives. As a parent it is important that you and your child choose the best summer camps together. Finding the camp that best fits your budget and your child's needs can be a daunting task that requires loads of effort up front. Before you....

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Summer Camp for 150 Years

Visit: First Time at Summer Camp
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In honor of the 150th Anniversary of organized camp in the United States, Representative Chellie Pingree of Maine recognized the importance of camp experiences for children with comments that now appear in the Congressional Record. Her remarks highlight the importance camp experiences have in the year-round education and development of children. READ MORE

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Summer Camp and Forest Fires

Visit : Science Summer Camps
forest_fire-2726Ninety percent of all forest-related fires in Wisconsin are started by humans. Education is a key prevention tool to develop an informed and caring citizenry that will take action to prevent useless fires and who support the use of prescribed burning as a management tool. This was the main point to the lessons recently taught at Swift Nature Camp.
Swift nature Camp invited the Minong and Solen Springs 5th grade classes out for 3 days and 2 nights of Science Camp. it was the last day when students had 2 fire presentations. The first was held by the local DNR, where they spoke how important it was to protect against wild fires and how they put them out. THe second presentation was by the local fire department and how they protect the local residents with their fire equipment. These 2 classes were very informative and kept the kids involved.

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Reading At Summer Camps

Visit : Children’s Summer Camps

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Minong, Wi (2011) – Swift Nature Camp is proud to announce participation in the American Camp Association’s® (ACA’s) Explore 30 Camp Reading Program.

It has long been said that children experience “summer learning loss” when they are not involved in high quality programs with opportunities for skill building. Research indicates that participation in intentional programs, like camp, can help stem summer learning loss.

Swift Nature Camp Teamed up, ACA's
Explore 30 Camp Reading Program. This program addresses summer learning loss by providing youth with the incentive to read at least 30 minutes per day.  Swift Nature Camp has always promoted kids to read by furnishing a library and time to read. In addition each night staff read to their cabin. So, joining this national movement was an easy transition for SNC. We believe that the camp experience is a vital component in the development and education of the whole child, eading is just a natural part of that.

Swift has long had Achievement Awards that promote children to learn about particular camp areas, such as sailing, fishing and archery. “We just added it to the A.A. program and created a patch for campers to show completion”, said Lonnie Lorenz, owner of SNC. It proved to be our of our most popular Achievement Awards.

There are currently 140 camps from more than 30 states participating in the Explore 30 program. For more information on the program, or to view a list of particpating camps, visit ACA’s Web site at
www.ACAcamps.org/explore30.  

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Benefits of Summer Camp

Visit : Children’s Summer Camps
Summer Camp103_4128-ppWe at Swift Nature Camp want to be a part of your childs development. We understand that parents need and want partners in their childs development. For many families, it’s school, sports and religion. Yet, often we forget that camp is part of a childs healthy development. For one thing, camp provides children with the opportunity to connect with nature, to participate in human- powered activities, and to benefit from personal relationships.  Research has showen 92 percent ...

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Camp T-Shirt

Visit: Animal Summer Camp

AND THE WINNER of the 2011 T-Shirt IS........................
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Thanx to all that voted it was a close race with 3 of
the t-shirts almost winning.


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Summer Camp Shirts

Visit: Summer Camp
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Summer Camp 2011, looks to be one of the best ever at Swift Nature Camp.
Here are the pics of the Camp T-Shirts. Find the one you like the best and go to http://www.facebook.com/#!/SwiftNatureCamp
and be sure to vote in the POLL area. Please only one vote per camper!

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New Camp Song

  Visit: Eco Friendly Summer Camps

Hey yall this is a tidbit of Zach’s new song for the summer camp 2011. Hope you will be there to sing around the campfire.
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Nature Prescription

Visit:Nature Camp
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Read why todays families are getting a Nature Prescription, No pills required. Just get out and walk, explore and enjoy the outdoors. Summer camps are one place where Nature is an every day part of life, free of cell phones, ipods and the web. The only thing streaming has water in it. Learn more about the Nature Prescription....... Read More...

