Outdoor Camp Skills and Beads at Camp W

At Camp W, campers learn a variety of outdoor skills, including fire building, map reading, water purification, cooking, Leave No Trace principles, archery, and more. Along the way, campers can earn Camp Skill Beads and Wilderness Skills Tokens, celebrating their achievements and progress.

Camp Skill Beads and Wilderness Skills Tokens

• Skill Beads: Campers can earn beads by completing specific tasks outlined on Camp W skill cards. Skills include shelter building, fire starting, water conservation, navigation, first aid, cooking, climbing, and more.

• Wilderness Skills Tokens: Each camper receives a token at the weekly awards ceremony to display their beads. Tokens grow each year, with returning campers adding beads from previous sessions.

Types of Camp Beads

1. Annual Camp Bead (Purple): Represents the year you attended Camp W and connects you to the larger Camp W community.

2. Session Bead: Marks your specific camp session.

3. Expedition Bead: Awarded for participating in an Expedition session.

4. Solo Bead: Earned after completing a solo camping experience.

5. Award Bead: Chosen by the camper at the closing ceremony to celebrate personal accomplishments.

Skill Beads

Campers can also earn optional skill beads by demonstrating proficiency in specific camp skills. Examples include:

• Shelter (Green): Build a shelter and sleep under the stars.

• Fire (Red): Start and cook on a fire.

• Water (Blue): Purify and conserve water.

• Navigation (Brown): Use maps for location and direction.

• First Aid (Yellow): Demonstrate CPR and wilderness first aid.

• Cooking (Orange): Safely prepare and serve meals.

• Climbing (Black): Show skills in knots and climbing techniques.

• Backpacking (Boot): Pack properly and practice backcountry skills.

Earning and Displaying Beads

• On Day 2 of camp, campers choose which skill beads they want to pursue.

• Counselors guide campers in meeting the criteria, but earning the bead depends on the camper’s effort and completion of tasks.

• Returning campers add beads to their necklaces each year, creating a lasting record of their achievements.

Bead Policies

• Fair Play: Campers are expected to earn beads honestly. If the criteria aren’t met, they can try again in a future session.

• Replacement Policy: Beads are unique and cannot be replaced if lost or broken. Camp W maintains a historical bead collection for reference.

• Returning Campers: Bring your necklace from previous years to add new beads. If forgotten, a new necklace will be provided.

Camp W’s bead system encourages skill-building, fair play, and lasting memories, providing campers with a meaningful keepsake of their adventures and growth.