Sleepaway Camp Electives

How electives work

Every Windridge camper chooses a major in tennis, soccer, golf, or horseback riding and fills the rest of the eight-period day with electives. Campers set their schedule on the first day, and after lunch each day they can change it as often as they like. That freedom lets campers try something new, stick with a favorite, or spend time with friends. Electives are included in tuition, and the lineup may change when a staff member has a special skill or passion to share.

Sports electives

For campers who love to compete, electives are a chance to play a favorite sport or pick up a new one. Choices include basketball, lacrosse, futsal, volleyball, pickleball, and field games like Wiffle ball, flag football, and kickball. During rec games, campers can also play volleyball, basketball, and gaga, a fast-paced camp favorite played in our gaga pit.

Tennis, soccer, and golf are offered as electives too, so a riding major can still pick up a racquet, and a tennis player can spend an afternoon on the soccer field. Elective periods are more relaxed than a major, which makes them a great way to try a sport without pressure. Riding majors can also take stable management and spend extra time at the barn learning how to care for the horses.

Outdoor adventure

Vermont summers are made for being outside, and our electives make the most of all that the countryside has to offer. Mountain bikers ride the trails around camp, including our newer flow trail.

At archery, campers learn to handle a bow safely and work on their aim, whether they’re picking one up for the first time or chasing the bullseye.

On warm afternoons, campers can cool off at our pool. Swimming is an elective, so campers can swim as often or as little as they like.

Creative and just-for-fun electives

Not every elective involves a ball or a scoreboard. Arts and crafts is a camp classic, where campers make friendship bracelets and other projects to take home.

In improv, campers play games, build scenes on the spot, and learn to think on their feet, and it’s often one of the funniest rooms at camp. Dance is another favorite, giving campers a chance to learn new moves and put routines together. Improv and dance campers often perform at MTV Night, a camp tradition near the end of each session.

These electives give campers a chance to slow down, recharge between more active periods, and connect with friends in a different way. Some campers even discover a creative side they didn’t know they had.

Age group electives

Some of our most popular electives are just for campers of a certain age. Junior Program is for campers 10 and under and features a different activity each day. Campers play games that help them bond with their age group, challenge each other, think creatively, and have a lot of fun together.

Hardcore is for campers 14 and up. It combines a community service project with outrageous and fun challenges, from making cakes on each other’s heads to planning and performing a flash mob in the dining hall. It’s another chance for our oldest campers to bond, compete, and be a little silly together.