Many people know Tamarack Camps for its summer programs, but the work of our agency extends year round. Through the Tamarack Adventure and Retreat Center (TARC), schools, businesses and community groups come to Camp Maas for educational programming, team-building and opportunities to connect in a different setting.
I recently had the chance to see that work firsthand — and even got to help make a few candles along the way.
The day began in Smoklerville (pioneer skills), where elementary school students stepped into the role of pioneers and took on the challenge of surviving by completing a series of activities. I spent part of the morning helping participants make candles. Fortunately, I had a little insider knowledge: At Fall Fest, a few days prior, my son had taught me some tricks he’d picked up during camp, which definitely came in handy. As we worked, we talked about why candles were so important to pioneer life — and I shared one of my favorite candle-making fun facts: You actually make a better candle by dipping the wick quickly into the hot wax rather than letting it sit.
The students were having a blast running from one activity to the next, fully immersed in their pioneer adventure. They were problem-solving, trying new skills and working together, without necessarily thinking of any of it as a lesson. At the end, their survival was determined by how many activities they’d successfully completed.
After lunch together in the dining hall, the group headed outside for a game of capture the flag — a chance to keep the energy going and enjoy time together in a totally different way.
That’s what makes TARC such a valuable resource for schools and community groups. It’s an opportunity to step outside the familiar, learn by doing and build connections through shared experiences.
Tamarack Camps welcomes thousands of people to Camp Maas throughout the year via TARC and our other year-round programs. It’s another way Tamarack brings people together, creates opportunities for growth and builds community well beyond the summer months.
Sometimes, the most meaningful lessons are the ones that don’t even feel like learning. They just feel like fun.