Summer Camp Songs

Visit: Summer Camps


Maybe this is a New Camp Song...Let’s all practice! Read More...

Old Fashioned Summer Camp

Visit: Old Fashioned Summer Camps

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We all have memories of our childhood. For many these include times at Summer Camp. As we reflect on those Old-Fashioned summer camp days, void of Iphone, Ipods and youtube they bring back fond memories, when times were simpler. Recently I was recalling with some friends and we both had the same Ole’ summer camp story, “Our camp director pulled a little 19 inch black and white TV on the beach as we all gathered around to watch the Apollo 11 crew take their first steps on the moons suface. What were your most treasured camp memories? Did you like/hate camp? Do you feel that attending summer camp taught you any valuable life lessons? Do you still have camp friends that you keep in touch with? Do you send your own kids to camp during the summer? What was your favorite/worst craft activity? Below Heidi Kelly of Weltman, Weinberg and Reis Co asked her fellow workers to share their Old Fashioned Camp Memories. We hope you enjoy these stories from the WWR staff!

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Camp Friends

Visit: Summer Camps100_6488
For those who have been around Swift for some time, you know camp friends are unlike any other friends. Last week when we were in Minneapolis we had Jess (now living in AZ) stop by and visit. Jess has been involved with camp since she was 18. Now 10 years later she looked back fondly at all that she had accomplished at Swift. From Water Front to Assistant Director. She did it all. This is why we love Swift so ...it’s great to see folks grow and develop at camp...

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Benefits of Summer Camp

Visit: Nature Camp Website
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Summer camp can be a bridge to the world over which a child can carry the seeds of attributes already planted at home and in school. The right summer camp can be the ideal first step away from home and family, because a good summer camp is still a safe environment for learning independence. Summer camp is a place for fun and the joy and passion of growth free from the stress of modern fascination for achievement. Camp is a respite from the technology that can rule a child’s life and distract from human attributes rather than being a tool to implement them. A camper can discover and develop attributes like these over the course of every summer and have a great deal of fun doing so.........

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Scholarship

Visit : Summer Kids Camps
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Every year, Kohl's recognizes and rewards young volunteers (ages 6-18) across the country for amazing contributions to their communities. This year we are recognizing more than 2,100 kids with more than $415,000 in scholarships and prizes. We know our SNC Camp kids are always getting involved. TELL US YOUR STORY and we will nominate you to Khol’s Cares Scholarship Program

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Looking for a Summer Camp

Visit : Summer Youth Camps
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If you and your youngster have talked and decided that he or she is ready for summer camp, there is a place to begin. A free Summer Camp website has been created by experienced directors of a long established camp to help you choose the best one for your child. This article will offer you some basic tips that can help you in making a well...........

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Benefits of Summer Camp

visit Outdoor Summer Camps
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Summer camp can be a bridge to the world over which a child can carry the seeds of attributes already planted at home and in school. The right summer camp can be the ideal first step away from home and family, because a good summer camp is still a safe environment for learning independence. Summer camp is a place for fun and the joy and passion of growth free from the stress of modern fascination for achievement.......

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Summer Camp For The First Time

Visit: Summer Camps in Minnesota
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At long last, parents of children who are going to summer camp for the first time have a choice available that is directly tailored to the needs of their child. After listening for years to parents and children expressing what they feel is important for a positive first time summer camp experience, Jeff and Lonnie Lorenz, directors of Swift Nature Camp, have created Discovery Camp, a program designed to meet the specific needs of all new campers and their parents.

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Summer Camp More Than Fun

Visit : Children’s Summer Camps
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If you went to overnight camp as a child you can always tell a favorite story you can still remember in exact detail, down to the smell of that pine forest. Memories of summer camp are lifelong reminders of lessons with a lifetime’s worth of value with friends you haven’t forgotten.

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Gifted Children

Visit: Summer Camps
post card 5Often parents hear of the importance of teaching the whole child. Yet, what does that mean? It means that we need to consider the child as a whole, not just the intellectual needs of a child but social and emotional ones as well. This admirable goal, often is not applied to intellectual children.

