Outdoor Education and More

Sports, Swimming, and Hiking

We have an active waterfront program that includes a large swimming pool and an on-campus lake that is used for boating or fishing. Our waterfront is supervised by qualified lifeguards and assistants. During our orientation program, each camper takes a swimming test so that their skills can be ascertained, and we can explain what our waterfront program can do to upgrade skills. Swimming instruction is scheduled individually with each camper. Recreational or ‘general swim’ is offered twice daily during our regular morning and afternoon activity periods, and anyone who wishes to participate may. The water in our pool is checked weekly by a state approved laboratory, and daily by our staff. Both areas are inspected and approved annually by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Every day we offer a different sporting activity or game after dinner. We have tennis courts and a large sports field for softball, volleyball, badminton, soccer and many other team and individual sports. In keeping with our non-competitive orientation, the emphasis in our sports program is individual involvement, improvement of skills, and fun.

We also have three hiking trails surrounding our campus where campers accompanied by staff members can go on nature walks. Our campers have enjoyed sketching wildflowers, bringing their cameras, or just taking a moment to breathe in the cool mountain air.

Riding

Horseback riding is a popular activity with many campers. We have horses and English and Western tack on campus for use in our daily riding program. In our program there is room for the beginner, the camper wishing an occasional ride, and the advanced student who desires in-depth training in equitation and horse care. There is an orientation concerning safety and program goals for those campers who choose riding. After appropriate familiarization and practice in our spacious riding ring, those who qualify often take trail rides.

Creative Writing

While we have always had members of our community interested in creative writing, we officially made it a part of our programming in 2022. The program is designed by Camp Director Sarah Galante, who has been working as a professional playwright in New York City for the last decade, and holds a BFA in Playwriting from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA.

Our creative writing program, like so many of our programs at Ballibay, is deeply collaborative. We collaborate with the theater department to create original monologues and scenes for Monologue & Dialogue night. We collaborate with the radio program for original podcast scripts and radio plays. We collaborate with the Visual Arts staff for Ballibay Zines & original comic books. We are excited by the worlds our campers are hoping to create, and work closely with each child to ensure they are being properly mentored and given the opportunities to share their work at 5:00 specials, one-minute performances, bonfires, camper cabarets, etc.

Food Education

Each activity period a small group of campers learns hands-on food preparation and participates in the creation of the camp's snacks and desserts. The entire camp then enjoys the fruits of their labor at snack and meal times.

Campers may elect to help in the maintenance and harvesting of our camp garden. We grow everything from herbs to pumpkins, grapes to potatoes. Through this program campers gain an appreciation for where food comes from and how it makes it from the soil to their plate.

Our snack table is set up in the camp dining hall between meals, and is a great opportunity for campers to meet and talk with the camp chefs, and even volunteer in aspects of the camp's food preparation. Members of the camp community can do some informal food learning between meals as they talk with friends. There will often be simple jobs campers and staff can help with, such as making cookies or snapping beans. As local food maven Alice Waters notes, children try a more diverse range of foods when they are active in all stages of the cooking process. From volunteering in the garden, talking to our chefs and helping the preparation, our campers expand their palates and learn what it means to have a healthy diet.

Food at Ballibay

Garden

The camp garden is open for campers to harvest, weed, inspect varying plants, and simply spend some time amongst nature every day of the week (weather permitting.) Campers may elect to help in the maintenance and harvesting of our camp garden. We grow everything from herbs to pumpkins, grapes to potatoes. Through this program campers gain an appreciation for where food comes from and how it makes it from the soil to their plate.