Classes are at the heart of our program. Campers attend two one-hour classes each morning with their cabin and one in the afternoon. Classes are all taught by the Staff who have appropriate training and certification. By the end of the session each cabin will have rotated through each class at least once.

Archery Riflery Arts & Crafts Song & Dance Canoeing Sports Low Ropes (Initiatives) Swimming Nature

Archery
Our archery range is on our "upper 20" property, separate from main camp. Campers learn proper safety in shooting recurve bows at targets against a hay wall. Campers develop accuracy and learn terminology for the parts of the bow and arrow. This is always a favorite class. Cabins having the class more than once get more time to develop their accuracy. Campers hitting bulls eyes or other noteworthy achievements may become members of the famed VBYC Archery Club, one of our traditions.

Number of cabins per class: 1-2
Instructor Certification: National Archery Association, Basic Instructor

Arts and Crafts
This class teaches how to use imagination with simple, household, easy-to-find or natural materials. The Craft Hut sits on top of a hill and gets a great breeze from the lake. It's so pleasant to sit and chat making new friends while your imagination goes to work. Though specific projects are assigned, plenty of latitude for creativity and alternatives is allowed.

Number of cabins per class: 1-2

Canoeing
Campers learn basic canoeing strokes such as "J" stroke, "Draw" stroke, forward and back. Also, how to steer the canoe working with your partner, how to keep the canoe level and stable all with an emphasis on safety. After 15-20 minutes of instruction campers hit the lake canoeing as a group. Places classes like to go are near our cat tails, to the sandbar, the creek or out into the middle of the lake, which is gorgeous.

Campers must be at least a "B" Swimmer to participate and may choose another class that period if they are not. Canoes are always in visual contact with the Waterfront Director who is on-shore who can be signaled of emergencies through whistles. One rescue motor boat and one rescue row boat is always on-hand.

Number of cabins per class: 1-2
Instructor Certification: Lifeguard and Boater Safety Certified

Low Ropes a.k.a. Initiatives or Team Building
This class focuses on group problem solving through cooperation. Some activities involve blocks of wood and imaginary rivers to cross with complex restriction or simple goals of getting the entire group over our 10' climbing wall.

Safety is the first priority here. Campers learn a series of "calls" and procedures that are part of these challenges. Other items on our course are a grid of climbing rope, suspended cable walk (4' high) and other obstacles which can be used in different ways for different games.

This class can be very challenging, the physical part being the least of it. The challenges are intended to be unsolvable by individuals and must have group cooperation to succeed. This can really bring a cabin together and allow campers to achieve things they did not think they could do.

Number of cabins per class: 1-3
Instructor Training: Trained by certified instructor

Nature
This class focuses on fun ways of learning about nature's role in our lives. The class might take place in the Nature Hut, on the observation deck, which is in the middle of cat tails next to the lake, or could be anywhere at camp.

The Nature Hut keeps lots of insects and animals for campers to get a close look at (in their respective aquariums and cages of course.) Usually critters we find around this area such as turtles, frogs, toads, snakes, rabbits and fish, all of which we release at the end of the summer.

Number of cabins per class: 1-2

Riflery
This class focuses on gun safety. Our rifle range is located on our "upper 20" property, separate from main camp.

Campers shoot five-at-a-time from a covered pavilion with a wooden floor and use .22 caliber rifles to shoot at paper targets which hang in front of a sand mound.

Some campers feel more comfortable not shooting, which is fine, although with most campers this is a favorite class. Many camps no longer teach this course. We choose to keep it because it gives us the opportunity to promote the seriousness and the safe use of guns.

Number of cabins per class: 1
Instructor Certification: Gun Safety Certification

Song and Dance
Campers learn traditional camp songs that have been sung at summer camps for years. We sing these songs throughout the day. This class can get new campers up-to-speed and veteran campers can learn new songs out of our song book. Folk Dancing is a long-time tradition at VBYC. Campers learn some of these group dances.

Number of cabins per class: 2-3

Sports
This class teaches competitive and non-competitive games with a emphasis on cooperation and fair play. We play some traditional games like soccer, but the most fun is with games we've made up here at camp or aren't ones campers commonly get to play outside of camp such as roof ball or frisbee golf. This class can take place all over camp depending on the activity.

Number of cabins per class: 2-3

Swimming
On registration day, all campers take a swim test. campers are assigned to a swimming area with appropriate depth for their ability. Thes are called A, B and C water.

During class time everyone learns basic strokes and swim techniques from the lifeguards and waterfront director. Campers who improve during the week may be promoted to more advanced swim levels. Class is filled with instructions but there is time for free swim daily during choice period.

Number of cabins per class: 2-4
Instructor certifications: WSI (Water Safety Instructor) Certification