Naturalist —
Weekly Schedule

Day One

• 10:00 am – Get supplies ready for the Orientation Hike (nametags, string, markers, etc.). 10:30 am – Buses arrive and students go to the amphitheater to break into Trail Groups.
• 11:00 – 12:00 – Orientation Hike: take students in your Trail Group around the Camp Ramah area, discuss rules and show them the main areas of camp, make their nametags, and do "Get-To-Know-You" icebreaker games.
• 2:00 – 4:30 pm – Trail Class #1. Take your Trail Group onto the trails and teach your first trail class.
• 7:00 – 9:00 pm – Evening Program. From 7:00 – 8:15, take your Trail Group on an "Evening Walk" around camp and the trails, teaching the first part of the astronomy lessons. From 8:15 – 9:00 pm, bring your group to the amphitheater for the all-camp "Campfire" with songs, skits, and stories led by staff members.

Total: 6.5 hours

Some staff members ride the bus in the morning and have more hours — 7:00 – 10:30 am, meet in the camp parking lot and drive the van to the school, help load luggage, check students onto the bus, and monitor students on the ride to camp. This adds 3 hours, for a Day One total of 9 hours.

Day Two

• 9:00 – 11:30 am – Trail Class #2. Take your Trail Group onto the trails and teach your second trail class.
• 1:00 – 2:00 pm – Electives. Each Naturalist leads a fun, different activity (arts and crafts, soccer, ultimate frisbee, etc.); students sign up for the activity of their choice.
• 2:30 – 5:00 pm – Trail Class #3. Take your Trail Group onto the trails and teach your third trail class.
• 7:00 – 9:00 pm – Night Hike. Take your Trail Group on a hike and teach the astronomy and nocturnal-animal lessons.

Total: 8 hours

Day Three

• 9:00 – 11:30 am – Trail Class #4. Teach your fourth trail class.
• 1:00 – 2:00 pm – Electives. Lead a fun, different activity; students sign up for their choice.
• 2:30 – 5:00 pm – Trail Class #5. Teach your fifth trail class.
• 5:00 – 5:30 pm – Staff Meeting to discuss the next week's session and any issues.
• 7:00 – 9:00 pm – Campfire. At the amphitheater, staff do skits, songs, and stories; students perform their cabin skits on stage; staff participate in activities and help manage the group.

Total: 8.5 hours

Day Four

• 9:00 – 11:00 am – Trail Class #6. Take your Trail Group on a shortened hike, finish the lessons, and do an "End-of-Week Activity." At 10:30 am, have students line up, count them, and assist in loading onto the buses.
• 11:00 – 11:30 am – Help other staff clean up the camp area, look for lost & found, and put away supplies.
• About 2 hours of preparation for the upcoming session (nametags, journals, lessons, etc.).

Total: 4.5 hours

Some staff ride the buses back to the school with the students and take the van back to Camp Ramah (11:00 am – 2:00 pm). This adds 3 hours, for a Day Four total of 7.5 hours.