William H. Pouch Day Camp

Archery

Our Archery program teaches the youth the rules for safe archery, as well as good archery shooting techniques, including the stance and how to nock the arrow, establish the bow, draw, aim, release, follow-through and retrieve arrows. It gives them time to practice what they have learned everyday under the supervision of an qualified Archery Director. They have the opportunity to work on the Cub Scout Belt Loop and Sports pin for Archery. They learn the parts of the bow and demonstrate how to string it in a proficient manner. They will all learn how to properly use archery equipment, including arm guards, finger tabs, and quivers and explain about proper clothing. They will develop proficient shooting techniques by practicing several times a week.

Aquatics

Our Aquatics program is actually composed of two separate activities swimming, and boating both of which take place at Lake Orbach. Every group comes to the waterfront at least once a day for swimming and at least once a week for boating activities. While at swimming, each child is tested on their swimming ability on the first day of camp, and then has the opportunity to participate in daily games based on their swimming ability, as well as swimming lessons, and belt loop and activity pins. During boating each child is rowed around the lake, or depending on the age group they take turns rowing, exploring the lake plant and wildlife. All aquatics activities are supervised by a 21 year old director and several certified lifeguards.

Climbing

The Climbing area at Pouch Camp serves not only the scouting community here on Staten Island but also many other organizations that come to use its facilities. This is done all year round but especially during the summer were the Day Camp uses the climbing wall as a fun and safe area to entertain the campers. They also learn the rules of proper climbing and practice the discipline needed to climb safely. With highly trained staff and an overqualified Climbing director ratio, the Pouch Camp Climbing Area has one of the best artificial climbing walls in America.

Field Sports

Field Sports is the area where kids get to have fun and play on Pouch's big camp-o-ree field. The program offers all sorts of games and sports such as Kick Ball, Whiffle Ball, Soccer, Homerun Derbies, Ultimate Frisbee, Volley Ball, Horse Shoes, Running Bases, and many other activities. The campers who are scouts will have the opportunity to earn the different types of Sports and Athletics belt loops and pins. The Field Sports program at Pouch Camp teaches kids how to have fun, get along together, and also play together as a team.

First Aid

Our first aid program helps teach how to handle emergency situations, by Being strong, Being calm, Being clear, and Being careful. They learn the steps to address and emergency situation as well as whom they should contact for different emergencies. They will learn what to do for choking victims by demonstrating the Heimlich maneuver, what to do for "hurry cases", such as serious bleeding, stopped breathing, internal poisoning, and heart attacks. Basic first aid can be taught to any one no matter how old they are, learning the basics can help even the youngest child, help save a life.

Fishing

Pouch Camp's fishing program is centered on Lake Orbach which is a fully stocked lake. The campers are able to bait their own hooks and catch the many different types of fish, some of the fish that call Lake Orbach home are: sunnies, pickerels, and catfish. The fishing program is a catch and release program in accordance with New York State and the campers learn that the fish are part of a delicate ecological system in the lake. The campers will have the opportunity to work on the requirements to earn the Cub Scout belt loop and activity in fishing.

Geo Lab

Geo Lab is Pouch Camps newest area. The Geo Lab program is designed to keep kids interested about the world they live in. They will learn about the different rock types as well as how they are formed. At the end of the week each kid will look for his\her own fossil and will be able to keep what they find. This way they will take a piece of pouch with them where ever they go!

Handicraft

Handicrafts is Pouch Camp's most creative area. Campers will learn to use their imagination to create beautiful works of art. Kids will be able to paint, build, sculpt and create unique works of art using simple tools and objects. We have the camp's largest and most extensive program area shed. Our projects follow a weekly theme set for the entire camp. Along with creating crafts that they can bring home, the campers will leave with an experience they will never forget!

Ham Radio

Ham radio is a way to communicate over the airwaves. There are many different types of ways ham radio operators do this such as voice, Morse code and even sending TV pictures over the air. Ham radio was set up as an emergency way to communicate and became the hobby it is today. You do not need a big station to talk all around the world, a radio and a hunk of wire will work fine.

Indian Village

: Indian Village is Pouch Camp's showman area. It is where campers learn skits and songs and how to put on a campfire. Campers learn the four "s" of a campfire: skits, songs, stunts and showmanship. Campers learn new skits and songs that are favorites among the staff of Pouch Camp.

Jolly Rodger Hunt

Jolly Rodger Hunt is also known as metal detecting, it is an area where the youth can learn how to use metal detectors and find buried treasure. With the help of The Richmond Research and Recovery group the youth get to help uncover the past of Staten Island. The kids get to search several places in camp for its hidden treasures, having found old neckerchief slides, silver wear, coins, musket balls and many other hidden treasures beneath the grounds of camp.

Nature

Our nature program teaches campers about animals, plants and the environment around them. We have animals that are donated and also found in camp. The animals that make up the nature lodge are mammals, reptiles, fish and birds. The campers are taught how to take care of the animals. The program consists of studying nature's creatures as they carry on their normal activities in their natural habitat. The program also consists of teaching campers about conservation and the outdoor code.

Scout Skills

Scout Skills is Pouch Camp's first ever area and its most essential. The area has been teaching kids how to tie knots, cook and build fire for 10 years. Scout Skills teaches campfire cooking, including coal cooking, dutch oven, and sheepherder stove. All of the basic knots and beyond are taught. Kids can learn how to properly build, tend too, and safely put out campfires. Kids learn how to safely wield a hatchet, hand saw and pocketknife. Lashing is another essential item in which kids learn to build camp gadgets, and gateways.