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A.C.A. Accreditation

Visit: Summer Camp
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Our campers have always known that Swift was a great place, thats why 70+ percent return year after year. You have always known Swift was a great camp now it’s official! This summer, as many of you know we had our inspection by the American Camp Association. The ACA sets over 300 standards for camps helping to ensure safety, staffing, programming, health care, food service, and more. Of the nearly 12,000 camps in the USA less than 25% have received the A.C.A. Accreditation. We are proud of the wonderful score we got. Making us one of the best camps around..but you knew that! Read More...

Stop Bullying Today

Visit: Summer Camp

Jeff Liken has spent 25 years working with teens and young adults, helping them navigate the perils of the adolescent stage of life to grow into confident, centered adults. He is also a summer camp consultant. Here are his thoughts for Bullying Awareness Month.

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Summer Camp Models

Visit :Coed Summer Camps

Have you seen this girl before.....
If you were at Swift a few summers back Lexie was there enjoying a more natural way of life. She even won the Ernie Swift Environmental Award for her caringness to animals. We are sorry to see her leave Americas Next Top model. Read what she has to say...

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Wandering Wisconsin

Visit: Wisconsin Summer Camps200 Discover amazing and unexpected works of art as you make your way through the rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin, along the banks .................

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Bears at Summer Camp

Visit: Science Summer Camps

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Just last week when all the campers had left camp we looked out over the swimming area and there in the lake was a bear. Thats right a bear! He swam right to the steps and walked right up them shook himself off and went on his merry way on down the path to boating. It was quite a site to see.

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Summer Camp for the Obama's

phpThumb_generated_thumbnailjpgSummer Camp is Malia’s latest Adventure!
President Barack Obama says, Summer Camp is a rite of passage that countless kids experience: a summer at camp, bunking with a bunch of other girls in a wooden cabin or tent, sharing chores, swatting away mosquitoes and giggling the night away... it's a wonderful time that every child should experience.

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Summer Camp Instills Responsibility

Teen Adventure Camp
cabin life copyAs parents we love our children and we want the best for them. Yet, what is our goal? As much as we love them its to get our kids out of the house. Yes, we need to launch them into the real world. In order to make this happen successfully we need to raise independent, self-sufficient human beings. Accomplishing this goal requires prent to always be thinking. What is the best route to take between helpless......

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Summer Camp Shirt

Visit: Nature Summer Camps

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And the winner is.......
Thanks to all the campers and staff that placed their vote for the best Tshirt design. It was very close with this shirt only winning by 1 vote. Don’t worry , if you liked the others you will see them pop again next year and you can vote again.

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First Time Going To Summer Camp

Visit: First Time at Summer Camps
bird&jeffAt long last, parents of children who are going to summer camp for the first time have a choice available that is directly tailored to the needs of their child. After listening for years to parents and children expressing what they feel is important for a positive first time summer camp experience, Jeff and Lonnie Lorenz, directors of Swift Nature Camp, have created Discovery Camp, a program designed to meet the specific needs of all new campers and their parents.

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Benefits of Summer Camp

Visit: Minnesota Summer Camps
archery-copyAt Overnight Summer Camps, children are given the choice to take risks and try new things. This voluntary nature makes children more open to new experiences, with personal satisfaction as their motivation. Not only are there opportunities to try new things, but camp offers many areas for children to excel in. At a good general interest camp, the non-athlete can shine at arts and crafts, woodworking, or dramatic programs....

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Wisconsin Summer Camps

Visit: Wisconsin Summer CampssunsetWisconsin! When you hear that state mentioned, I'm sure you imagine cows, Harley Davidson motorcycles and the beautiful capitol of Madison. Yet, north of all that is the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Filled with all its natural beauty. In the sky you can see eagles all around swooping down to catch a fish in a nearby lake or stream. If your quiet you might just hear a loon or a wolf in the background. This is what America looked like 100 years ago. Until you experience the simple beauty, you can’t begin to imagine what you will find there.

Children thrive in Wisconsin Summer Camps.Camp offers your child a chance to...


