Camp Activities

Campers enjoy a wide range of activities during their weeks of camp. Some activities such as swimming, science, arts and crafts, etc. we do everyday, while others, including fishing, canoeing and archery rotate during the week.

At Camp Live Oak, Arts and Crafts is a core activity that campers have been enjoyed since we started 21 years ago. We use many recyced and found objects to create lots of fun projects ranging from paintings, sculpture, nature art and even tie dye! Campers (and parents!) love the great pieces of art that campers bring home each week because of the wonderul variety of materials that campers get to work with. The camp experience is not complete without exploring your creative side!

Led by our artistic and innovative teachers and artists, campers will not only gain the confidence to create art, they'll also have a chance to experiment with many kinds of techniques and materials.By summers end, campers will be filled with personal satisfaction of their creations!

Ready, aim, release!

Campers will get an opportunity each week to practice their concentration on the archery range.

They will be taught proper safety procedures and form before taking their first aim. This activity allows campers to fine tune their hand and eye coordination and more importantly develop patience and skill.

All ages participate in this activity and therefore it is adjusted accordingly.

Aquatics

This activity is often considered the most favorite activity at Camp Live Oak by our campers. Cool and refreshing on a hot summers day, swimming is a time for our campers to relax and have a good time.

At Birch State Park campers will get a chance to enjoy the beautiful blue waters of the ocean. Campers at our Oleta River Park site will swim in the calm waters of Biscayne Bay.

Camp Live Oak staffs two certified lifeguards at each location each year, and with the additional supervision of a City of Ft. Lauderdale lifeguard at Birch State Park, you can rest assure that all campers are properly monitored at all times.

The popular surfing program is back! Children will learn how to ride the waves on BZ soft foam boards, which is often used for beginning surfers of all ages. Experienced in the sport of surfing, our camp staff will teach kids the basic techniques and safety procedures for riding waves. Certified lifeguards will be on hand at all times to monitor the children's safety.

Sunning turtles, elegant grey herons, and floating dragonflies... campers will experience and explore the beautiful waterways of South Florida. At Birch State park, they will glide aboard one of our canoes and see colorful plant and wildlife unique to the region. They will get a chance to visit our famous island and paddle among the tall cattails.

At Oleta River, campers will also enjoy canoeing the park's extensive waterways. Fish, dolphins, stingrays, and manatees, are a frequent site here, and navigating through the parks many mangrove canals is a camper favorite. Kayaks are also available for camper use throughout the summer.

Safety and paddling procedures are part of this great program, so children are sure to learn about this wonderful sport!

Offering a chance to relax and unwind, fishing gives our campers a chance to make the grand catch of the day. Following the catch-and - release guidelines, campers will get a chance to fish on the beautiful intercoastal waters at Birch State Park or off the quiet fishing pier at Oleta River State Park.

Campers will learn about different fishing knots, how to bait a rod, and how to cast out and reel in.

Fishing gives campers a chance to slow down and enjoy the beautiful South Florida waters.

The South Florida ecosystem is home to some of world's most unique grasses, trees, and wildlife.

At Birch State, campers will walk through majestic moss covered oak trees, bushes of coffee plants and gumbo limbos. Mangrove and pine tree lined trails provide a quick escape from daily camp activities at Oleta River State Park. Integrated into these hikes are park and beach clean-ups.

This year Camp Live Oak has also partnered up with the Leave No Trace organization to help teach and spread the word on how to make a minimal impact on our park's and natural ecosystem. Taught through a series of seven principals, campers will come to understand that through their efforts our parks can remain beautiful and intact for the rest of the community to enjoy!

Introducing our new Leaders In Training Program. This program will include a comprehensive training and mentoring program with a qualified professional. Teens ages 14 and 15 years old will complete weekly team building and leadership activities, leadership logs, while gaining knowledge and positive feedback from their head counselors and L.I.T program coordinator.

$125 Registration Fee includes staff T-Shirt, field trips, the mentoring program, a leadership log and end of the summer Catamaran Trip. All applicants must fill out a L.I.T application form prior to registration to be considered for this program. Please refer to our Job Opportunities section for further details.

