Find activities that campers want to tackle, and get moving!

By Derek Barkeim
Photos: Courtesy Of Seeker’s Wild

Put yourself mentally in the shoes of a 10- to 16-year-old, and then choose five things you would want to do as a middle-aged adult before you die; it’s difficult, weird, and easy—all at the same time. It’s also the focus of Bucket-List Camp, a program offered by Seekers Wild summer camp in Wisconsin and Minnesota that promises five days of adventure with experiences involving boats, arcades, zoos, trampoline parks, paintball courses, gun ranges, and rock-climbing.

What Is Seekers Wild?

Seekers Wild is what a large portion of childhood and life in general should include: exposure to the natural world. It comes in many forms—walking around the block, finding a sit spot, fishing, camping, going on wilderness trips, etc. Our slogan, “Get Outside, Rewild, and Reconnect Yourself” has several dualities in it.

The “get outside” portion may suggest being indoors means there is no nature; however, nature is truly everywhere. The bugs in your house are nature. You and I are nature. That said, most of Seekers Wild programs from summer camp to adult/all-ages classes, such as wild edible plants, survival skills, hide tanning, bow making etc., are based on what is generally recognized as the “outdoors.”

Rewilding as a movement has gained some steam recently and has multiple meanings. Seekers Wild interprets rewilding as a current way of life seen in a larger scope of our species’ existence; therefore, we are still adapting to modern life. And maybe some of those adaptations aren’t great. What Seekers Wild is trying to do is tap into parts of thoughts and instincts that are more ancient, yet useful. Patience, being quiet, self-resilience, and feeling comfortable outside are among many basic skills that merely being outside can teach.

All of these skills that used to be inherent in a person’s life can now be rekindled and useful for a high quality of life for oneself, the community, and the world as a whole. Reconnection to the natural world is what happens when you get outside and rewild yourself.

Adventure Awaits

Each day during Bucket-List Camp, participants tackle an activity that many kids have not accomplished, and maybe some never will. Lessons and projects tie the day’s activity to the natural world and foster a connection to nature.

If this sounds like a program your camp can use, here’s a framework of the types of activities offered, as well as some advice on how the program can be fun and free from worry.

Boat Day

For this activity, we pontoon from sandbar to sandbar on the upper Mississippi River, fishing, tubing, wading, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, and just enjoying the bluff-filled driftless river valley. We’ve even rolled out a giant plastic sheet to make an impromptu slip-and-slide on some of the giant sand hills created by dredging sands!

Considerations in hosting this program: The biggest difficulties of boat day are having staff members with the experience/ability to operate a boat, the cost to rent a boat and related necessities, and water safety. Wearing personal flotation devices and guaranteeing general safety while in the river (or lake) is the key. Constantly watch and count heads whenever kids are in the water. Ideally, staff members have lifeguard training and experience.

“Rochester” Day (Zoo, Arcade, Trampoline Park)

This day begins with a drive to Zollman Zoo outside Byron, Minn., for a chance to visit animals native to the area, including otters, mountain lions, bald eagles, turkey vultures, prairie dogs, porcupines, and more.

The next stop is the Machine Shed in Rochester, Minn., an amazing, sneaky-good find for all ages with tons of classic arcade games. Kids enjoy exploring games they recognize and even ones they don’t.

In years past, this trek included a trip to the local go-kart facility, which is fun for the campers; however, it has since been swapped for a trampoline park to truly tap into the “bucket-list” feel. The warped wall, trampolines, dodgeball, a ninja warrior-style course, traverse climbing wall, jousting, and dunk/basketball spot—it’s all exhausting for kids as well as adults.

Considerations in hosting this program: The major difficulties for this day are the varying levels of interest and ability. Some campers want to watch the otters forever, while other campers are ready to move onto the next critter in 30 seconds. Some campers play only one arcade game and therefore are ready to leave the arcade in 30 minutes, while others can stay all day. General instructor skills with redirection and thinking on one’s feet in order to entertain and educate are key.

Paintball Day

Paintball day is truly a hall-of-fame bucket-list item for the average camper.

Luckily, the paintball fields we use put a heavy focus on safety. We’ve never had injuries that are specific to paintball (besides welts, of course). Stinging nettles, bee stings, and general outdoor maladies are going to happen, but that’s part of the trade-off of being exposed to nature.

Considerations in hosting this program: The obvious problems of running a camp that involves paintball are clear: cost, safety, and possibly a connection to firearms and violent war-style games. Briefing and debriefing can be very useful. The worry of pain from an impact enhances the need for strategy and stealth. This also fuels participants to push themselves, physically and mentally. Depending on the age of the campers, prepare for varying levels of participation because of fear, as well as varying levels of dealing with pain that’s inherent with paintball games.

Range Day

A nearby sportsman’s club has a few folks who can bridge the gap of enjoying firearm sports and teaching with patience those who haven’t had any experience with guns. Campers safely shoot .22s at paper targets and score in three different positions: standing, sitting, and prone individually. Then participants double-up (highest/lowest scores as a team, second highest/second lowest, and so on) to reshoot in competition. Finally, there’s a speed round, where campers shoot “steels,” (metal targets on stands) with a timer for three rounds each.

The day finishes with trap shooting using 20- or 12-gauge shotguns and voice-automated clay pigeon houses. Three shooters take turns, one shell at a time, and say “pull” into a microphone, doing their best to hit the clay flying through the air.

Considerations in hosting this program: Similar to the difficulties encountered with paintball, there are societal problems. However, shooting sports have important historical aspects in youth camps. In the right context and with safety boundaries, shooting can be a bucket-list, hall-of-fame activity. Finding the right range with people who can teach with expertise, patience, and safety are key.

Rock-Climbing Day

Many people have climbed on an indoor gym/wall. It’s a different beast when they’re outside, in the elements, on real rock. The rock in the upper Midwest is mostly limestone. This sedimentary, layered stone offers some great climbing. Sugar Loaf is an iconic symbol of Winona, Minn.: an 85-foot protrusion on top of a bluff is a leftover from previous quarry operations. Those who have been to Winona have seen Sugar Loaf, and at Bucket List we climb it. Climbing guides assist campers in ascending the rock with top ropes in pre-placed anchors and expert belaying.

Considerations in hosting this program: The difficulties are similar to those of “Rochester Day” because some participants can climb all day, and some don’t want to climb at all, so there is a possibility of fill time for “non-participants.” Games, jokes, riddles, and other activities in the back pocket of skilled instructors/counselors will go a long way.

It’s hard to deny the plethora of positive outdoor experiences that Bucket List brings, and that’s one of Seekers Wild’s key goals. However it’s done, “Get Outside, Rewild, and Reconnect Yourself.”

Derek Barkeim is the owner of Seeker’s Wild in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Reach him at derek@seekerswild.com.

The Ultimate Bucket List