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Summer Camp Anxiety

Visit: Summer Camp
001SSummer is on the way and children around the world are flocking to USA summer camps. THis uniquely American institution offers kids the opportunity to gain independence while learning school curriculums, music, sports, dance and acting camps. Yet one of the most popular is the traditional summer camp experience, where children play in nature and learn camping skills.

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Rifles at Summer Camp

Visit: Summer Camp

shooting2Often parents are a little surprised and concerned that their children learn to shoot a gun at summer camp.It is amazingly rewarding to hear a parent ask their child, “Are those real guns?” and the camper responds, “They sure are, we shoot .22 caliber guns’ as they beam with a huge smile.

Obviously, safety is our first priority at riferly, and every camper knows it. Our range is completely controlled and supervised. The guns and ammunition are always locked and stored separately. The riflery sport instructors are trained and all of the campers are taught the proper safety protocols when they choose riflery for one of their activities. Any goofing around and they will not shoot again for the summer. What we are not trying to teach is shooting critters, or being dangerous or even self-defence.

What we are trying to teach children is that they can have responsibility if they are able to handle it. Can you think of anything requiring more responsibility than being able to shoot a gun. Yet something is magical in that child’s smile, as they tell their parent about their bullseye.

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ACA Celebrates 100 Years

Visit: Summer Camp
acaAs members of the the American Camp Association, we are pleased to recognize the National Summer Camp Association and accrediting organization, for their 100 years. Camp professionals have looked to the ACA to assist camp directors help maintain Best Practices. As its original name applies the “Camp Directors Association of America.” has been helping camps and their owners for 100 years.

To learn more about the early days of the ACA
SEE VIDEO


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Camp for Every Child

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Often Parents are curious if Swift Nature Camp has specific programs for certain aged children. Are SNC programs better for young children- a first time at camp, middle school- looking for new activities or teenagers- searching for teen adventure. Since we feel we do so well in all these areas let us give you a few reasons why.

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Welcome To Swift Nature Camp

Visit: Nature Summer Campfamily-photo
Hey everyone last fall we took a trip to the zoo and saw the largest Loon ever seen by man. So BIG we had to catch a ride on his back. We naturally had to get next to it to have our picture taken. Can’t wait till next summer when the loons head on back to camp.
Here a few facts about the Common Loon......

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The Right Summer Camp Choice

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THE RIGHT CAMP MAKES A DIFFERENCE

It is being lost! Today less and less children are getting to go to summer camp. The wonderful experience of summer camp has been a way of life for generations of American children. Sleeping away from home and making new friends is a time of increased independence and maturity.For others who did not get the opportunity to go to Outdoor Camp they just don't understand the importance.

In many books and movies summer camp has been the scene. To name a few, "The Parent Trap" and "Indian Summer". Yet, the majority of these movies and books are not realistic. Either they sugar coat the camp experience or they make it just horrible. Summercamp! , the documentary is one of the most realistic true stories about kids at summer camp. Filmed at Swift Nature Camp in Wisconsin, it truely shows how the kids interact and what makes camp so special. During the filming over 300 hours of film was shot to make this charming 90 minute feature. This documentry shows camp like it really is, this is no glossy brochure or promotional DVD, it just shows kids living life with new friends and in new siuations.......


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Reason for Summer Camps

Visit: Swift Nature Camp WebsiteSuimmer camp
Top Reasons for Summer Camp
He was 10 and I knew he was looking for more than a summer of day care and TV shows. So I wondered if SUMMER CAMP was the right place for my son.
My son, currently 15, has attended Swift Nature Camp for four years and we are going to send him back for as long as we can. He loves it. Although, he has ADHD and is very smart, but has trouble at school with attention-seeking ploys.
The counselors and directors at SNC have a great, hands-on approach to leadership, social skills development and confidence-building......read on

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Peace! We strive for it at Camp

Visit: Swift Nature Camp Website

Nearly 25 year ago John Denver said these words to encourage us to believe in our heart and soul that war needs to end. Yet here we are with our children fighting and dyeing for our county and to protect our freedoms.


