Activities

Creative Arts

Visual Arts

The French Woods Visual Arts Program gives campers access to fully equipped studios, experienced instructors, and a wide range of fine art and creative craft activities. Teens can develop a project over two weeks, learn new techniques, and display finished work in the Visiting Day gallery.

Each art studio is fully equipped with everything you need to complete your project, including mature and accomplished artistic staff to teach and assist you. With a combination of imagination and creative instruction, campers truly grow and develop as artists.

Art activities as majors work towards 2-week completion projects to exhibit on Visiting Day when each studio is transformed into an art gallery.

What we offer

• Painting & Drawing
• Stained Glass
• Paper Mache
• Graffiti Art
• Graphic Design
• Mural Painting
• Tie Die
• Jewelry Making
• Ceramics
• Leather Craft
• Sculpture
• Mask Making
• Puppetry
• Creative Crafts

Performing Arts

Circus

The French Woods Circus Program gives beginners and experienced performers a place to build skills, creativity, and confidence. Professional circus trainers work with campers at different experience levels through structured instruction and opportunities to develop as performers.

What we offer

• Acrobatics
• Aerials
• Diabolo
• Flying Trapeze
• Juggling
• Lyra
• Mini Trampoline
• Rolla Bolla
• Silk
• Spanish Web
• Static Trapeze
• Tightwire
• Unicycle

Performing Arts

Rock Music

The French Woods Rock Music Program gives campers the chance to form bands, take lessons, rehearse in fully equipped climate-controlled studios, perform around camp, and record music in the studio. Musicians can play covers, write original songs, and work with peers at a similar skill level.

Campers have the opportunity to play live in various venues around camp which include half-time at tournament games, evening activities, talent shows, canteen, special events, and Visiting Day. Form a band and experience the concert environment and jam with friends who have the same musical interests and who are at the same skill level. Record your music in our recording studio. Play covers or write and perform original pieces. For campers who just want to learn an instrument or improve and practice their instrument, lessons are available daily.

FACT. French Woods started the original ROCK MUSIC PROGRAM in American summer camps. Maroon 5, and many other famous groups and artists started here. Our program is often imitated but never replicated.

What we offer

• Rockband
• Keyboard
• Voice
• Song Writing
• Guitar
• Bass
• Drums

Athletics

Water Sports

The French Woods Water Sports Program takes place on an 80-acre private lake and in a heated swimming pool. Qualified lifeguards supervise activities including water skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, banana boating, swim instruction, competitive swimming, pool games, and open swim for different ability levels. Tubing and banana boating is offered every day providing an adrenaline rush and lots of laughs. Our ski boats are fully equipped to handle all levels of skiers/boarders and of course any world champion banana boat rider.

Pool. Our heated pool is used for swim instruction, competitive swimming, open swim, pool games, water aerobics, pool parties, and afternoon BBQs. It’s a great place to keep fit by swimming, be active by just having fun in the water, or to relax in an Adirondack chair and chill with your friends.

What we offer

• Lake
• Heated Pool
• Kneeboarding
• Fly Fishing
• Tubing
• Banana Boat
• Waterskiing
• Kayaking
• Wakeboarding

Athletics

Equestrian

The French Woods Equestrian Center includes 15 horses, a large barn, tack and feed buildings, an outdoor arena, jumps, and access to hundreds of acres of trails. Campers from beginner through advanced levels receive instruction suited to their experience, and horseback riding is included in camp tuition.

We designed a well-rounded Equestrian Program in an environment in which horse lovers can experience various riding disciplines. Skilled staff work with campers at all levels from beginners who have never been on a horse before through to advanced riders capable of trail riding, jumping, and dressage. No matter your ability our staff will tailor your lessons and trail rides to suit.

For the horse enthusiast who wants maximum time at the barn, there are also activities to help care for the horses. You can help assist with grooming, tacking, watering, feeding, cleaning up, first aid, and mucking out.

Horseback Riding and instruction are included in our camp tuition.

French Woods is a proud Professional Member of the United States Pony Club.

What we offer

• Trail Riding
• Horse Care
• Barn Management
• Western
• English
• Dressage
• Jumping

Athletics

Challenge Course

Campers can take on zip lines, climbing walls, and high ropes elements on the French Woods Challenge Course. The program is designed for different experience levels, with staff helping each camper build skills, confidence, and comfort at an appropriate pace.

What we offer

• Zip lines
• Climbing Walls
• High Ropes Course

Creative Arts

Role Playing Games

The French Woods Role-Playing Games Program brings campers together for tabletop games, live-action role-playing, online games, character creation, and collaborative world-building. Campers can join established games and campaigns or use their imagination to create something new. Several forms of RPG are played including tabletop RPG, ‘live-action role-playing’ also known as LARP, and online RPG programs. Take part in epic live-action battles, play D&D, Magic the Gathering, Pathfinder, Betrayal at House on the Hill, Settlers of Catan, and other well-known games. Create your own characters, build your own world, and much more. We also have Magic Cards and Wargames.

What we offer

• Card Games
• Magic Cards
• Live-Action Role Play (LARP)
• Dungeons & Dragons
• Video Games

Performing Arts

Theater

The French Woods Theater Program gives campers a supportive place to perform, create, and build confidence. Each two-week session includes a musical, play, variety show, or musical showcase, with roles for everyone who auditions and opportunities in set design, costumes, lighting, and sound.

A variety of classes are offered and in each 2-week session, we produce either a musical, a play, a variety show, or a musical showcase. Everyone who auditions get a part. Campers who prefer to stay behind the scenes can learn set and costume design or technical theater which includes sound and lighting.

Campers have several opportunities to perform during their session(s) at camp leading up to the main performance on Visiting Day for family and friends. Our 500 seat theater is completely wired with professional lighting and sound systems.

What we offer

• Musicals and Plays
• Theatre Games
• Acting
• Stage Combat
• Improv
• Mime
• Acapella & Voice
• Technical Theatre

Performing Arts

Magic

French Woods offers magic classes for beginners through experienced performers. Campers work with an in-house master magician to learn close-up and parlor magic, including card tricks, coin tricks, illusions, presentation, and character development.

In our ‘drop-in’ trick of the day class, you can learn a new trick each day, purchase it if desired, take it home, perform the trick and become a star with your family and friends. Camper magicians get to perform frequently at camp along with all other performance based programs.

What we offer

• Card Tricks
• Coin Magic
• Parlor
• Stage Illusions
• Escapes
• Mind Reading

Performing Arts

Dance

French Woods offers dance classes for beginners through advanced dancers in hip-hop, tap, jazz, ballet, and contemporary styles. Campers train in three professional dance studios with instruction focused on technique, choreography, confidence, and performance.

With teachers trained in many styles of dance, choreography, and technique, we can guarantee that campers involved in this program will go home much more educated dancers and with an appreciation for new technique. It’s fun for beginners and with enough challenge for the advanced.

Many chances to perform are available so bring your dancing shoes!

What we offer

• Hip Hop
• Ballet
• Jazz
• Contemporary
• Tap