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| Camp Activities |
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Camp Stewart has an abundance of activities that develop confidence and let campers explore new heights in personal development.
Continuity in such activities as NRA riflery, Red Cross swimming, Camp Archery Association, Horseback, United States Tennis Association, etc.., not only helps build lifetime skills, but provides a measurable rate of accomplishment outside the camp environment.
Camp is a place to build Self-Confidence
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The Archery Range has multi-firing points and a terrazzo firing line. Campers are not limited to target shooting under the Camp Archery Association guidelines, but also may take part in actual archery hunts for small game or fish.
Stewart has had so many campers advance to the American Archer level (highest rank under the CAA) that several years ago instructor Frank Leon added Stewart Elite Archer, which includes more challenging shooting
Campers may bring their own bows or use the camp's simple re-curved or compound bows. Special lightweight bows are provided for the youngest campers.
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Camp craft is the nature and ecology program and supervises all overnight campouts. Campers learn outdoor cooking, take nature hikes, study freshwater creatures, learn survival techniques, and about about ecology and respect for our planet.
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Agarita Challenge Course. Climbing Walls are currently in vogue for large corporations as they work on team building and self-esteem, and
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Canoeing down the Guadalupe under the overhanging branches of water willows, low bending cypress boughs, and looking up sheer rock faces of bluffs is exciting. Instruction is given at the canoe area under Indian Rock, and campers learn the proper care for canoes as well as how to launch and beach. Canoe games of water polo, basketball, and races are part of the 'just for fun' activities.
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Crafts are headquartered at the Craft's Cabana in the center of camp. A specially designed building with four sides of work area provides equipment for glass etching, ceramics, leatherwork, and other creative projects.
Emphasis is placed on creativity.
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The Stewart Rifle Range is an official NRA 50-foot range located in a gully on the fringe of camp. Under certified instructors, campers learn the fundamentals of safety and good shooting habits as well as earning NRA rankings.
All ages take riflery. Stewart furnishes target .22's including lighter weight rifles for the youngest campers. Campers who prefer may bring their own single-shot target .22's, but they must be kept under lock and key at the range.
Since 1978, Stewart campers have won more national awards in the NRA Summer Camp Postal Matches than any other camp.
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Tennis is sanctioned by the United States Tennis Association. There are seven courts, three are lighted for night time play. With some great retired professional players to teach clinics, Stewart offers a great tennis program for the beginners as well as veteran players.
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Golf is played on our own par 3 course. Two greens including sand traps and really unusual obstacles provide for interesting and challenging play. Tee boxes at each green allow for continuous play. Matias and Alias Rodriguez are our local pros along with Joe Jimenez who plays on the senior tour. You can imagine the level of instruction provided.
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Choir & Band are led by our local celebrity Ridge Floyd.
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Water sports are
a major part of the life at Stewart.
Provided with one of nature's most
beautiful natural aquatic areas,
Stewart utilizes the Red Cross
swimming program.
Swimmers are grouped according
to their abilities at the beginning
of each term and progress from
that point.
In addition to swimming instruction, inter-camp competition, and recreational
swimming, the waterfront includes the fun of the famous orange-and-white
blob, the Tarzan rope swing, and diving. Water-skiing is
done on the Guadalupe between Stewart's
senior pool and Senior bridge.
Campers enjoy the water slide,
zip line, water weenie, bumper
tube, skiing and slaloming “just
for fun”.
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| Horseback continues
to be a favorite activity of many
campers. Stewart owns its horses,
and constantly upgrades them to
provide campers with fun but safe
mounts. Stewart horses are “not
typical” camp horses.
Campers are taught balanced,
centered riding. Both Western
and English instruction are offered,
as well as Polocrosse. More advanced
riders can participate in stadium
jumping, dressage, cross-country
and more levels of Polocrosse.
Campers ride at their own skill level. The instructors cater to the beginner
as well as the very advanced rider. Instruction is given both in the
ring and on the trail. Outstanding guest clinicians often visit during
a summer to add their input and expertise in such diversified areas as
Polocrosse, three-day eventing, dressage, polo, pole bending, cutting
and barrel racing. A great deal of
pride is taken in the Stewart Horseback
Program. Campers who first learned
to ride at Stewart are now competing
worldwide at the Olympic level.
Campers are required to wear proper boots or shoes with heels for riding. (Tennis
shoes are not acceptable). Hard hats are required for all equestrian
activities.
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Sports have
a long tradition at Camp Stewart; part
of that has to do with the fact that
Stewart was founded by a University of
Texas head coach, owned by an Aggie football
coach and All-American player, as well
as being the birthplace of Little League-type
baseball in Texas in the early years.
Stewart continues to place emphasis on
good sportsmanship and learning the correct
techniques of the game.
League competition in kickball, soccer and baseball is held
several times a week in addition to the instructional periods and clinics.
Older boys enjoy All-Sports League competition.
Stewart's sports facilities are outstanding: hardwood
floor gym; Bermuda-turf football field; five baseball diamonds; three soccer
fields, two kick-ball fields, two flicker ball fields, volleyball, 400-meter-track,
long-jump pit, high jump area, discus area, and two-hole golf course, including
a large putting green.
In addition to the above activities,
instruction is given in basketball, wrestling,
tumbling, boxing, and weights and conditioning.
The playing fields have an underground water system. Stewart was the first
camp to put underground sprinkler systems in the playing fields.
There are seven excellent tennis
courts at Stewart, and three
are lighted for night play.
Instruction is provided for the beginner, intermediate, and advanced players.
Campers may earn Camp Tennis Association rankings.
The Tennis Center, built near the lighted
senior courts, has a covered center pavilion
area for rainy instruction. A smaller covered
Tennis Pavilion is located at the four
Junior Courts.
Frequent clinics and team competition are part of the tennis program. Campers
may work up the Tennis ladder and participate in the Camper-Counselor Curtis
Croom Fat Boy Tournament. |
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To insure qualified instruction for their campers, Camp Stewart and Heart O' the Hills jointly sponsor certification clinics in riflery archery, lifesaving and water safety, horseback, climbing wall, advanced first aid, etc.., for staff and counselors prior to the beginning of regular orientation. These clinics are open to staff members from other camps and have become an important facet of the camping industry.
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