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Halloween Fun

Visit: Swift Nature Camp Website
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Halloween has got to be one of those times of year that is most like summer camp. IT IS OK TO GET CRAZY! I think deep down we all love to dress up in some wacky way and make others laugh. Remember those crazy days at camp when you wore something outlandish or dressed like someone else? This picture is of a costume that Forrest and I wore for a local Halloween party. Can you guess who we are? We won a prize for one of the best costumes. Please be kind this Halloween and do not participate in mean tricks...it’s just not nice :)

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Because of Camp

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What do Emma Roberts, Lisa Loeb, Blair Underwood, Frank Sesno, Ashlan Gorse, and Lisa Raye have in common? They all believe who they are today is, at least partly, because of camp. Many of todays adults have fond memories of Summer Camp and realize it is about so much more than fun. BECAUSE OF CAMP

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Camp is the Best

100_3597-tbVisit: Swift Nature Camp Website
Ever since I was seven, I am now sixteen so almost nine years, my mind and heart have resided in the beautiful North Woods at Swift Nature Camp. Anyone who knows me may tell you I was not always the best camper. But as the years went by, I grew from what I learned over the years and especially what I learned at SNC. For anyone who is a new camper this year, one of the best things I could tell you is just relax and don't worry about anything. At Swift you are with family and believe me from the moment you step onto the soft soil or hot asphalt there are smiling faces from people who you will quickly add to your collection of friends. One of the best things about SNC is that you do not have to hide your real self behind a mask or a wall. No one will judge you so just be yourself and trust in those around you.

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Fix Nature Gap

Visit: Swift Nature Camp Website
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Children detach from natural world
as they explore the virtual one


San Francisco Chronicle
Peter Fimrite,

Yosemite may be nice and all, but Tommy Nguyen of San Francisco would much prefer spending his day in front of a new video game or strolling around the mall with his buddies.

What, after all, is a 15-year-old supposed to do in what John Muir called "the grandest of all special temples of nature" without cell phone service?

"I'd rather be at the mall because you can enjoy yourself walking around looking at stuff as opposed to the woods," Nguyen said from the comfort of the Westfield San Francisco Centre mall.

In Yosemite and other parks, he said, furrowing his brow to emphasize the absurdly lopsided comparison, "the only thing you look at is the trees, grass and sky."

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Best Summer Camps

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Visit: Swift Nature Camp Website

Do you love SNC? Are you looking for a wonderful summer camp?
Then go to CampRatingz and read what campers and parents are saying about their summer camp experience. This is a great resource to help parents decide which camp best meets the needs of their child.
If you are an SNC alumni please help others learn how wonderful your experience was this summer at Swift Nature Camp. This satisfaction survey allows parents and campers to give their input about camp. This survey currently ranks SNC as the 26 best camp in America. But I think we can be better! We encourage all to participate! Please click here
Best Camps then click “Rate this Camp”

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Camp Staff

Visit: Swift Nature Camp Website
Super Counselors
By: Zoe Lincecum

Once upon a time in a land far far away at Swift Nature Camp, it was a beautiful super Sunday, perfect for a barbecue on Picnic Island. Everyone was having a good time swimming, climbing trees, and sniffing too close to the barbecue.
Then, all of a sudden, everyone heard a splash. Heads turned to see a giant pirate ship with evil robo-pirates with styrofoam heads emerging from the ship where Dah-G-Dah once stood.
Super Tom turned all the counselors into super counselors! They were ready to defend Picnic Island (and protect the campers, of course). Out came Hillary, standing on top of her flying giant chicken and screaming at the top of her lungs.
Asa the vampire was sucking the power out of the robots while Colleen (a.k.a. Triple C, the wrestler) body slammed robots from a tree. Tony and TJ, the amazing archers, finished some off wih flaming arrows. Jeremy transformed into a grizzly who thinks that the pirates are cheese and eats them. Ian Noble used his hypnotic singing powers to control the robots and made them fight for SNC.

If you want to be a super staff member at S.N.C. Camp Counselor Jobs

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