Program Options

FTI PROGRAM:

We offer a mini-summer camp program during your weekend.  In fact, there is so much to do and see you have to plan your activities to reduce scheduling conflicts.

Welcome Packet and Program Guide Download

The 10AM and 2PM Conundrum.  Scouting Heritage Merit Badge, and special program offerings from Subject Matter Experts generally start at 10 AM and again at 2 PM.  Make sure you don’t schedule your group to do archery and canoeing at 10AM and 2PM respectively or you will miss out on these program opportunities happening at the same time. 

Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) Program: We try to get SMEs to come to TI and do informative and interactive presentations.  If you are lucky enough to be camping when this program is available, you may have the chance to experience a Lenape or other living history presentation by reenactors portraying the lives and displaying the gear of military service members from the Revolutionary War through World War II.  This program is not available every weekend.  Details announced during the Friday Night Leaders Meeting. 

MORNING AND EVENING COLORS:

  • Morning Colors
    • Saturday morning at 7:45 am.
    • Please arrive on time to participate.
    • Attendance is highly encouraged as there may be important information communicated to you for the events of the day.
    • If your group would like to volunteer for color guard, please see the Program Director or Camp Director at the Friday evening leaders meeting.
  • Evening Colors
    • Saturday evening at 7:45 pm.
    • Please arrive on time to participate.
    • Attendance is highly encouraged.
    • If your group would like to volunteer for color guard, please see the Program Director or Camp Director at the Friday evening leaders meeting or during the day on Saturday.

ARCHERY:

  • To make reservations during your weekend go to: http://www.friendsoftreasureisland.org/program-options/archery Click on: Archery Range Reservations.
  • Archery Secession = 1 hour.  Cost per group = $20.00 range fee plus $5.00 / shooter.  TICS Level 1 Archery Instructor provided.
  • Open Shoot: Cost per participant = $2.00 / 10 arrows.
  • Youth Camp Wide Shoot: Free!  Age groups:
    • 11-14 year old group
    • 15-18 year old group
    • One youth chosen from each group for each age bracket.
    • Winners receive TI Archer Award patches.
  • Adult Camp Wide Shoot: Cost per participant = $5.00
  • All fees must be paid on the island by cash, check, or credit card.
  • Archers earning a bullseye 🎯 receive an “I shot the Bull with Hank & Frank” patch.

Additional special archery programs include:

  • Ace Archer: Awarded to the best of the best youth archer(s) during a camping weekend as part of a camp-wide shooting session.
  • Black Border Bullseye: Available for purchase at the Trading Post by those youth who have shot a bullseye and a score of 25 points or more (5 arrows) on a single target.
  • Gold Border Bullseye: Also available for purchase at the Trading Post by those youth who have scored 40 points or more (5 arrows) on a single target.
  • I Shot the Bull with Hank & Frank: Awarded to adult archers who hit the bullseye during a camping weekend as part of a camp-wide shooting session.

AX THROWING:

  • An axe throwing area is set up across from the archery range just off of the parade field.
  • This program feature is meant to go on concurrently with a group’s archery secession, as a large group may not be able to get all their members shooting at the same time.
  • There is no cost to participate.
  • Any group can participate in this activity regardless of signing up for archery. 
  • If the program area is free the supplies can be obtained at the archery range.
  • Groups are self-supervised.

CANOE:

  • FTI has 15 Old Town canoes and equipment available for use to canoe near the island.
  • To make reservations during your weekend go to: http://www.friendsoftreasureisland.org/program-options/canoe-rentals/ Click on: Canoe Reservations.
  • Canoe Rental is $10.00 per/hour per/canoe.  Groups must schedule canoeing in advance, so we reserve enough for use.
  • All rental fees must be paid on the island by cash, check, or credit card.
  • Canoe rentals are subject to weather and river conditions, and will be decided day of the rental.
  • Canoes are stored in the back of the Dining Hall and taken through the Boat House area to the river.

CANOE SAFETY:

  • Camping groups must follow their governing body’s policies and procedures (*) and have at minimum one qualified adult present at the activity for supervision in order to conduct any aquatics activity.
  • A qualified/trained adult must act as “lookout” on the TI landing dock.
  • The adult lookout must account for all canoers at the end of the session.
  • Youth paddling the canoe must be swimmers.  A beginner or non-swimmer may ride in center.
  • Adult leaders are responsible to verify paddlers are qualified.
  • All participants must wear a PFD.
  • All participants must wear River Shoes.
  • No participants are to go south of the dock and must remain within sight of the lookout at all times.

(*)  Scouts BSA units must follow the BSA Guide to Safe Scouting.  FTI is ready to support your unit’s requirements.

SWIMMING:

  • Camping groups must follow their governing body’s policies and procedures (*) and have at minimum one qualified adult present at the activity for supervision in order to conduct any aquatics activity.
  • Swimming is permitted with qualified adult supervision only in the designated swim area near the TI docks.
  • NO BARE FEET!  RIVER SHOES MUST BE WORN (ANY TYPE OF CLOSED TOE FOOTWEAR).  NO EXCEPTIONS.

(*)  Scouts BSA units must follow the BSA Guide to Safe Scouting.  FTI is ready to support your unit’s requirements.