Archeological digs, building worm composts, and dissecting slimy squids are just some of the science activities campers will learn and do during their summer at Camp Live Oak.

As one of the leaders of hands on science experiments, Camp Live Oak science instructors will educate and entertain campers on a daily basis with amazing projects covering various subjects from dinosaurs, space exploration, marine life, to other natural and physical sciences. Each group is divided into smaller units to ensure that each camper receives the full benefits from each lesson. Combined with educational animal shows and ranger led hikes, campers will surely learn and discover the wonder and beauty of our planet Earth.

Kickball, flag tag, and soccer are just some of the fun and exciting activities of the summer. Presented in a non-competitive yet entertaining fashion, campers will get a chance to get their adrenaline pumping with a variety of field sports.

Teamwork and cooperation is the name of the game at Camp Live Oak, where the focus is not on winning but how we can all work together to have fun!

Optional Activities

Come join us for Camp Live Oak's second annual Family Camp! Held in conjunction with the National Wildlife Federations Great American Backyard Campout, our festivities will be held at Oleta River State Park on June 26 & 27th. This fun filled family event will be open to all camp families and have great day activities such as canoeing, kayaking, archery, swimming, fishing, and games. As the sun sets, a hearty meal will be provided followed by a roaring bonfire complete with delicious s'mores! You and your family can take a night hike and discover the sounds and sights of this beautiful park or sit back and relax as we sing songs around the campfire. Once taps are sounded, retire to your very own air-conditioned cabin. A light breakfast will be provided the following morning.

This was a sold out event last summer, so hurry and reserve your cabin today! Please refer to our Special activities section for further details.

Family Sleep over will be held at Oleta State Park. Address: 3400 NE 163rd St., Miami, FL 33160-4460. Its open to families from both Oleta and Birch locations.

Cost: $275.00 per cabin

Photo Safari is a wonderful opportunity for your campers to get up and close with Nature Photography. Each camper received a despoable camera and works with the instructor for one hour each day for one week. They will learn about lighting, angles, focus and more all while using the beautiful park as their subject matter. At the end of the week all campers will receive their printed photos and select one photo to be enlarged for a great summer souvenir or gift for a loved one. Photo Safari is  recommended for children ages 8 and above.Photo Safari takes place the 3rd week of each session.

Cost: $80.00 per camper, per week (includes camera, printing and instruction)

The Starlight Sleepover is a wonderful Camp Live Oak tradition held during the second session of summer on July 17 -18. Children from both locations are invited to stay overnight in the air conditioned cabons at Birch State Park for a fun filled night including a drum circle around the camp fire, a night walk to the beach to observe baby Sea Turtles hatching, star gazing and sing alongs! All campers will enjoy a hearty dinner, toasty sm'ore dessert and a terrific breakfast as part of the registration. Camper's friends are also invited to join in on the fun by registering to participate even if they don't attend during normal camp hours. If you are already attending camp, please call the camp office to register for the Starlight Sleepover.

Starlight Sleepover will be held at Birch State Park. Address: 3109 E. Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. Its open to campers from both Birch and Oleta locations.

Cost: $80.00 per camper (includes dinner, snacks, breakfast, accomodations and all activities)

Introducing Mountain Bike Camp Summer 2010!

Since the introduction of our mountain biking program at Oleta River State Park back in 2008, it has become a true favorite among our campers. So that is why we are excited to announce a full Mountain Bike Camp for our 2010 summer program.

Our mountain bike camp will be lead by an experienced camp instructor for the entire week. Campers will spend the half of the day for an entire week, learning about bike maintenance, safety techniques, and riding techniques. They will then hit the extensive 15 mile trails within Oleta River State Park to practice what they've learn. Skill level will be determined by our staff and campers will work their way up through a variety trail levels ranging from novice to expert.

Bike Camp will be held on the following weeks.

Oleta River State Park ONLY

Session 1, Week 1 & 3: June 14-18 & June 28-July 2

Session 2, Week 1 & 3: July 19-23 & Aug 2-6

 

Camp Live Oak provides Giant mountain bikes and helmets. Mountain Biking is only offered at Oleta River State Park for children ages 10 to 13.

Cost: $80 per week (5 days).