Grand Camps and Grandparents and Grandchildren's Camp

Haw River State Park

EDITOR’S NOTE: Each week, we feature intergenerational program ideas that were tried and successful. This series is a tool to highlight various age-optimized programs and practices. The program descriptions are provided by representatives of the programs. Inclusion in this series does not imply Generations United’s endorsement or recommendation, but rather encourages ideas to inspire other programs.

This week’s cool ideas are Grand Camps and Grandparents and Grandchildren’s Camp. Both camps engage all ages in amazing outdoor adventures.

(Check our archives for parts 1-55.)

The Grand Camps is a program of the Haw River State Park in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The Grand Camps are for grandparents who would like to come to summer camp with a grandchild or two, or for children who would like to bring their grandparents to camp.

"The Illusion of Roughing It" at Grandparents and
Grandchildren's Camp - Great Camp Sagamore.

The Summit Environmental Education Staff of Haw River lead participants in many amazing park adventures.

Activities are based on weekly themes.

Grand Camps kicks off in Week 3 (August 5-7) of the Haw River Park summer program and concludes in Week 4 (August 12-14).

In Raquette Lake, New York, the Grandparents' and Grandchildren’s' Camp is a program of Great Camp Sagamore.

This authentic 1890s, 27-building National Historic Landmark has, for more than two decades, offered historically-based programs through day visits and multi-day/night residencies.

Their Grandparents’ and Grandchildren’s’ Camp sessions in July and August introduce an intergenerational curriculum using outdoor, historical, crafting and musical activities.

One of the most popular of these programs is “The Illusion of Roughing It,” a basic great camps course that teaches Gilded Age history and uses both Sagamore, the Vanderbilt Great Camp, and neighboring Great Camp Uncas that once belonged to J. P. Morgan.

All residential courses include room and board, the daily history tour, time for relaxation and reflection, and the opportunity to experience the same woods and waters that Durant did in 1897.

Got something cool you tried that was successful? Why not tweet your cool intergenerational ideas to #cooligideas? You can also post them to our Intergenerational Connections Facebook Group. We want to highlight innovative age-optimized programs and practices through our blog, social media and weekly e-newsletter! Share the inspiration.