FISHING WITH TREASURE ISLAND CHARTERS BY FTI:

  • Welcome to Treasure Island Charters by FTI. 
  • Available on Saturdays-8:00-9:00 am and 9:00-10:00 am. 
  • Sign up will be at Friday night leaders meeting or immediately after morning colors on Saturday. 
  • Cost is $5/youth. 
  • 10 persons per time slot not including the Captain.  Helpful if one adult comes aboard to help provide 2-deep leadership.
  • The adult fishes for free.
  • Climb aboard the FTI barge for a one hour fishing excursion with one of our qualified Captains and fishing guides. 
  • You can bring your own fishing poles/tackle or rent one of ours (fee to be determined). 
  • We bring you up river just a short distance and get you into better fishing waters.
  • Fishing trips are river condition dependent and there is no guarantee to your catch! 

SCAVENGER HUNT:

  • Have fun exploring the island while on a camp wide scavenger hunt. 
  • Get a taste of the island’s history, meet the staff, and maybe complete some rank requirements. 
  • Complete any 10 of the 14 finds, post to Instagram #friendsoftreasureisland, have a staff member validate your finds, and win a prize! 
  • You will be recognized at the Saturday night campfire. 
  • Scavenger Hunt instructions can be picked up at the Ridge Trading Post.

ORIENTEERING COURSE PROGRAM:

  • This self-initiated, multi-point orienteering course is available throughout the day.
  • Permanent orienteering markers located on prominent landmarks as well as off-trail. 
  • Bring their own compass but we may have some loaner compasses if needed. 
  • Please pick up maps with instructions from the TICS at the Pavilion on the Parade Ground. 
  • We are have maps available at camp.

GOODMAN-EDSON MUSEUM: The museum offering the largest collection of historic memorabilia east of the Mississippi River, is located in Unami Lodge.  It holds a plethora of “treasures” from patches to long forgotten items used on TI.  Open during the hours shown in the Treasure Island Camp Program Schedule (above), youth can take advantage of this opportunity to meet our Museum

Director to see and hear about our vast collection.  If you’d like to donate any memorabilia to the museum, bring it with you and discuss your donation with the Director.  All donated items are tax deductible and will have good secure home with FTI.

SCOUTING HERITAGE MERIT BADGE:

  • Counselors available most weekends however, staff dependent.
  • The badge cannot be completed in a single weekend but our counselors can work with youth virtually to complete the requirements.
  • You are welcome to come up for the day any time during one of our scheduled camping weekends to complete the badge.

CONSERVATION / SERVICE PROJECTS: Projects announced at the meeting.  Saturday morning secession: 8:00AM – 11:30AM.  Saturday afternoon secession: 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM.  FTI expects activities to be conducted safely.  We have project opportunities that suit all ages and skill levels. 

Additional conservation hours not listed on the camp schedule are available.  You determine how many hours you want to put into the project.  Please coordinate with the TICS and we will work with you to fill your need.  Our skilled foresters work with your youth to explain and teach about why the project is important so the project is much more than just work.  Materials and tools are on site unless we put out a request for special tools.  Boots for conservation and service projects a MUST.  Bring work gloves and all the energy you can muster.

GAGA Pit:  Gaga is a fast paced, high-energy sport played in an octagonal pit.  The more players the better!  Dubbed a kinder gentler version of dodge ball, the game is played with a soft foam ball, and combines the skills of dodging, striking, running, and jumping, while trying to hit opponents with a ball below the knees.  Players need to keep moving to avoid getting hit by the ball.  Fun and easy, everyone gets a serious workout.

Rules of Gaga Ball: It’s super simple.  Basically, we throw a bunch of players and a ball in a pit.  Turn up the music, everyone for him/herself; if the ball touches you below the knee, you’re out.  The last one in the pit wins.  Then, everyone hops back in for the next round.  Games last no more than five minutes.  It’s fast, it’s sweaty, and it’s really addictive.  As soon as you get out, you can’t wait to hop back in.  That’s why they’re all talking about it!

The official game rules of The Gaga Pit:

  • All players start with one hand touching a wall of the pit.
  • The game begins with a referee throwing the ball into the center of the pit.
  • When the ball enters the pit, the players scream ‘GA’ for the first two bounces, and ‘GO’ on the third bounce, after which the ball is in action.
  • Once the ball is in play, any player can hit the ball with an open or closed hand.
  • If a ball touches a player below the knee (even if the player hits himself or herself) he or she is out and leaves the pit.  If a player is hit above the knees, the play continues.
  • If a ball is caught on a fly, the player who hit the ball is out.
  • Using the walls of the octagon to aid in jumping is legal as long as the player does not permanently sit on the ledge of the octagon.
  • Players cannot hold the ball.
  • If needed, a second ball can be thrown in the pit to expedite the end of the game.  The last player standing is the winner of that round.

SATURDAY NIGHT FUN CAMPFIRE: A camp wide campfire is held every Saturday evening.  Attendance and participation are highly recommended.  This is the icing on the cake for your weekend.  The campfire is an experience you will never forget with skits and songs from campers and staff.  Fun, fellowship, and an all-out good time.  Held rain or shine!  If rain the location is the Dining Hall.

SELF-GUIDED TOUR: Books for a self-guided tour are available on request in the Ridge Trading Post.  The TICS cannot take groups on tours unless time and work schedule permits.