Camp Ondessonk’s Teen Adventure Program: Shawnee Adventures

Camp Ondessonk’s Shawnee Adventures is a coeducational program for 13–15-year-olds that combines a week of thrilling outdoor excursions with classic camp life. Campers embark on four distinct one-day adventures – Rock Climbing, Hiking, Mountain Biking, and Canoeing – across Camp Ondessonk’s 983-acre property and the nearby Shawnee National Forest. Each day is spent in skill-building outdoor activities under expert guidance, and every night, campers return for meals in the Dining Hall and traditional evening camp rituals (songs, games, campfires) that deepen friendships and community. In other words, Shawnee Adventures delivers the “best of both worlds”: high-adventure experiences by day with a supportive camp community by night.

Adventure Program Overview

Shawnee Adventures is designed as a beginner-level program (no prior experience needed) with small groups and trained staff ensuring safety and support. For example, staff-to-camper ratios (typically 3–4 campers per counselor) are high to maximize supervision and personalized instruction. Activities are carefully chosen to build technical outdoor skills along with leadership qualities. Campers gain new experiences daily while remaining on-site at Camp Ondessonk in the evenings by rotating through Rock Climbing, Hiking, Canoeing, and Biking. Meals in the dining hall, campfire gatherings, and joint games keep campers engaged in traditions every night.

Outdoor Adventure Activities

Rock Climbing. Campers learn basic Rock-Climbing techniques (using ropes and harnesses) on safe rock faces supervised by certified instructors. Climbing challenges adolescents physically and mentally, as each camper must solve movement puzzles and trust their own strength. This process builds problem-solving skills and confidence: every reach up the rock wall reinforces belief in one’s ability to overcome challenges.

Rock Climbing at Camp teaches campers technical skills and confidence as they overcome challenges and achieve new heights. Campers work with staff on proper climbing techniques and safety.

Canoeing. Campers learn paddling, steering, and water safety on calm lakes or slow rivers in the Shawnee Forest and surrounding areas. They practice teamwork and communication in the canoe – partners must coordinate strokes to move straight and turn – and they grow comfortable in a natural setting. Paddling develops physical stamina and focus while connecting teens to the rhythm of the outdoors.

Canoeing develops coordination and teamwork as campers work together in a canoe. Spending time on the water also calms the mind and reconnects adolescents with nature’s rhythms.

Hiking and Nature Study. Guided Hikes introduce campers to the skills of trail navigation, map reading, and Leave-No-Trace ethics. Teen campers explore varied terrain in the woods of Southern Illinois and learn to observe wildlife and plants. Such outdoor education is known to “kindle a passion for exploring nature” and impart knowledge for immersion in the natural world. Even short hikes improve attention and spark creativity by giving teens a break from screens and routines – a benefit well-documented by environmental psychologists.

Mountain Biking. Camp’s extensive trail network (25 miles of marked singletrack) offers a safe setting to master riding fundamentals. Campers practice balance, braking, and bike handling on flat and hill terrain before venturing on scenic forest trails. ACA-accredited training ensures safety: expert guides teach repair and maintenance while counselors observe for safe riding. One Camp blog notes that students build confidence on two wheels in a “fun, supportive environment.” By week’s end, many teens proudly navigate intermediate trails in the Shawnee National Forest.

Youth Development and Confidence

Outdoor adventure programs like Shawnee Adventures produce measurable growth in adolescent development. Research by the American Camp Association (ACA) found that campers significantly increase self-esteem, independence, leadership, and willingness to try new things. Campers and parents alike report that the camp experience boosts confidence and social skills, making friends, taking initiative, and feeling adventurous are common outcomes. Adventure activities, in particular, tend to be goal-oriented and challenging; psychologists note that successfully mastering a challenge requires persistence and builds resilience. For example, completing a technical climb or navigating a bike trail gives a teen a sense of achievement that carries over into everyday life.

Importantly, these gains occur in a supportive peer environment. Small-group adventures forge teamwork and leadership: campers often rotate roles such as lead hiker or navigator, giving each young person a chance to guide the group. ACA’s research shows that camp also improves “friendship skills” and “social comfort,” helping shy teens open up and build supportive peer relationships.

Nature, Well-Being, and Resilience

The psychological benefits of nature are especially powerful during adolescence. Studies show that exposure to natural environments improves mood, reduces stress, and enhances cognitive function in youth. For example, one recent study by the American Psychological Association during the COVID-19 pandemic found that teens who maintained outdoor play and nature-based activities reported smaller declines in well-being – essentially, time outdoors “bolstered adolescents’ resilience” to stress. More broadly, spending time in forests and wilderness has been linked with better attention restoration, emotional regulation, and creativity. In practical terms, this means Shawnee Adventures’ days in the forest or on the water give campers a mental break and a “reset” that modern life often lacks.

By navigating new challenges in a natural setting, teens practice coping skills in real-time. Each successful Hike, Paddle, or Climb teaches a lesson: challenges can be overcome with focus and perseverance. Over a week, these small victories accumulate. As one ACA briefing observes, adventure activities are shown to be “exemplary youth development practice,” in part because they “offer challenge, build skills, and require persistence over time.” Such experiences help adolescents develop a resilient mindset. Psychological frameworks emphasize that encountering manageable risk in a supportive context helps young people learn to bounce back from difficulties.

Camp Traditions and Community

While days are filled with adventure, nights at Shawnee Adventures are steeped in beloved camp tradition. Campers share meals in the Dining Hall, sing songs in the grotto, and tell stories around a campfire – activities that create a sense of belonging and fun. These nightly rituals reinforce the social benefits of the program. For instance, ACA research finds that the overall Camp experience builds “values and decision skills” and promotes “spiritual growth” (including gratitude and belonging), especially at faith-based camps. Even in a general outdoor program like Shawnee Adventures, evening camaraderie and mentorship help teens develop empathy and community spirit. As campers challenge themselves during the day and laugh together at night, they grow more comfortable in social settings and make friendships that often last.

The adventure program’s emphasis on returning “home” each evening also highlights independence. Many 13–15-year-olds love the idea of a travel camp, but Shawnee Adventures offers a balance: each camper stretches their independence by conquering trails and waterways, yet they return nightly to the familiar safety of camp. ACA’s findings support this structure, stating that even day and front-country camps produce lasting development outcomes. In sum, Shawnee Adventures keeps the magic of camp alive every night while injecting every day with nature-based learning.

Conclusion

Camp Ondessonk’s Teen Adventure Program – Shawnee Adventures – delivers an exceptional blend of outdoor skill-building and traditional camp engagement. On Southern Illinois’s trails, cliffs, lakes, and forests, 13–15-year-olds push physical limits and learn real-world skills under expert supervision. Back at camp, they enjoy classic mealtime camaraderie, games, and campfire fellowship. Research from the American Camp Association shows that such experiences measurably increase teens’ confidence, leadership, and social skills. Likewise, psychology studies confirm that time in nature bolsters mood, attention, and resilience during adolescence. Shawnee Adventures harnesses both. The result is a fun and formative week where campers build self-reliance and lifelong memories, then come home with newfound confidence and a stronger sense of belonging.

References: American Camp Association (2005–2006) research on camp outcomes; American Psychological Association insights on nature and youth well-being; Camp Ondessonk program descriptions.

Click here to learn about signing up for Shawnee Adventures.