Camp Dorothy Thomas offers 3 types of horsemanship programs: beginning, intermediate, and advanced riders. We have an 18 stall barn with tack room and feed room, plus 5 turnout paddocks with more on the way. There are large aisleways with cross ties plus a cement wash stall. Our mounts for the summer are donated to us by loving families. In return we pay all expenses throughout the summer months. The horses are inspected and test ridden by our staff before we let the girls ride. There is typically an inspection before we even let the horse on the property. We also have several horses that belong to staff members and many horses that have come for 5 summers (or more) that are now part of the CDT family. There are usually about 20 horses that live there for the summer. Our facility has a large outdoor ring and miles of trails to explore.
The Horsemanship programs are either 6 day or 12 day sessions. Advanced and Intermediate riders come for 12 days and all beginner sessions are 6. Advanced riders should be able to groom, tack, lead, mount, bath, and trot a horse very well. They should also be ready to trial ride. Cantering is helpful, but not required. Intermediate riders need to be able to tack, lead, mount, bath and trot. We will work on control at the trot and hopefully begin cantering. This group will also trail ride, but not as much as the advanced group. Beginners can be anywhere from those who know nothing to those just learning to trot. All programs are filled with games on horseback and the basics of horse care. We beleive strongly in the value of riding different horses, so girls will rarely ride the same horse twice. They will take part in almost every aspect of barn life, including feeding, stall cleaning, tack cleaning, and grooming. They spend three hours at the barn every morning. Helmets are provided.
In the afternoons and evenings, the girls will participate in other camp activities such as swimming, sports, arts and crafts, nature, and archery. There is also evening programing that includes campfires, all camp games, and singing. Girls live in cabins of four girls that surround a counselors cabin. The cabins have ceiling fans, shelving units, and lights. There is also a bath house with private shower and toilet stalls. The unit will be cleaned by the staff before camper arrival, but the girls are responsible for its upkeep throughout their stay.
The Challenge Course program is a 12- day session open to Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts. It is a great experience of team work skills and personal challenges that provide a girl with life altering skills. It allows girls to think creatively when solving problems and develop better communication skills. This session challenges girls both mentally and physically. Junior Girls Scouts can participate in a "Junior Challenge" program that uses team building games and the low elements course. Both programs build strong bonds and create a tight knit group of campers. They also participate in everyday camp activities such as swimming, sports, and arts & crafts.
Facilities include a climbing wall with zip line, Berma Bridge with Giant Swing and a low elements course. The low elements course has: swinging log, team wall, trust fall, nitro crossing and other basic elements. This area of camp is sometimes used by other camp sessions as well. Girls live in cabins of four girls that surround a counselors cabin. The cabins have ceiling fans, shelving units, and lights. There is also a bath house with private shower and toilet stalls. The unit will be cleaned by the staff before camper arrival, but the girls are responsible for its upkeep throughout their stay.
We offer nature camps for Brownie and Junior Age Girls that are typically 6-day sessions. Here girls are given a chance to explore the 220 Acres of CDT. They play nature games, take day and night hikes, study animals and do science activities. There is also a chance to earn CDT's very own "Naturalist Patch." Girls will also participate in everyday camp activites such as swimming, sports, and arts & crafts. This girls will be given a tour of the barn and a horse specific nature lesson.
Girls will stay in either cabin units or platform tents. In a cabin unit, girls live in cabins of four girls that surround a counselors cabin. The cabins have ceiling fans, shelving units, and lights. Platform tents house 4 girls with beds. Both units have a bath house with private shower and toilet stalls. The unit will be cleaned by the staff before camper arrival, but the girls are responsible for its upkeep throughout their stay.
We provide drama camps for Juniors, Cadettes, and Seniors. There are both 6-day and 12 day drama sessions available. Grils work on basic acting techniques and the design production process. All sessions end with a final presentation of a play. The play can be written by the girls or they can pick an old favorite. Costumes, sets, and props are all found or made by the campers. Of course, we are not putting on expensive shows, but a good time is had by all. Many concepts of theatre will be discussed even if we can not specifically use them. They will also learn warm-up techniques and drama games. They girls will be working with a qualified person from the Theatre profession. Girls will also be participating in everyday camp activities such as swimming, sports, and arts & crafts.
Typically the girls live in cabin units, but some sessions use a dormitory style housing unit. In the cabin units girls live in cabins of four girls that surround a counselors cabin. The cabins have ceiling fans, shelving units, and lights. There is also a bath house with private shower and toilet stalls. The unit will be cleaned by the staff before camper arrival, but the girls are responsible for its upkeep throughout their stay.
Night Owls is offered for Junior and Cadette girls. They stay up later into the night and then sleep in later the next morning. They get to do special activites like night hikes, star gazing, beauty nights, and the occasional late night movie. Its exciting to explore CDT at night, its a whole new world. Of course girls particiapte in other camp activites like sports, swimming, and arts & crafts.
The girls live in cabin units, but some sessions use a dormitory style housing unit. In the cabin units girls live in cabins of four girls that surround a counselors cabin. The cabins have ceiling fans, shelving units, and lights. There is also a bath house with private shower and toilet stalls. The unit will be cleaned by the staff before camper arrival, but the girls are responsible for its upkeep throughout their stay.
CDT offers a variety of aquatic camps that vary from year to year. We have offered snorkeling, scuba, and junior lifeguard camps. We have a large pool facilitiy complete with an enclosed bath house for changing and showering. We also have a full time lifequard and follow strict saftely procedure. All campers are swim tested at the beginning of each session.
Please see the current camp brochure for Aquatic camps being offered this summer.
CDT offers sports camps for Brownies and Juniors. They are able to experiment and play with several different types of sports. We have large athletic field where one can play kickball, softball, soccer, and many other field games. There is also a tennis court and basketball court. Junior girls get use the archery range. Campers will also play team building games and a variety of other sports related activites. They also use the pool and go to arts & crafts.
These campers live in cabin units, where girls live in cabins of four girls that surround a counselors cabin. The cabins have ceiling fans, shelving units, and lights. There is also a bath house with private shower and toilet stalls. The unit will be cleaned by the staff before camper arrival, but the girls are responsible for its upkeep throughout their stay.
Here at CDT we offer special programming just for Brownies. There are three major types of Brownies camps: fist timers, samplers, and sports/nature.
Brownie First Timers are for Brownie level girls that have never been to camp before and would like to go for a short period of time. Or for those girls that are not quite ready for a full camp session. It is a four day, three night session where they all live together in a dormitory style housing unit. Acitivites include arts & crafts, swimming, nature, sports, and barn tours.
Samplers is a 6 day 5 night session that explores the handbook and the work towards earning Try-Its and getting to know camp. They get to taste a bit of everything. It is a good time at camp with swimming, sports, arts & crafts just to name a few.
Sports/Nature camps are mentioned above. They are a typically 6 day, 5 night session. See above sections for more information.
We also offer other camps throughout the summer, such as photography or fitness camps. Please see the brochure for this summer for more details.