National Association of the Deaf

NAD YLC offers a variety of exciting wilderness adventures/activities. Here is an overview of the program:

• Class Day
• Theme Day
• Outdoor Hiking Trip
• Field Trips
   

Class Day

Calisthenics: A morning routine where campers memorize the Jr. NAD motto, slogan and creed, as they exercise.

Camp Council: Campers learn time management as they debate topics and priorities, using their parliamentary procedure skills. Campers run for chairperson positions and are responsible for organizing a number of special events including, but not limited, to the pageant and banquet. They give regular reports through the Camp Council and work with staff advisors to develop successful events.

Outdoor Living Skills (OLS): A class that teaches campers the art of the outdoors. This class will provide campers the opportunity to appreciate nature and to cherish the earth.

Daily Drum/Vlog: Campers' time to prepare the daily newspaper, work on the commemorative CD, and create vlogs for our daily NAD YLC blog.

Discovery: An outdoor team-building class to instill trust in both individuals and the group as a whole.

Evening Programs: Camp Bowl (a trivia knowledge competition), Debate Time (Four groups of campers debate key issues. The campers learn how to debate with respect; gain negotiation and persuasion skills), ASL Storytelling night, Mr. and Miss YLC Pageant, NAD YLC Olympics, Mystery Night, Improv Night and watching professional skits.

Fireside Gatherings: This nightly activity provides informal opportunities, around a blazing campfire, for guest speakers, staff and, at times, campers to talk about their unique personal experiences such as traveling, community involvement, drug/alcohol awareness or working with the NAD. Campers enjoy hearing the stories and often admire the speakers as positive role models.

Theme Day

We will have various theme days including Crisis Day and Community Service Day. This includes workshops and hands-on activities. Workshop presenters are deaf and hard of hearing community leaders from all over the nation, who provide their insight and knowledge, particularly in the field of leadership and advocacy based on the theme of the day. The guest speakers also share their personal experiences at Fireside Program presentations.

Outdoor Hiking Trip

There is a week-long hiking trip where campers will apply the skills they learned from Outdoor Living Skills classes. In addition, campers will develop a respect for the environment. As a result, campers return to their home, school, and respective community as a better, productive, and positive citizen.

Field Trips

There are several all-day trips that include community service, the beach, mall/laundry, and hiking at Silver Falls.