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WEKIVA YOUTH CAMP !

Wekiva Youth Camp a residential nature camp for 3rd through 8th grade youngsters,
sponsored by the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs (FFGC)
with the purpose of instilling a love and respect for the “Real” Florida in our youth,
as well as a knowledge of nature, the importance of conservation, and the protection of our environment.

WEKIVA CRITTER CAMP

A two night mini-camp experience for those who have completed K – 2nd Grade.

(Critter Camp)

Click Here to View the Camp Wekiva Youth Camp Video

About Camp Wekiva

2010 Schedule

Wekiva Youth Camp is comprised of six one-week sessions during June to July and is located in Wekiwa Springs State Park, where FFGC partners with the Florida Parks Service to maintain the camp. It is non-profit and self-supporting, and is accredited by the American Camp Association.

All who attend or serve at our camp have an unforgettable experience enjoying nature, crafts, and the beauty of the natural world in a magical, beautiful and pristine setting. Campers should be interested in nature and like the outdoors. They do not have to be a Florida resident and we welcome participation without regard to race, color, religion or ethnicity. At Camp our boys and girls enjoy a unique outdoor living and learning experience, with close supervision. They explore the beauty of wild Florida, enjoy the plants and animals of Wekiva and discover the importance of conservation for the future of our state and our planet. Our motto for our youth is "Campers Today – Environmental Leaders Tomorrow”

Location

Wekiwa Springs State Park, Apopka, FL. 32712
Just north of Orlando. Wekiwa Springs Road, off State Road 434.
Our telephone number during camp is (407) 884-2019.

Sunday Check In: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Saturday Pick-Up Times: 9:00am – 10:30am

Enter Park at Welch Road Gate, Counselors will direct you Map

Programs and Activities

Campers participate in the following activities throughout their stay at camp:

•    Nature Study including Nature Hikes and Nature Photography
•    Crafts
•    Field Sports
•    Bicycling
•    Swimming in the Camp Pool and at the Springs
•    Night Rides
•    Skit Night
•    Evening Programs
•    Campfires & S’mores

Camp Wekiva offers programs for children from kindergarten through 8th Grade, based on the most recently completed grade at the time of camp, with accommodations for up to 104 campers each week.

Kindergarten- 2nd grade: Critter Camp
3rd – 6th grade: Entire Summer Session
7th grade: Tent Camping (offered on select weeks)
8th grade: Environmental Education/Canoeing Program (offered on select weeks)

The 7th Grade Program offers campers the outdoor experience first-hand. Campers get a taste of truly living in nature, spending 2-3 days and nights at a camp site less than a mile from the main camp. They learn how to tent camp, cook over an open fire, and build everlasting friendships while learning the importance of teamwork, as well as about nature and the natural environment. Away from the rest of the camp, boys and girls learn the true meaning of responsibly and determination in a fun and adventurous environment.

The 8th Grade Program is also known as Environmental Education (EE). EE focuses on building leadership skills which will stay with boys and girls long after their week at Camp! These skills are fostered through the week as campers learn to canoe, an activity which will help them learn team building, communication, and problem solving. Campers also learn and see first hand the importance of Florida's water systems and the human impact upon them.

Our Staff

John Morand, Director & Mickey Quigly Assistant Director

Chairman: Sue Angle FFGC Wekiva Youth Camp Chairman , sueangle@comcast.net, phone 941-351-1103

Director: John Morand, Wekiva Youth Camp Director, E-mail: campwekivadirector@hotmail.com

Registrar: Margaret Kirkpatrick, 481 Wild Oak Circle, Longwood, FL 32779, E-mail: wekivaregistrar@gmail.com, 407-574-8009

Under the supervision of Wekiva Youth Camp’s Chairman, the Wekiva staff consists of a Director, Assistant Director, Waterfront Director, as well as Senior and Junior Counselors,
Counselors in Training, Lifeguards, and many Volunteers. Volunteers include members of FFGC’s Garden Clubs from around the state as well as highly qualified members of the environmental community, and our infirmary is staffed by a registered nurse twenty-four/seven. Our kitchen staff, headed by our excellent “5-Star” Chef Bettie, provides three hearty meals each day.

Many members of the staff are former Wekiva campers and counselors, and background checks are required for all who interact with the campers.

Instructors: Garden Club volunteers and paid staff.

Camp Nurse: Garden Club volunteer - trained in nursing

Counselors: 11th & 12th grade & college age selected.

CIT Counselor in Training: 9th & 10th graders.

Swimming instructor: Paid qualified instructor

Security person

Cook and helpers

CAMP FEES

                                                                                 Registration     Activity Fee       Processing      Total Fee
Camper Not Sponsored by a Garden Club                      $275.00    +     $35.00    +       $5.00    =      $315.00
Camper Sponsored by a Garden Club                            $200.00    +     $35.00      +       $5.00        =      $240.00
Camper Child/Grandchild w/Volunteer                            $100.00    +     $35.00      +       $5.00        =      $140.00

Scholarships are available based on financial need and deservedness, awarded on a first-come basis. Scholarship Application, PDF

Camp fees cover housing, meals, sports, waterfront activities, programs, staff salaries and administration costs. Our Director and Staff plan and supervise the camp sports program, field trips and special day/evening programs. Adult Garden Club Volunteer specialists from all over the state lead programs that emphasize nature study, conservation and crafts.

"Week of Wonder" Wekiva Gift Certificate, PDF