Wekiva Youth Camp is a residential nature camp, comprised of six one-week sessions.  Our camp is located in the Wekiwa Springs State Park at 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, Florida, 32712-2599, WYC Phone:  407-884-2019, Ranger Station 407-884-2009.  Scholarships are available based on financial need and deservedness.  Awarded on a first-come basis, Garden Club sponsored.  Wekiva Youth Camp is accredited by the American Camp Association. 

FFGC Wekiva Youth Camp is non-profit and self-supporting.  Camp fees cover housing, meals, sports, waterfront activities, programs, staff salaries and administration costs. The highly qualified Camp Director is assisted by a Staff of Senior and Junior Counselors. The Director and the 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.  We welcome participation without regard to race, color, religion or ethnicity. 
Special programs are offered to 7th, 8th graders - the 8th grade program is limited to carefully screened and recommended previous WYC campers. First-time 8th graders are accepted on a space-available basis.  Special 7th grade programs are also offered.  A limit of 16 applicants are accepted in each designated session.  Applicants will be notified of their acceptance.  Camp costs and Registration Forms will be posted to out Web Site in January, 2008. 

Activities offered include swimming, canoeing, synchronized swimming, field sports/Tribal Activities, nature study and crafts, Club ECO, fishing, hiking, orienteering, Woodsman skills, team building games, horseback/trail rides, gardening, exploring, gourd crafting, tubing, talent/skit nights, Native American heritage, wildlife studies and speakers, camp songs and campfires, and more.

Our Purpose
 
Our purpose at WYC is to instill a love and respect for wild Florida in our youth, who are the future of Florida.  WYC is accredited by the American Camp Association(ACA) and FFGC partners with the Florida Parks Service to maintain the camp.

    Our Campers

The camp is for Kindergarten through 8th grade students, with accommodations for 104 campers on a weekly basis.  Critter Camp is for the K-2nd graders, and serves as an introduction to camp for our youngest campers.  Wekiva Leadership Training Weekend is a session offered once a year for planning and preparing for the upcoming Camp Session. Prices are kept at affordable rates and Volunteers are welcomed; it is not necessary to be a Garden Club member to be a Volunteer at Camp!

All who attend or serve at our camp have an unforgettable experience teaching youth about nature, crafts, and the art of enjoying the beauty of the natural world in a magical, beautiful and pristine setting. At Camp our boys and girls enjoy a unique outdoor living and learning experience, with close supervision. They explore the beauty of wild Florida
and enjoy the plants and animals of Wekiva. They create beauty from nature with crafts using bits from the natural world. they 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."

Camp schedule for 2008 (Updating).  Camp registration forms (Updating for 2008).   All Forms can be found on our forms page (Updating for 2008).  Online registration froms will be available in February, 2008.  For information, contact Registrar, Kalia Bailene, E-mail:  campwekiva@bellsouth.net    Phone:  386-649-9527 or online at www.ffgc.org/forms and scroll to WEKIVA, or look under www.ffgc.org/youth for articles, photos and further information.  

You may also contact the following as contact persons: 

John Morand, Wekiva Youth Camp Director, E-mail:  campwekivadirector@hotmail.com
 
Jan Sillik, FFGC Wekiva Youth Camp Chairman ,   gluegunjan@aol.com Phone:  904-772-1365

Note:Youth Camp is for those who have completed 3rd grade through 9th grade.  Critter Camp is for those who have completed K through 2nd grade.

Wekiva Staff: Chairman:  Jan Sillik, FFGC II Vice President and Wekiva Youth Camp Chairman, E-mail: gluegunjan@aol.com Phone:  904-772-1365 Director:  John Morand, Wekiva Youth Camp Director, E-mail:  campwekivadirector@hotmail.com Registrar:  Kalia Baillene, campwekiva@bellsouth.net   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	Who: Camp is for those who have finished 3rd grade through 9th grade.  Send a child that is interested in nature and who likes the outdoors. Open to all races, religions and national origins.  Campers do not have to be a Florida resident. Location: Wekiwa Springs State Park, Apopka, FL.  Just north of Orlando. Wekiwa Springs Road, off State Road 434.  Our telephone number at camp  is 407-884-2019. Cost includes:  Lodging, meals, crafts, canteen, and nature study supplies. When:  Six weeks from mid June through July. How many campers:  Up to 104 each week. Summer 2008 WEKIVA YOUTH CAMP - 2008 BOYS WEEKS June 15 - 21          3rd-6th grades                                                                 88 campers         8th grade Environmental Ed/Canoeing                        16 campers June 22 - 28         3rd - 6th grades, Circle 1                                                 88 campers         7th grade Primitive Camping                                          16 campers   CO-ED WEEK June 29 - July 5               3rd - 6th grades         Boys 3rd - 6th grades,         Circle 1                               48 campers         Girls 3rd - 8th grades,         Circle 2                               56 campers   SPECIAL PROGRAMS July 8, 9 10  Critter Camp, K-2nd, Co-Ed                                40 campers July 6-12      9th grade/LIT (by Invitation)                               40 campers GIRLS WEEKS July 6 - 12            3rd - 6th grades                                           64 campers July 13 - 19          3rd - 6th grades                                           72 campers                               7th grade Primitive Camping                    16 campers                               8th grade Environmental Ed/Canoeing   16 campers   July 20 - 26          3rd - 6th grades                                           72 campers                               7th grade Primitive Camping                    16 campers                               8th grade Environmental Ed/Canoeing    16 campers
Letter from John Morand Wekiva Youth Camp Director   Greetings!   Having been a camper in Michigan, a counselor in Ohio and an Assistant Director at Camp Wekiva, I have met some of the finest people I have ever encountered through my participation with youth camps. Summer camps seem to attract a really neat and dedicated blend of people who enjoy being outdoors, working with others who share that same enthusiasm, and, most importantly, enriching the lives of children.   Wekiva is a wonderful camp in so many ways! My hope is to help continue to build upon its already-rich history of educating youth about the natural environment in Florida and providing a setting for fun and true friendships to form and evolve.  Perhaps someday, more and more of our former campers and counselors will say that Wekiva Youth Camp was their inspiration for choosing environment-focused college majors and professions, enabling them to study, learn even more and eventually educate others about it.   We are beginning now to prepare for a terrific summer, with new faces and new ideas, building on the great tradition and history of previous years. We will WELCOME our campers, staff and volunteers with enthusiasm and energy for the '08 Camp Session!   John Morand     John's Background     *  Born in Detroit, Michigan     * Attended Camp Sancta Maria for seven years as a camper     * Counselor at Camp Campbell-Guard in Hamilton, Ohio     *  Attended University of Cincinnati-Bachelor of Arts in Psychology     *  Social Worker for six years(four in Ohio, two in Michigan)     *  Sales for three years in Ohio     *  Attended Ohio State University-Master of Education in Educational Theory and Practice     *  Teacher for the past nine years in Ohio and Florida     *  Supervising Teach and Team Leader     *  Currently Behavioral Resource Teacher(called a Dean in many schools)     *  Family:  Wife Donna-Occupational Therapist, children Olivia(10) and Ben(8)     *  Interests: Outdoor activities(camping, canoeing) and sports.  Currently play hockey,             softball and coach soccer		Can you identify the following? How about this one? You will learn to identify animal prints, like this deer print above, and also many wildflowers like this scull cap.
	Wekiva Youth Camp Photos
	Critter Camp Photos K - 2nd grade