AN ONAWAY DAY
Our program balances a scheduled morning of instruction with choice periods in the afternoon. We hope each camper will become proficient and derive pleasure from accomplishment in all Camp activities, but we also make sure to provide time for each camper to make choices and pursue passions in activities.
Each camper has daily instruction in swimming and all campers have scheduled time in tennis, sailing, dance, and drama. Our campers move through a progression of boating, then canoeing and add crew in the final two years. Younger campers also enjoy arts and crafts, ceramics, woodworking and nature on their weekly morning schedule while our two oldest groups move into elective periods in the arts, including photography, woodworking, ceramics, and sewing.
The arts are strong at Onaway with singing as a constant. From our all camp choir, to songs in the Dining Hall or at Campfire Rock, girls have numerous opportunities to sing including Select Choir, and auditioned group that performs more complicated pieces. Our seven week session allows for multiple opportunities for campers to grow artistically on stage. Performance opportunities are the Upper Camp Play during Fair Weekend, and both the Lower Camp Play, a musical, and the Dance Pageant during our final weekend of the summer.
Camp uniforms eliminate competition over clothing, allowing the girls to focus on developing inner qualities. We dress up in costumes a lot at Onaway so the girls get their fill of color and self expression!
A Typical Day
7:25 Rise and Shine! (Onaway means “wide awake”)
7:45 Flag Line
8:00 Breakfast, Cabin Duties
9:00 Camp duties
9:20 Four Morning Activity Periods
12:35 Cabin Group Time
1:00 Lunch
2:00 Rest Hour
3:00 Two Afternoon Activity Periods
4:45 Free Swim
5:30 Cabin Group Time
5:55 Flag Line
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Evening Program
Followed by Circle and Taps
Evening Program is run by the Counselor of the Day. It is a chance for the whole camp to be together and perform skits, play games, or learn something new.
“Privilege” is a special time after Taps when cabin groups can have some extra time to discuss important issues or plan an upcoming activity.
Sundays
On Sundays, we follow a different schedule and girls appreciate the change in pace and routine. We wake up a little later, girls have a break from Beaning (inspection), and there are more low-key activities and cabin group time.
In the evening, camp gathers at the outdoor chapel to reflect on the week. Onaway Chapel still honors the roots of our Episcopalian founders in structure and a number of our unique Onaway prayers. The director’s Chapel Talk, however, focuses on camp values and other important topics related to the lives of girls today. Additionally, Onaway welcomes girls of all faith backgrounds and includes prayers or readings from other faiths and secular sources. Chapel is also a time to enjoy the beauty of nature, both in sight and sound.
Our day ends with a festive outdoor picnic, and singing on Campfire Rock.